Leadership Team

Margaret A. Hann has been the Executive Director of The Bridge Family Center since 1998. Prior to being named Executive Director, she served for eleven years as the Residential Director for the Bridge, directing all residential programs, including the Youth Shelter and the transitional living program for older adolescents. She also led the regional life skills and drug-prevention programs. Under Margaret's leadership, the Bridge has experienced tremendous growth, evolving and thriving as it continues to respond to the ever-changing needs of the communities we serve. 

Margaret's career began in Michigan at the Ingham County Juvenile Home as a Youth Worker. She moved to Connecticut in 1983 and served as the director of a group home for girls in Mystic, Connecticut. Over the course of her career, she has served on numerous community committees and nonprofit boards and has been actively involved in child welfare issues. Margaret earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on Juvenile Justice and a Master of Arts degree in Administration from Michigan State University.

Hildee joined the Bridge in 2006 with more than 20 years of accounting, business, and nonprofit experience. She manages and supports our accounting, human resource, counseling, and technology staff. She is committed to working with our board of directors and staff to maintain a strong financial plan and is a key component in our financial sustainability. Hildee holds a Master's of Business Administration.

Doreen directs the development and communication initiatives of the Bridge. By partnering with individual donors, corporations, foundations, volunteers, and community organizations, she strengthens awareness of the vital services the Bridge offers while raising the necessary funds to support our mission. Prior to joining the team in 2018, she held communications and development positions at two local healthcare institutions. Doreen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. 

Amy is responsible for our organization's effectiveness by attracting, developing, and retaining a talented and diverse workforce in a safe and productive work environment. She came to the Bridge in 2011 with 14 years of experience in Human Resources. Her diverse experience spans across entrepreneurial, legal, and global institutions. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

Kris Cool became the Director Family Resource Center in June of 2023. She is a graduate of Clark University and Saint Joseph College (now University of Saint Joseph), with dual certification in elementary and special education. She is a specialist in early literacy instruction and is a tireless advocate for equitable opportunities for students. Cool also served as a special education preschool teacher and a Birth-to-Three interventionist. 

Bryan thrives on helping kids achieve their goals. During his 20 years at the Bridge, he served as a case manager and youth worker at several residential facilities including the Moving On Project and the Bridge Youth Shelter. In 2010, he was promoted to director of our Independent Living Program. Our Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) has grown significantly under his supervision. Bryan is trained in leadership development, crisis intervention, and life skills instruction. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology.

Chris is the Director, Clinical Operations for our Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics located in West Hartford, Avon and Rockville. In this role, he is responsible for the overall operations of the counseling centers including staffing, compliance, licensing and regulation, revenue management and efficiencies improvement.

Chris joined the Bridge in 2019 and served as our Clinical Director of Community and School Services. He was responsible for the Bridge's Youth and Family Services Department and oversaw all school-based services offered by the Bridge. He also led the West Hartford Youth Service Bureau providing comprehensive prevention and intervention services, resource development, community involvement, and advocacy. Prior to joining the Bridge, he directed a 28-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility.

Chris earned a Master of Social Work in Administration Degree from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Arts in English Degree from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Kyeesha Clayborne, MA is the Director of Residential Services at the Bridge Family Center. In this role, she is responsible for all residential programs of the Bridge and the Mosaic Parenting Center. The Bridge has three STTAR (Specialized Trauma Informed Treatment Assessment and Reunification) homes in Hartford, West Hartford, and Wolcott. The Moving on Project, located in Manchester, is a transitional living apartment program that assists males, ages 16 - 21, in developing the skills needed to live independently. The Mosaic Parenting Center provides structured support and coaching during family visitation sessions for parents who are working on family reunification after a child has been removed from the home.

Clayborne joined the Bridge in 2019 and served as the Director of the Therapeutic Group Home, then the Mosaic Parenting Center where she developed and implemented the program from conception.

Clayborne has served as an Adjunct Professor in Sociology at American International College (AIC) in Springfield, MA. She holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health and School Counseling from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of South Carolina.

Judy Halpern our Director Performance and Quality Improvement. In this role, Halpern gathers data to support decision-making and ensure best practices. She conducts a comprehensive business analysis to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance performance, collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement performance improvement initiatives, and monitor their effectiveness.

Halpern holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Northeastern University. Prior to joining the Bridge she was engaged in assessing pharmacy higher education at the University of Connecticut and the University of Saint Joseph.