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April 17, 2024

CT Wind Collaborative names executive director, expands board to 15

Contributed Kristin Urbach is executive director of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative.
By David Krechevsky

The Groton-based Connecticut Wind Collaborative said Tuesday it has hired its first executive director and has tripled the size of its board of directors.

The new executive director is Kristin Urbach, who had served as executive director of the North Kingstown (R.I.) Chamber of Commerce since 2015.

In a news release, the collaborative said Urbach has a “passion and vision” for the offshore wind energy industry, in part because Rhode Island is home to Block Island Wind, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.

The collaborative was first announced by Gov. Ned Lamont in October as part of the state’s Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap. The nonprofit group is designed to work collaboratively across state agencies and with stakeholders in neighboring states to advance the regional supply chain and workforce necessary to meet the growing demand for this wind energy.

Connecticut and Rhode Island were already collaborating on workforce and supply-chain issues because they share a long history of building Navy submarines at General Dynamics Electric Boat, with facilities in both states.

Before joining the North Kingstown Chamber, Urbach served as director of product marketing and new business development for Tunstall Americas, an international telehealth company in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Long Island City, New York. She also served as director of service excellence at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw several nonmedical programs and managed community relations and partnerships. 

She will report to the collaborative’s board of directors, which recently expanded to 15 members from the initial five incorporating members. Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, serves as board chairman.

Joining Lavoie on the board are:

  • Kate Aufhauser, co-vice chair and Gov. Lamont’s strategic Advisor for economic development. 
  • Andrew Lavigne, co-vice chair and manager of the Clean Economy Program at the state Department of Economic and Community Development;.
  • Paul Whitescarver, secretary and executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer) and former commander of Submarine Base New London.
  • William Cox, vice president of business development and investment at Rhode Island Commerce.
  • Emmanouil Anagnostou, direct of the Eversource Energy Center at the University of Connecticut
  • Tony Appleton, director of offshore wind for Burns McDonnel.
  • Liz Burdock, president & CEO of Oceantic Network.
  • Aziz Dehkan, executive director of CT Roundtable on Climate & Jobs.
  • Joseph DeNicola, deputy commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
  • Ryan Dings, CEO of Climate Haven.
  • Maria Hanna, president & CEO of Survival Systems.
  • Richard Hine, president, offshore energy for ThayerMahan.
  • Lesley Mara, associate vice president, systemwide initiatives & sponsored programs for Connecticut State Colleges & Universities.
  • Gordon Videll, CEO of Sea Services North America.

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