Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Monday that the president and CEO of the Connecticut Community Providers Association would be stepping down from her post to accept a position in his administration.
Terry Edelstein, the outgoing president and CEO of the CCPA, will join the Malloy administration as its nonprofit liaison. Edelstein is the third person to fill the “cabinet-level” position created by Malloy shortly after he took office back in 2011.
She follows her former colleague Alyssa Goduti who held the position for about a week before deciding it wasn’t a good fit. Goduti returned to her position as serves as vice president for business development and communications with Community Health Resources. Goduti was proceeded in the position by former state Rep. Deb Heinrich, who was the first to hold the position before resigning in March.
“Public service in government’s not for everybody,” Malloy said of the turnover in the position. “That was short lived, but she [Goduti] will continue to be someone we work with. Deb actually held the job for a period of time. It just took us a little while to find the right candidate.”
He said Edelstein was looking to make some changes in her life and was looking for some new challenges.
Edelstein announced her resignation with the CCPA and said she was “thrilled when the governor’s team approached” her about the nonprofit liaison position.
Edelstein said she would be building on the strong footing established by Heinrich in trying to meet and listen to many nonprofit community providers, many of whom her group represented.
“Nonprofit community-based providers in Connecticut provide vital services to so many residents and are an important partner in supporting the state’s safety net,” Malloy said.
Nonprofit community providers account for a large portion of the state budget. About 350 organizations receive about $1.2 billion a year to provide services to state residents through a handful of state agencies, such as the Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Children and Families.
Yet, every year it seems like the nonprofit providers and the state have to fight over the amount of funding it will provide. For 30 years, Edelstein often lead those battles on behalf of the community providers.
At one point, during a press conference, Malloy had to remind her that she will be part of the administration.
“I have a good positive feel from the administration that they’re receptive to our ideas,” Edelstein said.
Malloy put his hands on her shoulder and reminded her that she was now part of the administration.
Edelstein, 63, will start her new job during the first week in October. She will receive an annual salary of $115,000.
Edelstein has known Malloy for years and served on his transition team in 2010. She also was the nonprofit advocate on the Two Storm Panel, convened by Malloy to better understand how to improve the state’s reaction to the devastating storms.
Edelstein said the position provides an “important linkage between community providers and the executive branch and reflects a strong message from the administration of its ongoing commitment to the nonprofit health and human services organizations that serve as the safety net for 500,000 of the state’s residents.”
