OUR 2023 Stories & News
New Member
May 2023
IWFCT is pleased to welcome Dr. Nance Roy as a new member.
Nance is a psychologist with over 30 years’ experience who has dedicated her career to protecting the mental health of teen and young adults and reducing suicide. As the Chief Clinical Officer of the Jed Foundation and Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, she consults to high schools, colleges, and workplace and professional organizations across the country on effecting systems change, strategic planning and implementing recommended practices that promote positive mental health.
Prior to her role as Chief Clinical Officer at The Jed Foundation, Nance held positions as Assistant Dean of Health and Wellness at Sarah Lawrence College and Associate Dean of Health and Wellness at Rhode Island School of Design where she developed, implemented and evaluated policies, programs and systems that enhance and support well-being. She has been actively involved in comprehensive initiatives focusing on a holistic approach to education, crisis management and a public health model for delivery of care.
Publications have focused on effective strategies for promoting emotional well-being among teens and young adults as well as treatment and management of at-risk youth. She is a nationally known speaker and has been featured in numerous publications and broadcasts including CBS, NBC, The Boston Globe, TIME, The Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The American Council on Education, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed among others.
Nance served as senior advisor to the National College Depression Partnership, serves on the Mental Health Task Force for the Ruderman Foundation and has worked on mental health initiatives with the Surgeon General, the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance, the Department of Defense, The Veteran’s Administration, the Milken Institute, the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, the Aspen Institute and educational systems across the country.
Nance earned her doctorate from Harvard University, master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina and Harvard University, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.
More information about Dr Roy can be found at the following link.
New Member
May 2023
IWFCT is pleased to welcome Jane Applegate as a new member.
Jane Applegate is a passionate storyteller who has been sharing stories about women in business, history and the arts for decades in print, online, on TV and through her independent films.
Applegate is the co-founder and executive producer of the Remarkable Women Project.org, a non-profit organization supporting research and production of stories about accomplished women whose stories have not been told. Our writers and producers shine a light on women’s achievements online, in an upcoming book and in film and TV. www.remarkablewomenproject.org
Prior to becoming a producer, Applegate was a reporter and columnist for the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of four books on small business success based on the syndicated column she wrote for many years for the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post Syndicate. Her most recent book, Hair on Fire, is a guide to producing independent films. Applegate teaches the Business of Film course at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College.
Her independent films have won several domestic and international film festival awards. She’s also won awards for investigative reporting and been a keynote speaker sponsored by corporate clients and Bloomberg TV at women’s events throughout the U.S. and around the world.
When she is not writing, teaching or producing, Applegate is an avid gardener. She lives in a 103 -year-old home in the village of Verplanck, New York in the Hudson River Valley, with her husband, Joe, a retired editor at Newsweek.
More information about Jane can be found at the following link.
New Member
April 2023
IWFCT is pleased to welcome Lakisha Hyatt as a new member.
Lakisha is a Hospital Executive, Advanced Practice Trained Nurse, Life Coach and Faith Leader. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the largest state funded Psychiatric Hospital in Connecticut and the first woman of color to serve in that capacity. As a licensed minister, Lakisha serves as Executive Director of Ministries for a 900+ member faith organization in Connecticut. She has over 20 years of senior leadership experience.
Lakisha has served as adjunct professor for University of Connecticut and Yale University. She has a passion for creating spaces for mental, physical, and spiritual health. She partners with individuals and communities to strategically meet their unique goals for success.
In addition to her service as Board Member for Integrated Health Services, she is a Board Member for the Middlesex United Way, Board Member for MARC, Community Resources, Ltd., Member Wilson/Deerfield Commission.
Lakisha earned a bachelors in Nursing from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Yale University. She is Certified Coach and Certified Mediator from Quinnipiac University and is a recipient of many awards and accolades including the recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s Women in Business Award.
More information about Lakisha can be found at the following link.
New Member
April 2023
IWFCT is pleased to welcome Amanda Skinner as a new member.
Amanda is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. She is an experienced health care executive committed to improving health equity and healthcare access for all. She is a thought leader on sexual and reproductive health care and rights, value-based care, and population health.
Amanda is a 2021-2022 Donaldson Fellow of the Yale School of Management, a recognition that honors alumni from all sectors and across the globe who share a dedication to solving complex problems and pursuing positive change in the world. She is a member of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Board of Directors, where she chairs the Audit committee and serves on the Executive, Revenue, and Board Governance committees, sits on the Board of Directors of BetterHealth and the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, and is a member of The Beryl Institute Standing Committee on Equity and Inclusion.
Amanda has spent her professional life working to advance equity in healthcare through a variety of roles in a variety of different types of health care settings – private practice, consulting, large academic health system, payer, and community-based non-profit provider. She is a certified nurse-midwife and spent 10 years in clinical practice and practice leadership. During that time she served as chair of the CT Chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, leading a successful campaign to expand the practice of nurse-midwives in Connecticut through policy change.
Following her graduation from Yale School of Management, Amanda joined The Chartis Group as a healthcare strategy and operations consultant, spent 6 years at Yale New Haven Health System where she was instrumental in building out the population health, clinical integration, and value-based care operations, and then served as Vice President and General Manager at Optum growing an integrated population health analytics and services business.
In 2017 Amanda accepted her dream job at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. She is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, TX, holds a master’s degree in nursing from the Yale School of Nursing with a clinical focus in nurse-midwifery, and holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management.
More information about Amanda Skinner can be found at the following link.
Annoucement
January 2023
Join us in congratulating our IWFCT member Lorraine George Harik for being featured in the Stamford Magazine for their family business "Zesty Z".
Both Mother (Lorraine) and Son (Alexander) brainstormed on bringing a delicious Mediterranean popular diet to US Consumers. They wrote a plan and launched the business using their innovative thinking and their business skills to run the company. Lorraine drives research and development, coordinates social media and sits on the finance team while her son, Alexander handles logistics, operations, sales and marketing.
A great story how IWFCT women and mothers are always on the go with innovation, determination and support to continue their path to success both for themselves, their families and their communities.
Read about the article at the following link (pages 16 and 18) of the Stamford Magazine.
Annoucement
January 2023
Join us in congratulating our IWFCT member Laura Grondin for being one of the three finalists for the US Sailing's 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
Laura Grondin’s success as a skipper in the J/70 class earned her a spot as one of this year’s finalists. Grondin helmed her way to first place at the J/70 East Coast Championships and Davis Island J/70 Regatta, as well as the top female helm at the J/70 European Championship. Grondin also had success in the Melges 24 class, placing fourth at the Melges 24 World Championship.
What an exceptional performance and such well deserved selection. Laura once again proves that women can be leaders in anything they set their mind to. Laura is a successful woman running a global company, raising a family and leading the way in this tough sport.
IWFCT congratulates Laura Grondin for being one of the "best in the US" and for being one of three finalist of the US Sailing's 2022 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
Read more about this announcement at the following link and more about Laura Grondin's journey at the following link.
IWF members connecting globally during travels.
Our IWFCT member Peggy Boissoneau took the opportunity to connect with IWFUK members during her travel to London during the Holiday season. Despite the busy time of the year, our IWF members were able to connect and meet at the Royal Academy in the Burlington House Piccadilly.
They had much to share with conversations across a wide array of topics and finding common topics and interests. This was the start to a long newly found global friendship and sisterhood that will continue for years to come.
We encourage all our IWFCT members to reach out to local IWF Forums whenever they travel. Our sister Forums will welcome you with open arms, introduce you to members and invite you to local events.