Skip to main content
Select Language

Sponsored by Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation

Fifth Annual Leadership Breakfast

'Community Leadership Supporting Education'

5th Annual NVCC Leadership Breakfast

Consider partnering with the NVCC Foundation by sponsoring this signature event. You will be sending a strong message of support and commitment to the success of NVCC students and future leaders of our community.

Your generosity supports the educational needs of Naugatuck Valley Community College students, including scholarships, emergency services, and food pantry.

Fifth Annual Leadership Breakfast

“Leadership Supporting Education”

Date and Time: Thursday, April 25, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
La Bella Vista, 380 Farmwood Road, Waterbury, CT

$200 Patron ticket*
$65 General ticket

*Seating at preferred table and name listed in event program

Deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, April 15, 2024.

If you have any questions please contact the Development Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or 203-575-8045.

Your generosity supports the educational needs of Naugatuck Valley Community College students, including scholarships, emergency services, and food pantry. 

2024 Sponsors

Signature Sponsor

  • Charles E. Pagano 

Gold Sponsors

  • Linde
  • RBC Bearings

Silver Sponsors

  • ClickBond 
  • DaSilva Realty
  • Savings Bank of Danbury 
  • Thomaston Savings Bank 

Bronze Sponsors

  • Charlotte Hungerford Hospital 
  • Davis Consulting 
  • Dr. Lisa Dresdner
  • Eversource
  • Ion Bank 
  • LaBella Vista
  • Montagno Construction 
  • Montagno Insurance
  • Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communications Center, Inc.
  • Selim and Linda Noujaim
  • Spartan Pizza and Restaurant 
  • Torrington Savings Bank 
  • Universal Copy, LLC
  • Webster Private Bank 

Keynote Speakers

TAMARA BROWN

Tamara Brown, Vice President, Sustainability and Community Engagement, LINDE

In her role, Tamara is responsible for the strategic direction for global projects that make an impact in Linde communities and align closely with our overall business goals in more than 80 countries worldwide. Her team is responsible for ESG reporting, goals and targets, auditing of sustainability metrics, policies, as well as programs, including Zero Waste, community engagement, climate change initiatives with operations teams, and workforce development efforts.

Tamara has worked at Linde (formerly Praxair) more than twenty years, including time spent in research and development, capital project execution, and product safety. Prior to joining the company, Tamara was responsible for the design and development of traditional medical devices, and she led Praxair to achieve our first FDA clearance of an archetype medical device.

Tamara holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in chemical engineering and biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University, a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University at Buffalo, and an MBA from Canisius College. She is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

She has worked for many years to introduce STEM careers especially to women, girls and the underserved. She founded the Tech Savvy program in Buffalo in 2005; now national, the program has many sites nationally through AAUW branches and other organizations. Proudly, Tech Savvy has introduced thousands of girls to the wonders of STEM. She was recognized by The White House as a Champion of Change for efforts to promote STEM for women and girls in 2011. In 2014, Tamara was named one of the Heroes of the 500 by Fortune Magazine and is a contributor to the academic discourse on out-of-school STEM experiences.

She has been recognized by several organizations, including the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department Heads Association’s Diversity Award. She sits on advisory boards for biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University, sustainability education at Vanderbilt, and Graduate Women in Science and Engineering at Boston University.

An advocate for women and children, Tamara is active in her community and around personal passions. She serves in church, is a former board of director of the United Way of Western Connecticut and is a member of the Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation Board of Directors. She recently published a collection of essays and is a contributor to an academic publication on out-of-school STEM interventions.

A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Tamara lives in Danbury, Connecticut.

MAURICE MOSLEY

The Honorable Maurice Mosley, Retired Judge, CT Superior Court, and Co-founder of Granville Academy.

