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Giving a Human Face to Human Services Since 1952
For Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Greater New Haven County and Surrounding Towns.
Board of Directors
Patricia Martucci
President/Chair
Pat is a retired educator and has been strong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities (I/DD) since high school.
As a special education teacher in the New Haven Public School System, Pat helped students with I/DD develop the tools to lead fulfilling lives and achieve their dreams and goals.
Pat continues to champion equal opportunities and basic rights of dignity and respect for individuals with I/DD through her role as Previous Executive Board President and as a coach for Special Olympics.
Officers
Elinore Mulligan
Vice President/Vice Chair
Ellie is a graduate of the Southern CT State University where she received degrees in Special Education. She has many years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, both as a teacher in the North Haven Public Schools & Hartford Public Schools, and as a coach for Special Olympics.
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She continues to advocate for individuals with I/DD through her work on the Executive Board of the ARC of Greater New Haven.
Susan Loos
Secretary
Susan is a Wallingford resident and has been employed as an early childhood educator for almost 24 years. She studied Art at SCSU and worked for 10 years in Advertising as a Graphic Designer prior to having her twins in 1994.
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She joined the ARC Board of Directors in January 2017 as a parent representative of an individual with I/DD. Her son Greg is a participant in the North Haven program.
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Susan strives to enhance the lives of individuals in our I/DD community. She is also an advocate for the Program Specialists (direct care professionals) and their tireless dedication to all the participants at ARC of GNH. Their service and respect is paramount to those in the I/DD community.
Dorothy Logan
Treasurer
Dot is a retired special education educator with the North Haven Public Schools. After her retirement, Dot worked part time at Gateway Community College with the Step Forward program as a job coach coordinator.
As a special education teacher Dot worked with students in helping develop the life skills needed thrive as active members of in their communities.
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Dot, a graduate of Southern Connectiut State College, The University of New Haven and Central Connecticut State College, has served on the North Haven Board of Education, the ACES Governing Board and has been a North Haven Representative to the Regional Mental Board.
Directors
Judy Cody
In Remembrance
March 10, 1940 – October 15, 2025
Judy is a retired Speech and Language Clinician and special education teacher form the North Haven School system.
She specialized in life skills development and speech and language skills having served as a speech clinician in the system previous to her entering the classroom
full time.
She actively supports various programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She graduated from Boston University with a degree in
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Speech and Hearing Therapy and received a masters and 6th year degree in Special Education from SCSU. She has served on the ARC board in a variety of capacities since 2004.
Barbara Brandon
Barbara joined the ARCGNH in 2024. She brings with her over 40 years of experience with private non-profit organizations. She worked at Easter Seals for several years and was instrumental in developing the Birth to Three Program in the state of Connecticut.
During her time at the West Haven Community House, she became involved in the West Haven Chamber. She was able to advocate for program participants and developed employment opportunities for many.
She is someone who believes in the abilities that people have and has always tried to match these abilities with community experiences.
Barbara also served on the Board of Directors of Hamden Youth Services.
She is a resident of Hamden where she raised a family.
Holly DeMartino
A retired Special Education Teacher who worked in the North Haven School system for 40 years. My degrees are an Associates in Mental Health from Middlesex Community College and a Bachelors in Special Education and Counseling from SCSU. My career began when I worked with Judy Cody as a paraprofessional. Judy was my inspiration to pursue my teaching degree. Her mentorship has always had a special place in my heart, for she saw something in me that I didn’t realize could be tapped.
I loved working with kids of various intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities. I have two boys who have struggled with their disabilities throughout their schooling and yet when I had to sit in my first PPT meeting identifying one of my boys with a disability, I cried and had no idea what transpired. It was then, I decided to be an advocate for my students and parents who may not have known that they too can have a voice.
It’s important that parents have knowledge and therefore, it’s important to me that I can still be involved with students and parents from an entirely different angle by providing knowledge and continued support throughout their adulthood.
Laurie-Jean Hannon
Laurie-Jean is retired from Special Olympics Connecticut where she was the Vice President of Sports and Competition.
As a family member of individuals with down syndrome and fragile X, she has always been an advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Laurie-Jean has served on the board of directors of the ARC of GNH a few times in the past, and she has served on the board of directors for SARAH, Inc. where she had also been a staff member for many years.
Currently she continues to be involved with Special Olympics USA serving as a Sport Manager for the upcoming World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany. Being retired now is providing her with more time to be available for her 8 grandchildren.
Christopher Henry
Christopher Henry brings over 22 years of experience in retail banking, including two decades in management, where he has focused on building strong community and client relationships. His most recent role is as Branch Manager of the Northford CT location of Ascend Bank. He is married to his wife Amanda and is the proud father of their 14-year-old daughter, Nellie and resides in Branford, CT.
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Deeply engaged in his community, Christopher serves on the Branford Youth Lacrosse Board, is a section leader in the Trinity Branford choir, and leads the church’s youth choir, which shares music at local convalescent homes. He is also an active volunteer, delivering financial literacy education through Boys and Girls Scouting, after-school programs, and Junior Achievement. Additionally, he has organized fundraising initiatives, including TD Bank’s partnership with the Special Olympics.
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Christopher is passionate about service, leadership, and creating opportunities for others through both professional expertise and community engagement.
Holly Innocenzi
Holly Innocenzi serves as Assistant Vice President of Deposit Operations & Electronic Banking at New Haven Bank, where she oversees key operational areas and leads internal marketing and social media efforts that strengthen engagement with clients and the community. With over a decade of experience in community banking, Holly is a passionate advocate for volunteerism and community connection. She has spearheaded initiatives that connect the bank with the local community, including leading outreach programs and volunteer efforts in celebration of the bank’s 15th anniversary.
A lifelong supporter of service, advocacy and inclusion, Holly brings her energy, strategic insight, and dedication to her role on the Board of Directors of The ARC of Greater New Haven.
A resident of Hamden, she is committed to supporting the organization’s mission of empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full and meaningful lives.
Traci Planinshek
I grew up right next door in Wallingford and attended Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island after high school. After working in the restaurant industry for many years, I continued my education to become a teacher. I have been a teacher for 18 years, but I am now the Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts Instructor at North Haven HIgh School. Last year I joined Gateway Community College as an instructor in their Culinary Arts Program as well. I have owned a restaurant in the area for the last 12 years with my sister and hope that this experience can assist me in the Executive Board position with ARC of Greater New Haven.
Joseph Piscitelli
Coming soon
