Speakers

Michael Zaleski was selected as the new president & CEO of Riverfront Recapture, Inc. in May of 2015. Riverfront Recapture manages the Riverfront parks system and public recreational facilities along the Connecticut River in greater Hartford. The organization works to enhance the region's quality of life and make the Riverfront an attractive destination for visitors and residents.

Prior to his work with Riverfront Recapture, Zaleski was the Executive Director of the Hartford Business Improvement District in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2006, Zaleski led the committee that established the Hartford BID, a special services district that includes Downtown Hartford and a portion of the city’s Asylum Hill neighborhood. The Hartford BID works collectively with its property owners and the City to enhance economic vitality and quality of life in the central business district.

Zaleski has more than 18 years of experience managing non-profit organizations and community and economic development projects. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Providence College and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Wethersfield and is active on multiple boards and commissions including the iQuilt Partnership.

David J. McGuire joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut in 2007. His primary areas of legal interest are prisoners' rights, digital privacy, and free speech issues. He has also taken a leading role in pressing for police accountability legislation and was instrumental in passing laws to reform police complaint procedures and police use of Tasers. McGuire received his B.A. in history from Purdue University in 2003 and graduated cum laude from Western New England College School of Law in 2006. After law school, he clerked for the judges of the Connecticut Superior Court.