Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is sportswriter, television reporter, author, and renowned journalist Jeremy Schaap. One of ESPN’s most respected and longest-tenured personalities, Schaap has been with the network since 1994. He hosts both 'E:60' and 'Outside the Lines', ESPN’s showcase journalism shows, as well as the award-winning weekly radio show and podcast 'The Sporting Life'. Schaap has covered most major sports and sporting events, including the Summer...
and Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, Tour de France, European soccer championship, World Series, Super Bowl, the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, the Men’s Final Four, and even chess boxing.
Schaap is best known for his reporting on sports issues around the world, particularly those at the intersection of sports and society at large. Honored by the United Nations, and with accolades ranging from the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Award, two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, a Peabody Award, two National Headliner Awards, 13 national Sports Emmy Awards, and many more, Schaap is conceded for his vast and impressive reporting of human rights and social justice issues.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum! His guest this week is Eric Freeman, managing partner and co-founder for Grandview Partners, a real estate investment management company. Prior to forming Grandview in 2019, Freeman served as a managing director in the Acquisitions Group at Greenfield and was a member of Greenfield’s investment committee. He also served as an investment banking analyst at Citigroup, Inc. in the mergers and acquisitions group, as well as the real estate and...
lodging groups. Most notably, Freeman is also president of A Better Chance (ABC) of Westport, contributing to the organization’s mission of substantially increasing the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. “Role models come in many shapes and sizes,” Freeman emphasized when he signed on as head of ABC’S Westport mentorship program. “The scholars have many, but it’s important for them to see people with similar backgrounds, so they don’t feel alone.”
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is five-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer and director Andrew Wilk. In addition to his work in network television, Wilk is also an accomplished stage director, writer, and symphony orchestra conductor.
Among the 45 acclaimed television programs in Wilk’s production history are ‘Live From Lincoln Center’, a PBS series featuring some of the world’s greatest performances from the New York Philharmonic,...
Lincoln Center Theater, New York City Ballet, and more; the New York Philharmonic PBS Specials featuring soloists Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Joshua Bell, Renee Fleming, and many others; ‘Sinatra: Voice for a Century’; ‘Audra McDonald in Concert’; ‘Rogers & Hammerstein’s Carousel’; ‘Falsettos’; ‘Act One’; ‘The Nance’; the New York Philharmonic’s PBS production of ‘Show Boat’; solo performance television specials for Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Billy Porter, Sutton Foster, Leslie Odom, Jr., Stephanie J. Block, Andrew Rannells, Annaleigh Ashford with Jake Gyllenhaal, Megan Hilty, and Cynthia Erivo; and many more.
Most notably, Wilk was the executive producer for Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, which won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program.
Additionally, Wilk’s numerous accolades traverse an extensive music career, including his background as former musical director and conductor for the Paper Mill Playhouse and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, as a guest conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with special guest Art Garfunkel, and as conductor for countless regional musicals and concert performances.
Prior to his role at Lincoln Center, Wilk served as chief creative officer at Sony Music Entertainment, as well as executive vice president of programming and production for the National Geographic Channel, where he produced many series and specials on NBC and PBS.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Sam Nestor, an energetic and forward-thinking leader who has served the Town of Weston commendably for two terms as First Selectwoman.
Public safety has been a primary concern for Nestor, and she has effectively introduced initiatives aimed at enhancing the community's wellbeing. By upgrading infrastructure, including a multi-community emergency response communications system, town roads, bridges, and constructing the town's...
first sidewalks, she has improved accessibility and made Weston a safer place to reside.
Acknowledging the value of leisure and community involvement, she has created more opportunities for residents to participate in recreational activities. She has also prioritized enhancing the library’s circulation, transforming it into a center of knowledge and inspiration for the town.
Nestor’s accomplishments and unwavering dedication have garnered her the trust and support of Weston residents. Her strategic and thoughtful approach to governance has resulted in significant advancements, and she is enthusiastic about continuing to build on these successes during her second term in office.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Nancy Diamond, co-chair of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and founder and producer of the short film festival Short Cuts. Throughout her work, Diamond continually strives to support and keep the arts in the public’s consciousness.
