Trent Hass has joined the IAT Insurance Group as Chief Claims Officer. Here, his experience in property, general liability, and auto liability will correspond to IAT’s specialty markets. Previously, Hass worked at The Hartford in a variety of claims-related positions, where he served as Vice President of General Liability and Auto Litigation Field Claim Operations at The Hartford.
Alumni
Breana Vessichio ’16 Named Associate at Reid and Riege, P.C.
Breana Vessichio ’16 was named an associate in Business Services at Reid and Riege, P.C. In this new position, Vessichio advises clients in the area of business services, commercial real estate, and nonprofit organizations. She works with client on all aspects of their business planning as well as working with companies on contractual matter and real estate transactions. Previously, Vessichio was an associate at Halloran Sage.
Brenda Bergeron Appointed as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Brenda Bergeron was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection by Governor Lamont and Commissioner Rovella. Here, she will oversee the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Bergeron brings extensive experience to this new position, previously serving as the legal advisor for Division for Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She also has served as the program coordinator for the division’s All-Hazards Planning Unit and is the chair of the Legal Counsel Committee of the National Emergency Management Association.
Robert Langer ’73 Receives ABA Antitrust Law Section’s Outstanding Performance Award
Robert Langer ’73 had received the ABA Antitrust Law Section’s Outstanding Performance Award for his work over the past 27 years Langer is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on antitrust, consumer protection, and trade regulation law. He serves as Senior Counsel at law firm Wiggin and Dana’s Litigation Department as well as Co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Consumer Protection Practice Group. Langer is an adjunct professor as the University of Connecticut School of Law, teaching courses on antitrust, unfair and deceptive trade practices and constitutional law.
Jessica Espinoza ’20 Joins FLB Law as an Associate
Jessica Espinoza ’20 joins FLB Law in Westport as an associate in the firm’s insurance and litigation and dispute resolution practice. In this new position, Espinoza will handle general liability cases by supporting lead counsel interviewing clients, drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery requests and responses. Previously, Espinoza represented two asylum seekers pro bono through the Immigration Detention Service Project in York County Prison.
Heather Mullins Crislip ’00 Featured in Essay Series
Heather Mullins Crislip ’00 was featured as an essayist as part of the Richmond Racial Equity Essays series, a project designed to explore what racial equity looks like in Richmond, Virginia. In her essay, “Housing is the Root of Wealth Inequality: Building an Equitable Richmond,” Crislip explored the disparity in homeownership between white and Black households in Virginia, caused by the wealth gap, redlining, predatory lending and other factors. Her essay draws upon her many years of experience in housing law and policy.
Richard Stamm ’92 Appointed Vice President, General Counsel at Activ Surgical
Richard Stamm ’92 was appointed as Vice President, general counsel at Activ Surgical, Inc., a digital surgery pioneer. Stamm brings thirty years of corporate and securities law to his new role. Most recently, he maintained his own legal and consulting firm, leveraging his practical business law and corporate governance expertise to advise to variety of businesses and their leaders.
Lisa Stefano ’96 Named Partner
Lisa Stefano ’96 has been named a partner at the litigation law firm of Gfeller Laurie LLP, based in West Hartford, Connecticut. Stefano has extensive experience managing insurance coverage, underwriting, and claim and bad faith litigation for insurers. She was previously a litigation associate with The RiverStone Group.
Ted Kennedy Jr. ’97 Speaks on ADA
Ted Kennedy, Jr. will participate in UConn’s virtual #ThisisAmerica event, speaking in a panel discussion of “The Seen and Unseen Realities for People with Disabilities” on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 6 p.m. Kennedy, a partner at Epstein Becker Green, has more than 20 years of experience as a health care regulatory attorney and has been an active leader in the movement to expand opportunities for people with disabilities. He has served as chair of the Board of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
Gov. Lamont Proclaims Lee Sawyer Day
Gov. Ned Lamont recently signed a proclamation marking the anniversary of the death of Lee Sawyer ’13 as Lee Sawyer Day. Sawyer passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 31, 2020, leaving his wife and three daughters. He was committed to implementing environmentally friendly policies statewide as chief of staff for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He also launched Recycle CT, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the importance of sustainability through waste reduction, recycling and composting.