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Mike Urgo
President [email protected] 860.236.5442 Mike is a passionate environmentalist bringing his leadership and fundraising skills to CTLCV. Mike recently completed two terms of service as First Selectman (Mayor) of North Stonington CT, helping to promote community wellness and execution of the town’s strategic plans and initiatives. During this time, he was proud to help oversee the construction of new schools and an emergency services facility, help install solar on all of the town buildings, and helped North Stonington achieve Bronze Certification three years in a row through SustainableCT. He has worked tirelessly for environmental and voting reforms both locally and on a statewide level. As a leader and volunteer, Mike has given thousands of hours of his time for the betterment of the local community. He served as a coach for the Westerly/Pawcatuck YMCA swim team, he's a founding board member of the CT chapter of SAM (Serve America Movement); an organization devoted to voting reforms. He's also a former member of Rotary and a longtime volunteer for the American Cancer Society. These are just a few volunteer initiatives and causes to which Mike has been dedicated. Mike is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island and lives in North Stonington, CT, with his wife, Jen, and two children, Michael and Abby. |
Lori Brown
Executive Director [email protected] 860.236.5442 Lori has been the Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters since 2000, working to protect Connecticut's environment by making environmental issues a priority for our elected leaders and holding lawmakers accountable by publishing an annual "Environmental Scorecard”. Lori has organized multiple public education and grassroots lobbying campaigns, and has worked on political campaigns to elect pro-environment candidates across New York and Connecticut. She served on Governor Lamont’s transition team as a member of the Environment Committee assembled to provide policy recommendations to the incoming Lamont/Bysiewicz Administration. She is registered to lobby at the Connecticut General Assembly, working with all of Connecticut’s statewide environmental advocacy groups to push for important legislation that shapes our state’s policies on air, water, land, wildlife, energy and climate change. Prior to CTLCV, Lori helped to establish and directed the Sierra Club’s New York Chapter office. Her work in the private, public and nonprofit sectors also included media relations for the NYC School Construction Authority, and Communications for the New York League of Conservation Voters. |
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Connor Yakaitis
Deputy Director [email protected] 860.236.5442 Connor is first and foremost a Dog Dad and prefers to spend all of his free time with his yellow lab, Dakota. She has been known to supervise the office from time to time. He is also a budding musician and can be found playing guitar and singing original tunes at a variety of locations around CT. His love of the environment comes from a one-year trip around the country he took in an RV with his family in high school, where they visited 35 national parks and hiked countless mountains. After all of that traveling, he knew Connecticut was his one true home and chose a career that is dedicated to protecting its natural resources, pristine forests and beautiful coastline that he often spends boating with Dakota. |
David “Jonesy” Jones
Major Gifts [email protected] 860.236.5442 With over 40 years of experience in sales, communication, and public relations, "Jonesy" brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for fostering meaningful relationships. As a cancer survivor, he approaches philanthropy with deep empathy, having experienced the power of generosity firsthand. Jonesy often likens his work to that of a gardener—believing that with careful tending and consistent care, lasting connections are nurtured and strengthened over time. |
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Julianna Larue
Climate Policy and Outreach Coordinator [email protected] 860.236.5442 Julianna grew up with love for the environment. At a young age she started to take trips to the beach to clean up garbage in her spare time. She graduated Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with minors in Political Science and Biology and culture. At her time at SNHU she served as the President of the Environmental Club, interned for the Bernie Sanders Campaign, was a Sustainability Representative, and was a gender equity advocate at the Women's Center. She loves volunteering and has spent spring breaks on service trips across the country. She volunteered for the Florida Trail Association to educate students on environmental issues and conducted trail maintenance. Julianna served on the Bristol, CT Democratic Town Committee to help elect Bristol's first Woman Mayor. She finds peace being in nature and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and going to the beach. In her free time she is at the gym training for powerlifting competitions. Her true passion lies within protecting the environment and climate policy. |
Gracie Pope
Communications Manager [email protected] 860.236.5442 Gracie is new to the state of Connecticut, but is certainly not a novice at caring for the environment. After a childhood spent exploring state parks & the great outdoors in South Carolina, she took a class at Clemson University on the History of Environmental Science. This sparked a desire to advocate for environmental policy change (and to bring a reusable bag with her everywhere). She spent her early career working in local government and understands the importance of "starting small" when it comes to enacting change. Outside of her working life, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, decorating her apartment & visiting art & history museums. |
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Jack Kealey
Political Intern Georgetown University Sophie Sperry Political and Communications Intern Connecticut College Nina Engelbrecht Communications Intern Columbia University |
Julia den Dooven
Communications Intern CT High School Student Antara Singh-Ghai Political Intern Brown University |