Diamond pivoted to the arts from her finance career when approached to manage a struggling dance company in New York City. With no...
regrets, she continued managing, producing, and touring New York theatre and dance, including the off-Broadway comic dance show ‘Funny Feet.’ After relocating to Westport more than 30 years ago, Diamond co-founded the popular Westport, Greenwich, and Fairfield lunchtime theatre series, ‘Play With Your Food.’
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is celebrated chef Matt Storch, who has been shaping the culinary scene in Connecticut for the past 30 years. His influence is well-established as the owner of Match in South Norwalk, an award-winning restaurant celebrating its 25th anniversary, and as a CRA Hall of Fame inductee.
Chef Storch’s ventures include Match Burger Lobster in Westport, where classic New England...
roadside-style treats meet exceptional ingredients. The restaurant is located next door is Saugatuck Provisions, his newest project: a whole-animal butcher shop and market offering locally sourced delicacies perfect for everyday meals or special occasions. His culinary footprint also extends to the Copps Island Oyster Shacks in Norwalk and Stratford.
Over the years, Chef Storch has contributed to various menus, concepts, and retail products statewide. He can be recognized as a familiar face on the Food Network as a "Chopped" champion, as well as a guest on "Beat Bobby Flay" alongside his sister, Lisa (who claimed the victory). Storch is regularly featured in local media, including print, radio, and podcasts, sharing his passion for food with a broader audience.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Melissa Kane, Chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV) and a member of the advisory board of Newtown Action Alliance. In these roles, she actively lobbies for gun violence prevention legislation on Capitol Hill and in Hartford.
Kane served as Selectwoman for the town of Westport from 2017-2021. Over the years, she has distinguished...
herself as a successful advocate, public servant, and businessperson in Connecticut, leading numerous civic and private sector initiatives and held key elected and appointed positions.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Keith Wilberg, town engineer for the town of Westport. With nearly 30 years of civil engineering experience, Wilberg is accustomed to wearing many hats. In his position, he is responsible for a wide range of engineering functions that support the Public Works Department, including the direction and coordination of the engineering, construction, and maintenance of various activities across Westport town departments.
The...
Department of Public Works (DPW) schedules and provides maintenance functions for the town's infrastructure — roads, transfer station, sewer systems, and more. This also includes budgeting and planning for capital replacement of equipment and facilities. The DPW Engineering staff also reviews plans and permits for residential and commercial structures, when needed.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Carmen Roda, operations manager for the Westport Parks and Recreation Department. According to Woog, Roda is the “go-to guy for beaches, Long Shore, athletic fields, and youth and adult programs.”
Roda comes from a background of operational experience in youth sports programs. Being operations manager grants him plenty of excitement and diversity in his work, as well as tons...
of opportunities to meet and help out a wide array of community members. Most importantly, he loves his team and the work they do to maintain the wonderful town of Westport!
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Dr. Ayotunde Ayobello, Assistant Professor of Child Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. As a former professional basketball player in Europe, Dr. Ayobello specializes in treating young athletes at the Yale Child Study Center in Westport.
Dr. Ayobello earned his M.D at Crimea State Medical University in Ukraine, shortly after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. He...
completed his psychiatry internship at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute in Roanoke, VA. During his time at Virginia Tech, he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and was the recipient of the Arnold P. Gold Award for Humanism and Excellence in Teaching. He went on to complete his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. During his time as a fellow, he was the recipient of the 2021 Yale Poorvu Grant for Teaching and Learning and the 2022 Melvin Lewis Award, recognizing commitment to medical student education.
Dr. Ayobello is a self-taught oil painter with expertise in medical humanities, particularly the intersection of psychiatry and visual arts. His art has been featured in the American Journal of Psychiatry Resident's Journal, the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He speaks Russian, enjoys traveling and is an avid supporter of Liverpool Football Club of England.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guests this week are Anna Alemani and Ian O’Rourke, co-interim heads of the Pierrepont School, a small, independent, co-educational K-12 school based in Westport.
Pierrepont is a vibrant place where students engage with ideas and people in meaningful ways. With a faculty composed of talented and diverse artists, writers, classicists, mathematicians, scientists, musicians, actors, dancers, and historians who encourage students to explore the...
limits of possibility in every field of study, bringing their own authentic work to bear.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Steve Zimmerman, Coordinator of Music and Visual Arts for the Westport Public Schools. Zimmerman came into his position in 2020, following 25 years of band direction at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA and Northwestern High School in New Hartford, CT.
