Wood Memorial Library Association
The Wood Memorial Library Association is the Trustee of the Wood Memorial Library Trust.
The Directors of the Wood Memorial Library Association are:
david Raymond, Vice-President
Dave Raymond has been the audio engineer for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since 2007, recording and post-producing audio content for a variety of Museum productions and events. He records and produces classical music in New York and Connecticut and is an audio engineer for the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Mr. Raymond’s past achievements include two decades as a musical instrument designer and builder and author of a best-selling book on electric guitar construction. Mr. Raymond and his wife Jessica Glass run the farm on Main Street in South Windsor that was once the home of his great-great uncle Will Wood, who started the Wood Memorial Library Trust and built the Wood Memorial Library. Mr. Raymond, at the farm for 35 years and counting, represents the seventh generation of his family to have lived there. B.A., Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 1987.
Jessica Glass, President
Jessica Glass was a Video Producer, Camera Operator and Editor for numerous NYC cultural venues and museums including 21 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In that capacity she produced dozens of fundraising films, in-gallery educational presentations, interactives and promotional material to further the mission of the Museum. She learned the value and effect of community volunteer work while working for 10 years with the media activist production collective, Paper Tiger TV. She is currently the Producer and Director of Photography for her own video production company, and Media Technical Director and Projectionist specializing in live events. With her husband David Raymond, Ms. Glass also operates and manages their property in South Windsor that includes a historic working sheep farm, 150 acres of pastures and cropland and a residential rental property. B.A., Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 1989.
Judith Straayer, Treasurer
Judy was born and raised in the Midwest (Eastern Michigan) in a primarily Dutch conservative Christian community. She graduated from Calvin College with an education and music degree, and spent several years teaching music in elementary and middle school. After marriage and 2 children, Judy went back to school and received a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Texas with a concentration in finance, and passed her CPA certification. After 7 years in Florida, 5 years in Texas and 2 years in California, her family moved to South Windsor, CT in 1986. She was a partner in Massa and Hinsley, CPAs for several years, and started her own CPA firm in 1999.
Married for 50 years in June ‘21, with 2 children, 8 grandchildren, 17 years on Main Street, Judy loves history, Main Street, high wheeled bikes, trees, birds, reading. She believes that honesty, integrity and respect for all people is essential for government and community.
Janet Wade Utay, Secretary
Janet Wade-Utay, recently retired from Pratt & Whitney, has more than 30 years as a lean leader and business transformation leader in the aerospace industry and has applied this expertise in non-profit organizations to develop collaborative relationships for peacemaking leading to the building and sustaining of community, hope, and care for marginalized individuals. Janet is a systems thinker with demonstrated results in leadership coaching, organization and lean transformation and scientific problem-solving. She possesses a unique combination of program management leadership, manufacturing, engineering, quality and continuous improvement expertise with both domestic and international customers.
Using her skills of critical thinking, process-focus, and collaboration, Janet has worked with several churches to establish a food service for people experiencing homelessness and counseling services to address clients’ underlying issues. Janet led classes and consensus building with her congregation and church leadership leading to the development and adoption of an inclusivity policy to affirm the LGBTQIA voice in the denomination before the denomination formally gave full membership status to LGBTQIA persons.
Janet received her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) and also has post-secondary degrees from VPI&SU and Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.
Laurence Rosansky, Director
B.A., Wesleyan University, 1991, J.D., Fordham University (cum laude, Order of the Coif) 1995. Mr. Rosansky practiced law in Manhattan as a corporate tax attorney at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and at Shearman & Sterling before moving to investment banking as a structured finance specialist. Most recently, Mr. Rosansky was Head for the Americas of a structured finance group at Société Générale's corporate and investment bank. Mr. Rosansky has served as a director for numerous nonpublic companies in connection with his activities in finance.
Robert E. Raymond, President and Treasurer emeritus
Bob Raymond was the Portfolio Manager of all the mortgage and real estate assets of Cigna, one of the country's largest insurance companies, and the Senior Real Officer of SunTrust Banks, one of the country's largest bank holding companies. He is a former trustee of the Urban Land Institute and held memberships in the Society of Real Estate Counselors, Mortgage Bankers Association and International Council of Shopping Centers. Mr. Raymond also served as Director of the Connecticut Rivershed Water Council and Central Florida Red Cross. As Treasurer and President he was involved in managing the Wood Memorial Library Trust’s endowment and property since 1971, and served as Board President for many years.
Kathryn H. Kerrigan, Secretary Emerita
B.A., Wells College, Aurora, NY, 1972. Mrs. Kerrigan spent 14 years with The Hartford Insurance Group, where she managed teams of writers and analysts in the IT department. The focus of the work was on incorporating human factors into systems design to make them intuitive and accessible, and using technology to enhance communications. After returning to school to obtain her teaching certification and pursue a Masters Degree in Education, she spent the following 17 years teaching children in international schools in Prague, Czech Republic and Beijng, China. Mrs. Kerrigan brings to the Association her strong project management skills, years of volunteer work in her diverse communities, and an ex-pat’s perspective on non-profits. She has worked to support The Wood Memorial Library & Museum as a volunteer in various leadership capacities for more than 35 years.
ADVISORY BOARD to WOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Anne Berry
Anne Berry began as a grants consultant for the Wood Memorial Library Association (WMLA) in May of 2021. She assists with the planning and submission of grant applications for improvements to the Wood Library building by providing collaborative technical and analytical support to the Association’s Board of Directors. Since 2019, Anne has worked at the University of Hartford helping faculty and staff to manage their research and programmatic funding portfolios. In March of 2022, Anne moved into a financial accounting role at the University, overseeing the post award compliance of externally-funded grants and contracts. Previously, Anne worked as Grants Associate at Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. She earned a professional credential as a Certified Grant Writer from the American Grant Writers Association in January 2019. Anne also has a background teaching music ensemble courses at Wesleyan University and Trinity College. She holds a Doctorate in Music Performance from the Hartt School and continues to perform with the West End String Quartet as their cellist.
SAM CONNOR
Sam serves the non-profit and cause sectors as an outsourced executive in strategy, marketing, and fundraising, and builds teams for transformative growth. He has served as head of the national marketing and communications team at the Anti-Defamation League and been a senior marketer and fundraiser for Save the Children, and held a range of executive field positions for leading international development agencies working in appropriate technologies, civil society development, and public health. He lived and worked abroad in Africa (Togo, Mozambique, Malawi) and Asia (India and Myanmar) for 15 years building life-changing social entrepreneurship programs.
Sam started his own firm for purposeful customer engagement and cause support including bespoke strategies on fundraising in 2015. A dual UK / US national who works globally, Sam continues to grow his partnerships around the world, thriving on bringing creativity and resources to fund innovations that can transform the US and beyond.