Daniel W. Rezende is the President and CEO of CJR, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide the necessary therapeutic treatment and support to young people and their families to promote positive change and transform their lives through residential, wellness, community, and education services. He is a mission-driven leader with a passion for bringing professionals and the community together to address the evolving needs of children, young adults, and families so they can maximize their potential for growing into healthy, productive community members. He is also a member of CJR’s Board of Directors.

Dan has spent nearly 40 years with CJR. He joined the organization in 1984 and has been serving as the President and CEO since April 1, 2012. Under his leadership, CJR has experienced successful growth and program diversification, including adding wellness services to CJR’s program offerings, as well as recruiting, retaining, and developing a highly skilled pool of talented professionals who are deeply committed to meeting the evolving needs of those they serve. As President, Dan is responsible for executing the organization’s strategic plan. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has deep expertise and years of hands-on experience in developing and managing residential- and community-based programs across Connecticut. Prior to his President and CEO role, he was CJR’s Director of Programs and was responsible for the management and development of all agency programs at throughout the state.

Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in applied social relations from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut. He resides in West Hartford, Connecticut, with his wife, Wendy, and their daughter. He enjoys spending time with his family at the beach, golfing, and is an avid UConn Huskies fan.

Hedy Barton is the Chief Development Officer and is responsible for CJR’s fundraising, special events, public relations, and promotional activities. Under her leadership, CJR’s fundraising campaigns, initiatives, volunteers, and events have raised more than $29 million to benefit those helped by CJR’s residential, education, and community-based care, treatment, and wellness services.

Prior to joining CJR, Hedy held senior development positions at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and The Children’s Museum in West Hartford. She is a member of the Litchfield Aid of CJR and volunteers in support of other organizations and civic groups, including the Canton Land Conservation Trust and the Town of Canton’s Conservation Commission. She is also an officer of American Belgian Malinois Rescue, Inc., and a trustee of the American Belgian Malinois Rescue Charitable Trust.

Hedy holds a Certified Fund Raising Executive title conferred by CFRE International, an independent nonprofit organization with a mission to set standards in philanthropy through a valid and reliable certification process for fundraising professionals. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from San Francisco State University and her Master of Arts from the University of Saint Joseph. When not working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, collecting rare citrus trees, and hiking with her husband and Belgian Malinois.

Katherine (Kathy) Budzyn is the Director of Human Resources for CJR. Her responsibilities include recruiting, retaining, and developing the talent of CJR. She shares a deep commitment to embedding CJR’s mission and values into behaviors that fuel a trusted, transparent, and positive culture. She has been in this role since 2012.

Prior to CJR, she worked with The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital where she was responsible for managing and administering benefits programs for more than 1,000 hospital employees and its retiree population. Kathy has also held positions in human resources administration at The Timken Company (formerly The Torrington Company).

Kathy received her bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and her master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She also holds an SHRM-SCP certification. Kathy resides in Litchfield County, Connecticut, with her husband, Ed, and their Siberian Forest Cat, Pixie, who has them wrapped around her little paw.

Jennifer Grant is the Director of the CJR Wellness Center for Children and Families, which is based in the Michael P. Mortara Family Center on CJR’s Litchfield Campus. Additionally, she oversees outpatient psychiatric services in four other locations across Connecticut  (Danbury, New Britain, Torrington, and Waterbury) and in more than a dozen school-based locations. She leads a multidisciplinary team of clinicians trained in evidence-based treatment models, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC), and Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Jennifer has been in this role since 2015.

Jennifer began in the Litchfield residential program in 2002 as a Family Services Worker. In 2004, Jennifer took on a role in the Multisystemic Therapy Program as the supervisor for the Torrington and Danbury locations. In addition to her role at CJR, Jennifer serves as an adjunct faculty member at various universities, including Simmons University and Post University.  

Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree from Salve Regina University and her Master of Social Work from Fordham University. Jennifer resides in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, with her husband and two daughters. For fun, Jennifer and her family are avid Walt Disney World travelers, as well as skiers.

Ana M. Flamengo is the Director of Community Programs at CJR and is responsible for overseeing the operations of the community programs designed to support the emotional and behavioral needs of children aged 10 and up and their families so they can succeed in their home, local school, and community. This includes developing and implementing staff training, pursuing public and private funding opportunities to enable CJR to enhance and expand its community-based services, and leading a team of trained professionals to deliver those services.