Under his leadership, his bands were recognized five times as showcase ensembles at the Connecticut All-State Music...
Educators Convention. Named Connecticut Music Educator of the Year and one of 50 Yale Distinguished Music Educators in 2015, Zimmerman has conducted notable performances including West Side Story at the Warner Theatre, and sang at Carnegie Hall with the Rutter Festival Chorus.
Zimmeran is also an accomplished trombonist, having performed with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Torrington Symphony Orchestra, Capital Winds, and Litchfield Brass Quintet. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the CT Arts Administrators Association, leading professional development, advocacy, and policy initiatives at the state level.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Jonathan Sollinger, MD of Willows Pediatric Group. Dr. Sollinger has a common sense approach to health and wellness, grounded in the latest scientific advances, but with a strong belief in age-old paradigms of disease prevention. He strives to know kids and their families through an open, honest relationship, a lot of education, and a good sense of humor. Truly passionate about his...
work, Dr. Sollinger is always learning from patients, parents, and his own family about how we can all stay healthy and enjoy life.
Dr. Sollinger attended Dartmouth College and graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He was selected as one of the Top Doctors in Connecticut by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd from 2013 to 2023 and by Connecticut Magazine in 2015 and 2016.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
This week he welcomes back Jen Tooker, First Selectwoman of Westport, who previously spoke with Westport Chief of Police Foti Koskinas on “Where Westport Meets the World” in June 2023. In this week’s conversation, she reflects upon her time as First Selectwoman and the changes Westport has seen during her tenure.
First Selectwoman of Westport, Jennifer Tooker, has long been a public servant in...
Westport’s community. Prior to becoming First Selectwoman, Jennifer was Second Selectwoman, a position she has held since her election in 2017. She has served as a member of the Westport Board of Finance, the Westport Board of Education and the Westport Conservation Commission.
As Second Selectwoman, Jennifer worked on a number of important initiatives. Focused on the social and emotional health and well-being of our community, Jennifer launched Westport Together. The mission of Westport Together is to promote the positive development of our children. This alliance between the Town and Westport Public Schools revitalized and rebranded its longstanding partnership to engage more of our community partners, strengthen programming and enhance coordination among other non-profit community agencies.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Lee Goldstein, official chairperson for Westport’s Board of Education. Westport is considered one of the best school districts in Connecticut, which Goldstein attributes to the support of the town itself.
Lee has been active in education in both her professional and personal life as an educator and an advocate. A graduate of Yale University, Lee is a former high...
school English teacher and professional writer/editor who has served as a member of the Board of Education in Bedford, New York. Since moving to Westport six years ago, Lee’s been active in the PTA at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, serving for the past two years as PTA Co-President of Coleytown Middle School, including the most recent year during which the school was closed and its students displaced.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Mark Shanahan, an accomplished writer, actor, and the artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse. The Playhouse is a non-profit that produces theater from playwrights, actors, directors, and designers of all backgrounds, while entertaining audiences and exploring human and societal issues along the way.
Shanahan assumed the position of artistic director in February 2024. Since 2018, Shanahan has...
been the curator of the Playhouse’s popular Script In Hand series, a special experience which brings together actors, audience, and the director to create a unique, collaborative production that, in Shanahan’s words, “gives us a chance to unearth and re-examine plays and to investigate what theater means to us.”
For more information on Shanahan’s work as a writer, director, and actor, visit mark-shanahan.net.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guests this week are David Roth and Kerry Long, co-directors of the Staples Players, Staples High School’s own theatrical troupe. Graduates of Staples High School themselves, Roth and Long have spearheaded the Staples Players for more than 20 years, with 60 productions under their direction.
The Staples Players was founded in 1959, in part by Emmy-award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd of ‘Back to the...
Future’ fame. Since its inception, the troupe’s core belief in students’ ability to deliver professional stage productions has facilitated numerous critically acclaimed and award-winning performances, including original productions like ‘Soldier, Soldier’ and ‘War & Pieces,’ two student-written, anti-war dramas — the latter of which was featured in a United Nations traveling exhibit.
