Corine T. Norgaard Women in Leadership Lecture

Thea Montanez, director of Enterprise Communication Operations for The Hartford Financial Services Group, will speak on "Leading With Your Heart, With No Excuses."

Corine T. Norgaard served as dean of the Barney School of Business from 1996 to 2004. She passed away in June 2011.

Join the Barney School of Business for the second annual Corine T. Norgaard Women in Leadership Lecture on Tuesday, April 2, at 5:30 p.m. in Wilde Auditorium.

This year's lecture, titled "Leading With Your Heart, With No Excuses," will be delivered by Thea Montanez, director of Enterprise Communication Operations for The Hartford Financial Services Group.  Janet Peckinpaugh – former TV anchor, journalist, small-business owner, and two-time political candidate in Connecticut  – will serve as moderator.

The lecture is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Register here. A reception will take place after the lecture, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the 1877 Club rotunda.

The program is presented by the Barney School of Business, Entrepreneurial Center, Presidents' College, and Women's Education and Leadership Fund.

Thea Montanez is director of enterprise communication operations at The Hartford Financial Services Group, and most recently held the position of manager of philanthropy, where she oversaw The Hartford’s grant-making and sponsorships in Connecticut and other communities nationwide. Prior to joining The Hartford, Montanez was director of operations for the Connecticut Convention Center. She also served on the start-up team for The Hartford Image Project, the regional marketing campaign for Greater Hartford.

Montanez is president of the Hartford Public Library board of directors, and serves on the boards of Grace Academy (an independent, tuition-free middle school for girls), reSet (Social Enterprise Trust), and the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. She also is on The Shelter for Women’s advisory council.

Montanez is a 2006 recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award, and is a recipient of the YMCA’s Adult Achiever award. She has been named a Connecticut Women’s Alliance 2012 Woman of Distinction and a Malta House of Care Foundation 2012 Wonder Woman for her efforts in protecting and empowering women and girls. In addition, Montanez is a recent mayoral appointee to Hartford’s Charter Revision Commission. Formerly, she has served on the board of directors for Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls and Hartford Chamber of Commerce.

Montanez received a bachelor’s degree in consumer studies from Syracuse University.

Corine Norgaard served as dean of the Barney School of Business from 1996 to 2004. Her years as dean were marked by many significant accomplishments, including gaining accreditation of the Barney School by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Norgaard passed away in June 2011.

Norgaard's memory and legacy are being preserved through this lecture series, which features dynamic and accomplished women in leadership positions–just like Norgaard herself. Join the Barney School on April 2 to honor Norgaard's memory through a thought-provoking discussion about empowering women’s leadership.