Board of Driectors
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Terese is an experienced professional with over seventeen years of experience in the financial services industry, with an extensive background in financial management, including expertise in strategy sourcing. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of families and individuals striving for personal and professional growth. Terese has successfully led and supported company-wide and project-specific initiatives to align service strategies, financial management and operational systems to help organizations fulfill their missions and satisfy contractual requirements. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, finance and accounting, program management and governance, risk management, budgeting and accounting, operational quality and improvement, contract and compliance implementation for non-profit, public and private sector organizations.
Terese is also the owner and CEO of Fierce Financial Services. Fierce Financial Services is a financial literacy and services organization that elevates individuals and small businesses financial mindset from rich to wealthy.
Deirdre holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Bridgeport.
She has worked for 30 years for two Fortune 500 companies in Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Deirdre currently works full time as an office manager for a non-profit, in Milford.
She brings a life-long passion for theatre arts and a desire to work towards advancing Arts in CT programs to the public.
Diedre’s other positions include: Vice President – Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization (Bridgeport); Connecticut Ambassador (CT Office of Tourism); Volunteer (Sacred Heart University Alumni Events); Member of CT Line Dancers.
THE TEAM
Board of Directors
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Tolga Kaya
President
Dr. Tolga Kaya is currently a Professor and Director of Electrical and Computer Engineering programs at the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Dr. Kaya oversees the growth of Engineering programs at Sacred Heart University. Before joining SHU, Dr. Kaya was an Associate Professor at Central Michigan University’s School of Engineering and Technology between 2010-2017. Dr. Kaya worked as a research scientist at Yale University from 2007 to 2010 at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. For several years, he has worked as a technology consultant (Brightwell Corp.) and a senior analog circuit designer (Microelectronics, Inc.).
Dr. Kaya’s research primarily focuses on sports data analytics on wearable devices to monitor athletes’ physiology. He currently incorporates machine learning techniques to predict athlete performance and injury. He is well-known in the field of hydration research and sports data analytics. Dr. Kaya also focuses on Internet of Things (IoT) devices and 3D printing technologies. His past research involved bacteria hydrodynamics as well.
Dr. Kaya researched education technology and teaching pedagogies in the last decade. He implements active learning strategies in his classrooms and focuses on student-centered learning. All his courses have significant hands-on components with plenty of activities to help students link theory with practice.
Besides his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering, Dr. Kaya also has an M.A. in Education Technology and an MBA focused on management and marketing.
Lisa Hardy-Gardner
Vice President
Lisa is the Owner and CEO of Reliant Behavioral Health and Community Services LLC as well as Effective Community Services TLC (Transforming Life’s Circumstances) Lisa is a proud alumn of Springfield College where she received her bachelor’s(BAHS), graduate degrees(MSW) and her Seminar in Field Instruction Certification. Lisa is certified as a Community Health Worker as well as a Mental Health First Aid Responder. Lisa has years of community/human service experience working as a Clinical Therapist, Medical Social Worker, supervisor, and Program Director. Lisa has worked in community/mental health agencies, sober living programs, acute inpatient/outpatient care hospital settings, and residential-based agencies operated by The Department of Children and Families and The Department of Mental Health Services. Additionally, Lisa has assisted with clinical research projects on healthcare disparities in urban communities through the City of New Haven’s Health Department (2009). Additionally, Lisa is the Vice President of Arts in CT. Lisa is also a board member of Whalley Avenue Small Business Association and Loaves and Fish. In 2011, Lisa was awarded the Family Legends Award from the March of Dimes Incorporated. Lisa continues to support these efforts of addressing prematurity and infant mortality through volunteerism as a member of the Eastern Region of the Links Inc.(Waterbury Chapter), Jack and Jill of America Inc., New Haven Healthy Start(Community Partner/Liaison), and through her girl’s group Beautiful Girls Dare to Dream. In 2019, Lisa and her daughters created the first of many annual events entitled, “Our Kid’s Swim Too!”(5013c), where she partnered with LEAP Incorporated to address drowning rate disparities within at-risk communities. Additionally, Lisa is also the Owner and CEO of “Impactful Cuts”. In the spring of 2023 Impactful Cut’s partnered with Dr. David Asbery’s Non-profit, “Fixing Father’s Inc. local barbershop and salon owners to provide resources, haircuts & salon appointments, and basic needs support to individuals, children, and families. Lastly, Lisa’s specialties include community engagement, leadership, clinical diagnoses, treatment of various mood disorders, schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder, trauma, PTSD, LGBQT issues, substance abuse, grief and loss, phase of life issues, couples counseling, maternal health, divorce, and other mental health/behavioral health issues, career and community resource planning, and self-care/esteem. Lisa’s work experience also includes:
• Case management, community outreach from pediatric to geriatric • Medical social work • Domestic Violence • Child and Family Advocacy • Group Work • Disabled resources/benefits • Veterans benefits• Working with persons living with chronic/terminal/neurodegenerative illnesses • Hospice/Palliative Care • Prenatal/postpartum depression • Infant Mortality • Life Coach • Women’s/ Men Empowerment.
Diedre Thomas
Member at Large
Deirdre holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Bridgeport.
She has worked for 30 years for two Fortune 500 companies in Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Deirdre currently works full time as an office manager for a non-profit, in Milford.
She brings a life-long passion for theatre arts and a desire to work towards advancing Arts in CT programs to the public.
Diedre’s other positions include: Vice President – Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization (Bridgeport); Connecticut Ambassador (CT Office of Tourism); Volunteer (Sacred Heart University Alumni Events); Member of CT Line Dancers.
Terese Alexander
Treasurer
Terese is an experienced professional with over seventeen years of experience in the financial services industry, with an extensive background in financial management, including expertise in strategy sourcing. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of families and individuals striving for personal and professional growth. Terese has successfully led and supported company-wide and project-specific initiatives to align service strategies, financial management and operational systems to help organizations fulfill their missions and satisfy contractual requirements. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, finance and accounting, program management and governance, risk management, budgeting and accounting, operational quality and improvement, contract and compliance implementation for non-profit, public and private sector organizations.
Terese is also the owner and CEO of Fierce Financial Services. Fierce Financial Services is a financial literacy and services organization that elevates individuals and small businesses financial mindset from rich to wealthy.
New Name will be here
Member at Large
Deirdre holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Bridgeport.
She has worked for 30 years for two Fortune 500 companies in Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Deirdre currently works full time as an office manager for a non-profit, in Milford.
She brings a life-long passion for theatre arts and a desire to work towards advancing Arts in CT programs to the public.
Diedre’s other positions include: Vice President – Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization (Bridgeport); Connecticut Ambassador (CT Office of Tourism); Volunteer (Sacred Heart University Alumni Events); Member of CT Line Dancers.