Honorable Maurice B Mosley was born and raised in Waterbury Connecticut. He attended Crosby High School in Waterbury where he was an All-City Basketball Star and led the city and valley in scoring. Judge Mosley received a series of basketball scholarships and chose South Carolina State University where he received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

After returning to Connecticut, Judge Mosley began teaching elementary school while pursuing a Master’s Degree in education from Central Connecticut State University.  In 1972, he left the teaching to pursue a law degree at the University of Connecticut.

While in law school he did government relations work at the capitol for the Urban League. This was his first taste of politics. Upon finishing law school Maurice was hired as an executive to the Connecticut State Treasurer, Henry E. Parker.

Two years later, in 1976, Judge Mosley was elected as the first Black State Representative from Waterbury. During his tenure in the Legislature, he was the Chairman of the Black and Hispanic Caucus, Chairman of the General law Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He also chaired the Connecticut Pretrial Commission.

Judge Mosley was the managing partner of the Mosley and Sinclair Law firm for 35 years and served as counsel to the City of Waterbury’s Department of Education. Well-known in Waterbury as an educator and mentor for urban students, he and his brother Ernest founded Granville Academy, an after-school program designed to provide Waterbury students with finance and entrepreneurial skills. Over 90 percent of Granville Academy graduates go on to pursue higher education.

Mosley was nominated by Governor Daniel P. Malloy and confirmed by the legislature on March 6, 2013 as a judge for the New Haven District Superior Court of Connecticut where he handled child protection and delinquency matters until his retirement in 2021.

Judge Mosley is married to Esther Mosley and his only son Sean and wife Aza are lawyers. His only grandchild Serena Winifred Mosley born October 29, 2021, is not a lawyer yet.

Event Honoree

JIM O'ROURKE

James O’Rourke, CEO, Greater Waterbury YMCA and NVCC Foundation, Secretary

Jim O’Rourke began his journey in higher education at Naugatuck Valley Community College in 1992.  He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University.  Jim returned to Naugatuck Valley and began serving on the NVCC Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2013.  During Jim’s tenure on the board he has held the positions of both Treasurer and Secretary and has spent countless hours serving as an inspiration and champion for the students of Naugatuck Valley. In 2019 Jim was awarded NVCC’s Presidential Medal of Honor for his significant contributions to the program outcomes of our students and the mission the  College.

Professionally, Jim O’Rourke has been with the Greater Waterbury YMCA for the past ten years in the capacity of CEO/Executive Director. The Waterbury YMCA has over 280 employees and 100 volunteers that engage over 22,500 individuals annually from Watertown, Woodbury, Watertown, Middlebury, Prospect, Thomaston, Southbury, Bethlehem and Wolcott.

Jim supports a management team of 11 staff directors at the Y. Support is a key component of Jim’s management style as he works closely with his team to help grow the Greater Waterbury YMCA into a cause driven organization that fosters Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.  Through Jim’s unique leadership style, the YMCA has developed sustainable initiatives and programs that continue to promote health and well-being for the greater Waterbury area. The Waterbury YMCA is ranked in the top 5% of YMCA’s in the country.

Jim believes in getting his hands dirty.  You might see him in a suit from time to time, but more often than not, you’ll find him in running clothes or sweats while he engages members in key wellness programming along with other YMCA program directors.  He works tirelessly with his staff team to bridge the gaps in our community whether it be with children that need something constructive and safe to do after school, or with people at risk for developing diabetes that need guidance and regular exercise.

 Some of the life changing programs that the YMCA team have implemented include the Beginning Running Program and Triathlon Club that engages over 300 individuals annually and teaches the importance of being healthy through running, Race4Chase Youth Triathlon Program hosted by 25 YMCA program sites throughout three states serving 800 youth, and the KIDS Marathon program hosted by 26 program sites throughout the city of Waterbury serving 2,500 youth.

In 2012, the Greater Waterbury YMCA launched the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program which provides 12 weeks of health and wellness recovery free of charge for cancer survivors for a renewed sense of living.  The reach of this program has allowed more people than ever to experience healing and recovery after cancer treatment to over 250 members since the inception of the program.

