Charlie Adams joined the Connect-Us Board of Directors in 2018. His passions for youth development and equality of opportunity led him to spearhead the launch of the All Stars Project of Bridgeport in 2014, where he served as Board Chair until 2017. He is proud to continue in partnership with Pam Lewis and the Connect-Us team as it expands the scope and reach of its programs in Connecticut. Charlie spent his 30-year professional career on Wall Street, where he worked in a variety of finance, sales, structuring and management roles. For most of his career, Charlie worked in the energy commodities arena, where he helped pioneer the use of energy derivative products and structured financings. Charlie retired from Morgan Stanley in 2012, where he served as Managing Director and COO of its global commodities marketing business. Charlie and his wife Georgia reside in Westport, CT where they are actively involved with many local philanthropic organizations.

Linda Andryc was delighted to join the Connect-Us Board of Directors at its inception in 2017, pursuing her interest in supporting education and youth development. She has worn a number of hats in her life, starting her career in risk arbitrage at Merrill Lynch in New York City and teaching third and fourth grade at the Mead School in Stamford, CT. Most recently, Linda does bereavement counseling and healing and hospice work in a number of local organizations, including the Den for Grieving Kids and Hill House in Greenwich, and Hospice of Westchester. Linda also does music therapy with the Soundettes, a women’s acapella singing group based in Westchester, NY. Linda and her husband Phil have three adult children and have lived in Greenwich, CT for the last 20 years.

Joyce Eldh joined the Connect-Us Board of Directors in 2017. She has served in numerous volunteer and philanthropic roles in Fairfield County for many years. In 2007, Joyce facilitated and implemented the Staples High School Internship Program growing it from 50 students the first year to almost 100% participation by 2013. From 2006-2009, she worked on the Donor Committee for Staples Tuition Grants providing needs-based scholarships to eligible students pursuing college opportunities. Prior to that, Joyce served as PTA President of Staples High School from 2005-2006 and various other PTA committees at Coleytown Elementary and Coleytown Middle Schools. After moving to Westport in 1987, Joyce was an active member of The Westport Young Woman’s League, a nonprofit organization that raised money through various community-based events, awarding proceeds to local charitable organizations. Before her volunteer work, Joyce was a Systems Engineer and Sales Representative at Hewlett-Packard Company. She is a resident of Westport.

Arlene Doherty has served on the Board of Directors of Connect-Us since its inception in 2017. Arlene started her own company, AMD Advisors, an executive search firm, and before that worked at Futures International, an executive search firm focused on investment banking and asset management. She was previously a commercial lender and vice president at Bank of New York, among other positions, over 20+ years in banking. In addition to her work with Connect-Us, Arlene is on the Board of the Mercy Learning Center and has served as their corporate secretary on the Executive Committee for the past 4 years. She has also held numerous leadership roles with other nonprofit organizations such as Near & Far, Staples Tuition Grants, A Child’s Place School, and the PTA. Arlene earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University. She is married, with two children, and has lived in Westport for 27 years.

Frances Rowland is the Board Chair and a co-founder of Connect-Us. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design in New York City. Frances was the Chair of the Board of Saugatuck Child Care, Inc., for four years, and took over the role of director of the school for a year when the director passed away suddenly. Frances was the warden of Christ & Holy Trinity Church in Westport, CT for eight years and helped lead the church through many transitions. Frances is currently the Chair of Advancement and Capital Campaign Chair at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Her other volunteer activities include initiating a task force of churches to help furnish apartments for incoming refugee families for the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) in Bridgeport and she has chaired the CIRI Gala Committee for the last two years. In addition, Frances served on the Advisory Council of The Norma Phreim Breast Center from 2016-2018. Frances and her husband Steve have three adult children and currently reside in Westport, CT.

Kelvin Savage is an Executive Director and Banker in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Kelvin advises high net worth individuals and families as they navigate the complexities and challenges of managing institutional-sized wealth. Kelvin provides customized strategies across investments, banking, lending and estate planning. Kelvin has extensive experience providing investment advice to financial professionals, business owners and corporate executives. Kelvin joined the Private Bank in 2009. Prior to joining the Private Bank, Kelvin worked in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, where he was responsible for providing insurance derivative solutions to banks. Kelvin earned his MBA from Florida A & M University. He is a CFA charterholder, a CAIA charterholder and a CFP® professional, and holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses. Kelvin has a beautiful wife and daughter, and resides in New Canaan, Connecticut.