Roth and Long attribute the Staples Players’ high-quality showmanship to the ongoing support of Westport’s community and their wholehearted involvement in the arts. From honing the art of acting, to developing leadership skills, to fostering teamwork and collaboration, the Staples Players has been a cornerstone of Westport education for 65 years.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Kitt Shapiro, local Westport business owner of clothing boutique WEST and author of “Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter's Love Story in Black and White,” a memoir detailing her travels and early life growing up with her mother, the late international star Eartha Kitt.
Having been involved with the fashion and entertainment industries her entire life, Kitt Shapiro has...
had an unconventional journey, continually evolving as an entrepreneur, wife, and mother of young adults. A Westport resident for 23 years, Shapiro and her husband, Allan Rothschild, raised their four children here, all of whom attended Westport schools.
As president of Eartha Kitt Productions for more than 30 years, Shapiro has organized and produced many international Eartha Kitt shows and projects, including her Grammy nominated work as executive producer for Eartha’s final studio album, “Back in Business.”
When her mother was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2006, Shapiro became her caregiver and advocate. Since then, Shapiro has taken it upon herself to share her mother’s story and bring awareness to the importance of early detection and colonoscopy screening, serving as a member of the board of directors of the Colon Cancer Alliance and one of the tri-chairs for the American Cancer Society’s Women Leading The Way To Wellness fundraising program in Fairfield County.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guests this week are Cliff Sirlin and Peter Propp, the founders of StartUp Westport, a unique, public-private partnership ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors and innovators designed to engage, foster and grow Westport’s innovation ecosystem. In just two years, StartUp Westport has hosted a number of events and mentorship programs designed to facilitate growth for entrepreneurs and investors in the Westport region.
In 2023, StartUp...
Westport launched its partnership with The Westport Library. From discussions of Connecticut’s innovation economy, female founders, and diverse entrepreneurs to their upcoming forum on impact-driven leadership, StartUp Westport has found immense success in fostering a local ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation in information technology, biotech, and related fields.
Learn more about StartUp Westport’s next forum at The Westport Library: westportlibrary.org/event/forum-sustainable-success-start-up-and-investor-perspectives-on-b-corps-and-public-benefit-corporations/
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guests this week are Megan Brownstein and Melissa Post of Westport Moms, a website and multi-platform resource for Westport moms (and dads!) looking for a one-stop-source for all kinds of parental information.
Brownstein and Post started Westport Moms in the fall of 2016 after becoming involved in Westport’s community following their relocation from New York City. Seeking to go beyond word of mouth,...
they spearheaded Westport Moms with a mission to offer an up-to-date, informational, and exciting reference for local families who want to stay in the know about everything within the community.
From schools, to restaurants, to sporting events, camps, music and dance classes, museums, to new store openings and interesting products, and more—the Westport Moms blog covers a wide range of topics and experiences having to do with everything Westport (and beyond), and the joyous confusion that comes along with being a parent.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Richard Failla, who has spent the majority of his adult life serving Westport in multiple ways: as a former Westport policeman for 30 years, as a current Town Hall security guard, and as a yoga instructor who co-founded and formerly taught at Westport Hot Yoga.
With a diligent and industrious mindset, Failla has a long history of applying...
his aptitudes in various ways. After graduating from Shelton High School in 1979, he served part-time for the Shelton Police Department. Westport’s picturesque allure, as well as its robust police program and modern resources, ultimately drew him into full-time service for the Westport Police Department in 1985.
From his law enforcement career to his passion for the communal mind-body connection of hot yoga that led to his rewarding business venture, the baseline of Failla’s diverse work history remains his commitment to serving his community.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Tom Scarice, the superintendent of the Westport Public Schools. Scarice has been the superintendent in Westport since July 1, 2020. Prior to arriving in Westport, he was the superintendent of the Madison Public Schools from 2012 to 2020. In that tole, Scarice led a “re-visioning” process that served as the blueprint for all continuous improvement efforts in the Madison Public Schools. The...
focus of this work has been to prepare all learners for the challenges of work and citizenship in the 21st century.
Throughout his career, Scarice has worked to scan the horizon so that schools work tirelessly to prepare all learners for the challenges of the world they will live in as adults. In that work, he has reached across communities to foster not only the academic development of students, but also the social and emotional capacities of each and every child. He has partnered with youth and family services, as well as local faith-based communities, to develop programs and broad messages to serve the wider school community.
