Frances G. Padilla
Vice President for Program, Policy & Administration
fpadilla@universalhealthct.org

Frances G. Padilla, whose career in philanthropy and organizational development spans 25 years, is responsible for all of the Foundation's grant making, capacity building and convening activities. Ms. Padilla is also responsible for the Foundation’s public policy research program and administration of day-to-day operations. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Padilla was president of New Paradigms, a consulting practice based in New Haven which provides program design, evaluation and organizational development services to nonprofit organizations, foundations and government agencies. She also served as the associate director for special projects and planning for the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven as well as associate director for programs. Prior to that, Ms. Padilla worked as a program officer for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Janet Davenport
Vice President for Communications
jdavenport@universalhealthct.org

Janet Davenport, who serves as Vice President for Communications, is responsible for managing all foundation communications, including strategic planning, media relations and publications. Prior to joining Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, Ms. Davenport was director of communications for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, where her accomplishments included a rebranding campaign and Web site redesign. A former journalist, she has more than 16 years of newspaper experience. She was an editorial writer and editorial board member at the Hartford Courant for many years and is a former reporter and editorial page editor for the Springfield Newspapers in Massachusetts.

Linda Dahlmeyer
Director of Finance and Operations
ldahlmeyer@universalhealthct.org

Linda Dahlmeyer, CPA who serves as Director of Finance and Operations, is responsible for the day-to-day financial and operational matters of the Foundation.  Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Dahlmeyer served as Associate Director of Administration and Finance for Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency.  She also served as a Chief Financial Officer for Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center for Saint Francis Hospital and Controller for Rushford Center where she supported the merger with Mid-State Behavioral Health, both subsidiaries of Hartford Hospital.  Prior to moving to Connecticut in 2001, Ms. Dahlmeyer was the principal for a local CPA firm in Dallas, Texas for eleven years.

Kate Busch Gervais
Senior Program and Development Officer
Kgervais@universalhealthct.org

Kate Busch Gervais, Senior Program and Development Officer, provides advice and support to current and prospective grant applicants, analyses and evaluates grant proposals, drives the Small Business Health Care Network, and guides the Foundation’s development and co-investment activities. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Gervais was principal of Strategic Management Consulting, a business strategy firm. She served as director of new philanthropic services for the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, where she managed the statewide launch of the Leave a Legacy program. She also worked as executive director of the Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York (A.R.T./New York,) the trade and service organization for nonprofit professional theater in New York City.

Lynne Ide
Campaign Manager
lide@universalhealthct.org

Lynne Ide is responsible for management of the Foundation’s statewide campaign to bring about universal health care for all Connecticut residents. Previously, Ms. Ide served as Associate Director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition, Director of the Legislative Electoral Action Program (LEAP), and Director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG). She also worked as a lobbyist, campaign director and community organizer for CCAG. Ms. Ide is currently a member of the Board of Selectmen in her hometown of Windham.

Paul Wessel
Deputy Campaign Manager
pwessel@universalhealthct.org

Paul Wessel has a 25-year career seeking, in the words of poet Marge Piercy, "to be of use."  He’s worked as a staffer at the Connecticut General Assembly, on a plant closing lawsuit leading to national plant closing legislation, and representing and organizing janitors, school bus drivers, and other public and private sector workers.  Before joining the foundation, he did economic development work for the City of New Haven for six years, the final three of which were as the Director of Traffic and Parking.

Robert Slate
Communications Associate
rslate@universalhealthct.org

Robert Slate, Communications Associate, assists in conducting research, writing and proofing communication materials and writes, edits and assists in the production of marketing materials for campaigns and other Foundation initiatives. He also develops and writes content and copy for the Foundation’s Web site. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Slate was the first full-time executive director of the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI), advocating for oral health care for all in Connecticut. Mr. Slate also served as Policy Director for Advocacy Unlimited, Inc., helping people with psychiatric disabilities to advocate for themselves and for others and to change public policy as it relates to mental health care in Connecticut.

Jill Zorn
Program Officer
jzorn@universalhealthct.org

Jill Zorn, Program Officer, brings a wealth of experience in health care to her position. Her past work experience includes serving as Assistant Vice President for Planning at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, Support Services Administrator at Kaiser Permanente, and most recently as Chapter Programs Director for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Connecticut Chapter.

Lola Elliott-Hugh
Senior Aide to the President
lelliott-hugh@universalhealthct.org

Lola Elliot-Hugh was named Senior Aide to the President after serving as organizer for the Foundation‘s “Stand Up for Health Care” rally in May of 2007. Immediately prior, Ms. Elliott-Hugh was the Program Manager of the University of Connecticut‘s Urban and Community Studies program. She was one of the founding members of Foodshare, the Greater Hartford region‘s food bank and an organization working to end hunger. She also created and launched the AIDS Legal Network for Connecticut and served as Director of Social Services for The Salvation Army in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Ana Garcia
Administrative Assistant for Communications, Programs & Policy
agarcia@universalhealthct.org

Kim Carrington
Accounting & Human Resource Assistant
kcarrintgon@universalhealthct.org

Kim Griffith
Office Assistant/Receptionist
kgriffith@universalhealthct.org