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Our Presenters
Erin Choquette
Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
Erin O'Brien Choquette is the Chief Executive Officer of the Paid Leave Authority. Prior to her appointment as CEO of the CT Paid Leave Authority in January 2023, Ms. Choquette served as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer. She worked for the Department of Administrative Services for 14 years, serving as the Policy and Legislative Advisor to the DAS Commissioner, directing the agency's legislative and general legal functions. While at DAS, Ms. Choquette co-authored the Family and Medical Leave Entitlements Manual, an extensive and detailed guide to understanding and administering federal and state family and medical leave laws. Ms. Choquette practiced law for several years at Robinson & Cole, LLP, where she focused on employer counseling and the litigation of employment-related claims as well as disability insurance litigation.
Michael Cisar
General Counsel for the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
Michael Cisar is the General Counsel for Connecticut Paid Leave Authority. He has been with the Authority since 2021 and is involved in all legal matters that impact the organization. Prior to joining the Authority, Michael worked for over 12 years in the insurance industry in various roles, including Product Management, Compliance, Customer Implementation, and Operations. He was primarily focused on employer benefits – in particular short-term and long-term disability insurance.
John Simonetti
Benefits Manager for the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
John has worked for the State of Connecticut for 15 years, including the past 5 years with the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority as Benefits Manager and previously as Compliance Manager. Prior to joining the Authority, John served as a Fiscal Administrative Officer in the Child Welfare Accounting unit at CT Dept of Children and Families performing Fiscal Program Policy Auditing and Compliance. John also served at CT Dept. of Labor in Unemployment Insurance Claims Administration with experience in claims processing, quality assurance, program data analysis and drafting business requirements for the Salesforce claim intake project. Prior to state service, John managed businesses in the private sector as an Outpatient Surgery Center Administrator, with experience in medical insurance claims, third-party payer contract modeling and contract negotiations. John holds a B.S. In Finance from the University of Connecticut.
Catherine Russo
Private Plan Examiner for the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
Catherine is a member of the Legal Team with the CT Paid Leave Authority, where she is responsible for private plan audits and the approval of an employer’s request for claim access. She also partakes in fraud investigations as well as appeals. She brings 20 years of experience in the legal profession which includes a role with the U.S. Trustee in Bankruptcy as an auditor. Prior roles also include 5 years as a Senior Ability Analyst in the insurance group benefits industry and Self Proprietor of a federally certified Woman’s Owned Small Business (WOSB). She received her Legal Studies and Paralegal degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Jennifer Simpson
Accounts Examiner for the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority
Jennifer Simpson is an experienced Accounts Examiner for the CT Paid Leave Authority with professional experience in both the payroll and insurance industries. She supports financial review processes, assists in maintaining compliance standards, and contributes to the smooth operation of account-related workflows. Prior to joining the Authority, Jennifer worked as a CT Paid Leave contractor through United Way, assisting with account registration and program awareness prior to the program going live. In this role she contributed to key projects working towards building the Authority's fund recovery system. Jennifer holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Middlesex Community College.
To contact the CT Paid Leave Authority, submit a Customer Support form through the Contact Us page or email questions to nicole.sanclemente@ct.gov.
President of the Insurance Association of Connecticut
Having spent more than two decades representing the interests of Connecticut businesses before policymakers as well as working directly for the General Assembly early in his career, Eric is well known throughout state government as an effective and experienced leader and advocate. Before joining the IAC, Eric served as the Principal of the Eric George Group, LLC where he provided a wide array of legislative, regulatory and executive lobbying and consulting services to a number of high-profile business clients. He also served as chief lobbyist for healthcare related matters and in-house counsel for Connecticut’s largest and most renowned statewide business and industry association. Eric was also an attorney with one of the top law firms in Connecticut, where he practiced in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and municipal finance.
To connect with Eric, please contact egeorge@iaconnecticut.com or call (860) 206-6030.
Ellen McKitterick
Staff Attorney at the Connecticut Department of Labor
Ellen McKitterick is a Staff Attorney in the Legal Division of the Connecticut Department of Labor. Ellen’s areas of expertise include Connecticut leave laws, including the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act and Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law, employment discrimination, workplace accommodation, workplace standards, and wage and hour laws. Prior to state service, Ellen practiced employment law in Arizona and Connecticut. In addition to her work in the Legal Division, Ellen serves as the Labor Commissioner’s Appointee to the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority.
Staff Attorney at the Connecticut Department of Labor
Jennifer Devine is a Staff Attorney in the Legal Division of the Connecticut Department of Labor, where she has worked for almost 19 years. Jennifer’s areas of expertise include Connecticut leave laws, in particular the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act and Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law, employment discrimination, workplace accommodation, workplace standards, and wage and hour laws. Prior to the Department of Labor, Jennifer practiced employment law in the private sector and worked as an attorney for the federal government.
For questions related to CT FMLA, please contact DOL.CTFMLA@ct.gov or call (860) 263-6400.
Kimberly Jacobson
Managing Director - Employment, Commission Counsel at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunity
Kimberly Jacobsen earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from Western New England College, School of Law. In 2001, Kimberly began her career in state service as an investigator with the Commission on Human Rights (CHRO). In the fall of 2005 as a member of the legal division as a litigation attorney for the Commission. Kimberly represented the Commission at administrative hearings held before the Commission’s Public Hearings Office and in a variety of litigation before State Courts. Her work at the CHRO also included appellate litigation and she has argued before the State’s Appellate Court. Kimberly is also involved with the agency’s education and outreach. Kimberly now serves the CHRO as a Managing Director and Commission Attorney of Employment at the CHRO. She manages attorneys, investigators, and support staff. Additionally, she serves as a resource for the agency’s regional offices and is involved in the preparation of the agency’s legislative proposals.
For questions for the CHRO, please visit the Commission contact page.
