UConn's Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation is holding a one-day conference at UConn School of Law in Hartford on Friday, November 20, 2026, to learn about CIRCA's programs. Registration closes Friday, November 13.
REGISTER
Agenda
8:45 -9:15: Registration and Coffee
9:15 – 9:30: Welcome Remarks - Lindsay DiStefano, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UConn
9:30 – 9:50: CIRCA Presentation - Jim O'Donnell, Executive Director, CIRCA
9:50-10:35: Legislative Implementation Presentations - Facilitated by John Truscinski, Director of Resilience Planning, CIRCA
- 9:50 – 10:00: Resilience Improvement Districts - Jon Reiner, Director of Planning and Development Services, Town of Groton
- 10:00 – 10:10: Stormwater Authorities - Mark Moriarty, Director of Public Works, City of New Britian
- 10:10 – 10:20: Climate Change and Coastal Resilience Reserve Funds – Dylan Steer, Sustainability & Solid Waste Coordinator, Town of Mansfield
- 10:20 – 10:35: Question and Answers
10:35 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:00: Panel Framing Remarks - CT State Senator Cathy Osten
11:00 – 12:00: Legislative Panel - Senator Cathy Osten, Representative Joe Gresko, and Representative Aundré Bumgardner. Facilitated by Joe MacDougald, UConn School of Law.
12:00-12:20: Keynote Address, Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)
12:20-1:00 - Lunch
1:00 – 2:10: On the Ground and in the Water Panel - Bill Lucey, Save the Sound; Betsy Gara, COST; Don Bell, City of East Hartford; Brenda Watson, North Hartford Partnership. Facilitated by Joanna Wozniak Brown, OPM.
2:10 – 2:30 – Networking
Parking
For complimentary parking, please complete this
In the field titled CIRCA, enter code (do not copy & paste)
Code: 112026CIRCA
During the authorization process, event attendees are required to provide vehicle license plate numbers. Filling out this form in advance will ensure that no parking fees are incurred and will serve as your parking "permit" during the event.
Location: UConn School of Law, Starr Hall, 45 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT
For GPS purposes, use 110 Sherman Street as your destination address. Parking Lot B
If you do not pre-register you will be able to access a self-pay by phone system on site.
Featured Speaker
Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino – Biography
Emma Cimino is Acting Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). She was appointed to this position by Governor Lamont in July 2026 and appointed as DEEP’s Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Quality in November 2023, overseeing the Department’s air management, water protection and land reuse, and materials management programs.
Emma joined DEEP from the office of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, where she led the Senator’s work on energy, environment, and infrastructure issues, including work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Prior to the Senate, Emma worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at the National Governor’s Association. She began her state service working for former Governor Dan Malloy, serving as a Director of Government Affairs. Emma also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 2009-2011, during which she taught English in the Philippines.
Emma holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.
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