The Connecticut Health Care Coalition is preparing for its annual conference, which will take place on April 28, 2026 in Cromwell, CT. Please see below for all confirmed speakers and their bios!
Dr. Vincent Covello, PhD, MA
Director, Center for Risk Communications
Co-Founder, Pathway to Risk, High Concern, and Crisis Communications
Dr. Vincent Covello is a nationally and internationally recognized trainer, researcher, consultant, and expert in emergency, crisis, conflict, change, and risk communications. His work has focused on operational disruptions and high concern health, safety, and environmental issues
Dr. Covello conducted trainings and consulted for several thousand organizations. His recent assignments include trainings, workshops, and consultations related to communications about contamination of drinking water, disease outbreaks, industrial accidents, terrorism, hospital emergencies, occupational safety, vaccine safety, waste disposal, hazardous waste sites, air quality, water security, climate change, blackouts, wildfires, operational disruptions, major budget cuts, and natural hazards (e.g., floods, hurricanes, typhoons, and earthquakes).
Over the past thirty years, Dr. Covello has held positions in academia and government. Prior to establishing the Center for Risk Communication, he was Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences and Clinical Medicine at Columbia University and a senior scientist on detail at the White House Council on Environmental Qualtiy. Dr. Covello also serves as a senior advisor to the World Health Organization, the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Sinclair Award for Excellence in Radiation Science from the National Council on Radiation Protection.
Dr. Covello serves on the editorial board of several journals and is the Past President of the Society for Risk Analysis, a professional association with over 3000 members. Dr. Covello received his doctorate from Columbia University in 1976 and his B.A. with honors and M.A. from Cambridge University in England. He has authored or edited more than 25 books and over 150 published scientific articles on risk and crisis communications. One of his most popular books is titled: “Effective Media Communication During Public Health Emergencies: A World Health Organization Handbook.” His most recent books are (1) Communicating in Risk, Crisis, and High Stress Situations: Evidence-Based Strategy and Practice (Wiley/IEEE Press), and (2) Communicating Effectively in a Radiological Emergency (National Council on Radiation Protection). A description of the first book as well as an excerpt from the book and the Table of Contents can be found at:
Communicating in Risk, Crisis, and High Stress Situations: Evidence-Based Strategies and Practice
Dr. Lauren Herlihy, PhD
Director of Autism Psychology, Hospital for Special Care
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Lauren Herlihy is a clinical psychologist and experienced provider of comprehensive diagnostic and psychological assessments for children and young adults suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her specialization includes complex differential diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder when trauma, depression, and/or anxiety may be considerations; and early diagnosis in toddlers and preschoolers.
Dr. Herlihy was one of the clinical experts who helped develop the first and only Autism-specific psychiatric inpatient unit for children and adolescents in Connecticut that provides intensive behavioral intervention and psychopharmacological treatment for individuals hospitalized due to severe aggression, self-injury, or other decompensation in functioning in the community. She also helped develop Hospital for Special Care’s Partial Hospital Program which provides supports for children to transition successfully back into the community following an inpatient stay, and helps others improve safety at home and in school with the hope of preventing hospitalization and emergency room visits.
Dr. Herlihy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience and Behavior from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and Connecticut Psychological Association.
Richard Lippert
Public Health Management Corporation
Bio coming soon!
John Montes
Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross, Northern New England Region
John Montes serves as the Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross Northern New England Region, overseeing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
With more than 25 years of experience in EMS and emergency management, John has responded to over 50 mass casualty incidents as an EMT, paramedic, and chief officer. He has supported planning for nationally significant security events including the Boston Marathon and Super Bowl 50 and helped develop the NFPA 3000 standard for active shooter and hostile event response.
John specializes in multi-agency coordination, community recovery, and building resilient systems that support survivors, responders, and communities following complex incidents.
Allyson Stanczyk
Regional Client Care Manager, American Red Cross, Northern New England Region
Allyson Stanczyk is the Regional Client Care Manager for the Northern New England Region of the American Red Cross, where she leads Disaster Cycle Services programs supporting individuals and communities impacted by disasters. With a background in healthcare and social services, she brings experience in case management, crisis intervention, and client advocacy. Allyson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and is dedicated to collaborative, compassionate disaster response and recovery.
Scott Wright
Sr. Telecommunications Engineer II, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications
Scott Wright is a Senior Telecommunications Engineer II with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection and has worked for the state for over 36 years. In his role with the state, Mr. Wright oversees the dramatically expanding P25 state trunked & conventional radio system. He serves as the Deputy Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), and is on a number of local, state, and federal committees. He has a long history in public safety.