(Major David Champlin, Divisional Commander, with Lieutenant Steven Thomas.)

New Officers Now Serving!

HARTFORD – Each year, many officers who serve our locations take on new appointments. These decisions result in officers moving in and out of our various locations, including several within the Southern New England Division. As some of our communities are now under new leadership, on July 16, their new officers came to Divisional Headquarters (DHQ) for a warm welcome by officers and staff. These officers also learned more about how the various departments and processes in the division function and had any and all of their questions answered. As every division can vary in its procedures, such an orientation ensures that these officers start out right, ready to serve in the most efficient manner possible.

(Captains Jackson with Divisional Secretary, Captain Sam Gonzalez.)

Regarding the changes that took place this year, DHQ celebrated the arrival of Captains Jonathan and Sienna Jackson as Divisional and Associate Divisional Youth and Candidates' Secretary. For the rest of the summer, they will be busy directing Camp CONNRI. Down the street from DHQ, in the North End of Hartford, Lieutenants Damon and Allison Bethel are already busy meeting needs as Corps Officers there. Middletown has warmly received Lieutenants Jose and Raquel Hernandez, who took over for Captain Rene Hovatter.

(Lieutenants Bethel with Elizabeth Pond Reza, M.S.P.M., Grants Manager.)

However, Captain Hovatter did not go too far, as she is now overseeing our Northwest Hills operation based out of Torrington. Similarly, Envoy Philip Hostetler moved from Danbury to becoming the Envoy in Charge in Willimantic, while Lieutenant Jose Santiago has come in as Assistant Corps Officer in Danbury. New Haven is also receiving additional help with their service provision through the arrival of Lieutenant Steven Thomas as Assistant Corps Officer. Lastly, over in Rhode Island, Newport welcomes Lieutenants Byung-hoon and Jina Bang as the new Corps Officers there.

(Lieutenant Jose Santiago with Lisa Cretella, M.S.W., Director of Development.)

As these officers adjust to their new surroundings, we invite you to extend your warm welcomes, volunteer, and share with them any insights you have regarding their communities to make their transitions even easier. For those of you familiar with The Salvation Army, you recognize change is part of our ministry, as the officers who help to run our operations are also expected to move on average every five years. These changes are due to a mixture of ongoing evaluation, adjustment, and utilization of particular skill sets to create the largest impact possible in areas where it is needed the most. It is these changes that allow us to continue "Doing the Most Good!"