Ana joined CJR in 2004 and has held a variety of roles, including Lead Therapist for Multisystemic Treatment. As Lead Therapist, she was responsible for providing intensive in-home family therapy to adolescents and their families with the goal of fostering behavioral change in the individual’s natural environment. Ana has been the Director of Community Programs since 2012.

Ana is also involved in multiple statewide initiatives, work groups, and committees that impact juvenile justice and adult policy reform. These include the Partnership for Stronger Communities in Hartford, System Task Force Juvenile Reform, Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Juvenile Justice Policy Oversight Committee — Diversion Work Group, Disproportionate Minority Contact committee, and CT Inter Group committee (LIST). Additionally, she volunteers for Leadership, Education & Athletics in Partnership (LEAP), an agency that focuses on helping young people develop tools to become leaders and change their lives.

She resides in Watertown, Connecticut, and enjoys being an active member in her children’s PTO meetings and school events.

Christine Jaffer is the Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for overseeing the operations of the organization’s four residential programs in Waterbury and Litchfield, and its Winchester Therapeutic Group Home. CJR’s residential program provide short- and long-term treatment for teen boys that incorporates evidence-based clinical and experiential modalities plus academic support. Christine has held this position since 2012.

Chris joined CJR in 1986 and has held a variety of roles, including as a Childcare Worker, Social Worker, Program Director, and Multisystemic Therapy Program Supervisor. Chris is a Licensed Social Worker and her extensive hands-on experience allows her to design, implement, and manage treatment programs that deliver meaningful and positive outcomes for individuals and their families.

Chris has contributed to numerous collaborative projects with the state of Connecticut, including the design and development of the CARE Program, the TRI-Model, and the Residential Safe Touch Policy. Chris has also worked closely with the state to coordinate the successful operation of several residential program models that have been replicated by other providers.

Prior to CJR, Chris provided counseling and job development to clients who were recently released from incarceration.

Chris earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Connecticut and her Master of Social Work from University of Connecticut. She also holds a postgraduate certificate in clinical supervision from University of Connecticut’s School of Social Work. She resides in Thomaston, Connecticut, and enjoys traveling and working out.

James Obst is the Director of Education & Student Services at CJR and is responsible for providing students with a supportive educational environment that nurtures their ability to maximize their individual potential and strengthen their social and academic experiences, now and throughout their lifetimes. Committed to delivering the mission of CJR through education, James adheres to processes, curricula, and programs that support and maintain an equitable and positive learning culture. Under his tenure, CJR’s education program transitioned from a residential program to a day education school, student admissions and enrollment have increased by nearly 60%, and tuition rates and operating costs have decreased by 18%.  

James has been with CJR since 1997 and has held a variety of roles, starting as a Youth Counselor for the organization’s residential program and moving onto education roles, including teaching regular and special education. He has also served as an adjunct professor with the Connecticut State University system.  

James received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Sixth-Year Diploma in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. He is a certified superintendent. James resides in Torrington, Connecticut, and enjoys trail riding, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.  

Trish Shishkov is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and is responsible for leading the oversight of CJR’s financial affairs and for managing the organization’s business, IT, and maintenance functions. In her role as CFO, Trish has the primary responsibility for developing CJR’s long-term financial vision and operating plan, developing CJR’s budgets, financial reports, and fiscal compliance to drive the business forward. Trish has been in this role since 2011.

Prior to becoming CFO, Trish was Director of Finance and Operations at the Warner Theatre. After leaving that position, Trish joined the Warner Theatre Board of Directors as an Officer and served as Treasurer from 2014 to 2018.

She received her Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Southern New Hampshire University. Trish resides in Northwest Connecticut with her husband, two daughters, and a houseful of pets. For fun, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time at the beach.

Julianne Torrence, the Director of Performance and Quality Improvement at CJR, is responsible for ensuring clinical fidelity to evidence-based and outcomes-influenced treatment modalities through program assessment and evaluation. Since 2009, she has overseen a team dedicated to exploring and applying for new programs, as well as initiating and maintaining licenses and accreditations for the organization using data-driven strategies to inform program decisions.

Julianne has been with CJR since 2007 and has held a variety of roles, including Clinical Program Director for CJR’s Therapeutic Group Home, where she developed and implemented a new therapeutic, trauma-informed model for a group home for teenage boys. Prior to CJR, she was a Clinical Social Worker with McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. She is also a published author, having co-authored a chapter in Sociocultural Issues in Psychiatry: A Casebook and Curriculum.

Julianne received her Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College and her Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut. She resides in Thomaston, Connecticut, and in her free time, she and her partner are working on renovating a bus into a tiny home.