Jim serves as a community stakeholder serving on numerous steering committees and boards to build citywide networks through community action plans and collective impact to support policy environmental and systems changes in the arena of healthy living for Waterbury. 

Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship Application Deadline:  April 11, 2024

Signature Sponsorship
$10,000

  • VIP table at signature event
  • 10 seats at VIP table - option to have an NVCC student join your table
  • Opportunity to speak at event
  • Full page ad in our program book
  • Signage at the breakfast
  • Featured in NVCC press release and on NVCC website
  • Promotion through social media outlets
  • $9,350 is eligible for tax deduction*

Platinum Sponsorship
$7,500

  • 10 seats at Platinum Sponsor table - option to have NVCC student join your table
  • Full page ad in our program book
  • Signage at the breakfast
  • Featured in NVCC press release and on NVCC website
  • Promotion through social media outlets
  • $6,850 is eligible for tax deduction*

Gold Sponsorship
$5,000

  • 10 seats at Gold Sponsor table - option to have NVCC student join your table
  • Half page ad in our program book
  • Featured in NVCC press release and on NVCC website
  • Promotion through social media outlets
  • $4,350 is eligible for tax deduction*

Silver Sponsorship
$3,000

  • 10 seats at Silver Sponsor table - option to have NVCC student join your table
  • Quarter page ad in our program book
  • Featured in NVCC press release and on NVCC website
  • Promotion through social media outlets
  • $2,350 is eligible for tax deduction*

Bronze Sponsorship 
$1,500

  • 10 seats at Bronze Sponsor table - option to have NVCC student join your table
  • Business card ad in our program book
  • Featured in NVCC press release and on NVCC website
  • Promotion through social media outlets
  • $850 is eligible for tax deduction*

*NVCC Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization; your donation is tax-exempt to the extent allowed by law.

Event Tickets

Ticket purchase deadline:  April 15, 2024

Table of Ten
$650

  • 10 Seats at a preferred table - option of having an NVCC student join your table
  • Donor’s name on Table
  • Donor listed in program book

Patron Ticket
$200

  • 1 Seat at a preferred table
  • Name listed in program book
  • $100 is eligible for tax deduction*

General Ticket
$65

  • 1 ticket for general seating

*NVCC Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization; your donation is tax-exempt to the extent allowed by law.

Past Event Highlights

The inaugural NVCC Foundation Leadership Breakfast was held in April of 2018 and featured George Bodenheimer, former Chair, President and Executive Chairman of ESPN as the keynote speaker. Mr. Bodenheimer’s experiences as he rose from the mailroom to the boardroom were the foundation of his leadership style and success at ESPN and proved insightful and inspirational to event attendees.

The 2019 featured speaker was Adam Grossman, Executive Vice President/Chief Marketing Office of the Boston Red Sox. Adam spoke of leadership attributes that helped him navigate the diverse agendas of the executive offices and the athletes. Adam also discussed the work of the Red Sox Foundation and how, with the help of fans and players, the foundation has served as vehicle for transformation and positive change in the community. 

Our 2022 breakfast welcomed Bob Ley, Emmy Award Winning ESPN Host of Outside the Lines and E:60. Bob discussed starting his career at a young age working at a local cable station, his education and his career at ESPN covering historic events through the framework of sports.  

The Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation mission is to raise funds and promote awareness to support the mission of Naugatuck Valley Community College. Attendees of this signature event will be sending a strong message of support and commitment to the success of Naugatuck Valley Community College students and future leaders of the community.

About NVCC's Foundation

With a 50-year history of supporting the college’s strategic initiatives through fundraising and community outreach, the NVCC Foundation supports the needs of the college through facilitating student scholarships, capital improvements, college programs, and student emergencies. The financial needs of the college cannot be met through tuition and state support alone; NVCC works with the community and businesses to ensure our students have an opportunity to succeed in today’s workforce.