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Carl J. Stephani
Executive Director
Carl has over thirty years of planning and management experience, having served as a county planning director, town manager, county commissioner, and city councilman before coming to CCRPA. He has a B.A. from the University of California-Berkeley and an M.A. in Regional Planning from Syracuse University. Carl is a successful grant writer, an experienced public speaker, and has given presentations on planning and zoning at a wide range of venues. Carl has been responsible for establishing and managing dozens of successful effective citizens’ committees.
Cheri Bouchard-Duquette
Office Manager and Bookkeeper
Cheri has over twenty-five years of experience in the accounting and Administrative Assistant fields. She is responsible for all bookkeeping functions, accounts receivable, accounts payable, grant funding management, cash management, employee benefits, payroll, quarterly payroll taxes, and yearend work. Cheri works closely as liaison between the Agency and its auditor. She handles the administrative functions of the Agency including preparation and distribution of the monthly meeting packages along with minutes for the meetings. She is married and resides with her husband and daughter in Bristol.
Francis R. Pickering
Senior Planner
Francis was born in Willimantic and raised in Storrs. A fluent German speaker, he earned an M.A. in Environmental Management from the Free University of Berlin and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from the University of Connecticut. Prior to that, he was awarded a yearlong DAAD Graduate Fellowship and an A.B. from Princeton University in German and Politics. Francis is responsible for the Long-Range Transportation Plan, Unified Planning Work Program, and regional Plan of Conservation and Development; he also leads up special projects. Francis represents the region at the Environmental Review Team; King’s Mark Resource Conservation and Development Project, Inc.; New England National Scenic Trail Stewardship Council; and the Regional Brownfields Partnership. In his free time, Francis loves to mountain bike, travel, and tell corny jokes.
Ethan Abeles
Transportation Planner
Ethan received an M.S. in Transportation Technology and Policy from the University of California-Davis. He also holds a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Ethan’s duties at CCRPA include managing the Transportation Improvement Committee, Transportation Improvement Program, FHWA (STP Urban Program, STP and Transit Enhancement Program, Bridge on/off system, FTA (section 53xx), and local funding programs, as well as conducting traffic, intersection, and pedestrian/cyclist counts and analyses. Ethan enjoys outdoor activities, playing music, and spending time with family and friends.
Timothy Malone
Regional Planner
Timothy was born and raised in Burien, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. He attended the University of Washington where he received a B.A. in Geography. Tim subsequently completed an M.A. in Regional Planning at the State University of New York-Albany. While in school he completed two internships. One was for the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal, studying green building standards. The other was for the Hudson River Valley Greenway, creating a resource guide for scenic byway planning. He helped present the results of the latter at the 2010 Upstate New York American Planning Association conference. In his spare time he enjoys bike riding and photography.
Kristin Thomas
Regional Planner
Kristin received a in B.S. Natural Resources and Recreation Management from the University of Vermont and an M.A. in Land Planning and Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design. She has a passion for sustainability planning and design and creating solutions that integrate human needs, such as transportation, energy, and food systems, with ecological functions and processes. At CCRPA, Kristin works on Land Use Referrals, Emergency Management, Open Space Preservation Projects, and various transportation-related projects. In her free time, Kristin can be found working on freelance design projects, snowboarding, running, gardening, and cooking.
Abigail St. Peter
Assistant Planner
Abigail was born and raised in Canton, Connecticut. She attended the University of Connecticut where she received a B.A. in Urban and Community Studies. Abby subsequently completed the Master of City and Regional Planning program at the Ohio State University. While in school she completed various internships. One was for the Cape Town Community Housing Company in Cape Town, South Africa where she worked as a community development intern. The other was as a research assistant where Abby assisted with work surrounding racial justice and equity as it pertains to land use regulations and transportation. At CCRPA Abby works on the ADA Paratransit Service and other transportation-related projects. In her free time, Abby enjoys running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Jason Zheng
Assistant Planner
Jason graduated from the University of Connecticut with a M.S. in Transportation and Urban Engineering, B.S. in Civil Engineering, and minor in landscape architecture. While a graduate student, his research focused on the relationship between transportation, economic growth, land use patterns, and sustainability. Jason has presented his research at numerous regional conferences, and his work has been published by the Transportation Research Board. At CCRPA, Jason contributes to numerous transportation-related projects. In his free time, Jason enjoys playing with dirt and cooking. (Not at the same time!)