Prior to his tenure in Madison, Scarice served as the assistant superintendent of the Weston Public Schools, and as the principal of the interdistrict Two Rivers Magnet Middle School.
Scarice received his master’s degree in educational counseling, and certificate in educational leadership, from Southern Connecticut State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Dominique Johnson, who represents Westport and Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Johnson was elected to the state legislature in 2022. They currently serve as Deputy Majority Caucus Chair and Assistant Majority Leader. Additionally, they are in the Education, Higher Education & Employment Advancement and Judiciary Committees. Before joining the legislature, Johnson served two-terms as an at-large...
elected member of Norwalk's Common Council and Chair of the Community Services Committee where she worked to improve the quality of life for all of Norwalk’s residents in collaboration with the City and its community partners.
She has also worked as a nonprofit consultant, a college professor, and is a published researcher. Johnson earned their PhD in Urban Education Policy from Temple University, an MA in Communication from Stanford University, and a BA in Communication Studies from Bryn Mawr College. She proudly lives in Norwalk with her partner Billie, their dog Rey, and their cat Scooter.
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Nick Marsan, who will be taking over as the Westport fire chief on July 1. Nick has been a member of the Westport Fire Department since 2007, currently serving as deputy chief, and as the town’s emergency management director. He has extensive experience in emergency operations, fire safety, and public administration. He began his career as a professional firefighter assigned to Platoon...
3 after graduating from the Connecticut Fire Academy Class #41. He served as a firefighter for nine years before being promoted to fire inspector and then to engine company lieutenant, stationed primarily at Station 4 in Saugatuck.
A state-certified Fire Marshal and EMT, Nick also holds several national fire service certifications, including Fire Service Instructor III and Fire Officer III. His commitment to public safety has been noted on numerous occasions. He is the recipient of two Westport Rotary Public Protection & Safety Awards, and several department awards including three-unit citations, the John H. Gallagher Award for outstanding service, and the Turker Aksoy Award for outstanding patient care. Additionally, he has served the communities of Norwalk and Darien as a fire inspector and is a state fire instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control. He was the elected president of the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 1081 for 10 years.
Nick is a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Connecticut Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for his actions during operations.
Nick holds two master’s degrees — one in history from Western Connecticut State University and another in public administration and emergency management from Sacred Heart University. He is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School. Nick recently completed the National Fire Service Staff and Command Course in Annapolis, Maryland.
“I am excited to lead the men and women of the Westport Fire Department,” Nick said of his promotion to fire chief. “I am honored by the trust placed in me and I look forward to continuing our department’s dedication to outstanding service to the residents and guests of the Town of Westport.”
First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “Nick has the proven ability and expertise to seamlessly and effectively take over the role as chief. He has a breadth of knowledge, skill, experience, and understanding that will ensure that the current high standards of safety and efficiency will be maintained in the Westport Fire Department. I have every confidence that he will flourish and excel in this leadership role.”
Westport’s own Dan Woog brings his popular blog “06880: Where Westport Meets the World” to life, via the Verso Studios at The Westport Library – recorded LIVE in the Trefz Forum!
His guest this week is Barbara Kellerman, the founding executive director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Kennedy’s School’s James MacGregor Burns Lecturer in Leadership, and a member of the Harvard faculty for more than 20 years. She is currently a fellow at the Center.
Kellerman has held professorships at Fordham, Tufts, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Washington, Uppsala,...
and Christopher Newport universities, as well as at Dartmouth and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She also served as director of graduate studies at Fairleigh Dickinson, and director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Leadership at the University of Maryland.
Kellerman received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College, and her MA and PhD (in Political Science) from Yale University. She was awarded a Danforth Fellowship and three Fulbright fellowships. At Uppsala (1996-97), she held the Fulbright Chair in American Studies, and she currently serves on the board of the CT Fulbright Alumni Chapter.
Kellerman was cofounder of the International Leadership Association (ILA) and is author and editor of many books, including The Political Presidency; Bad Leadership; Followership; Leadership: Essential Selections; The End of Leadership; Hard Times: Leadership in America, Professionalizing Leadership, and The Enablers. Kellerman has appeared on media outlets such as CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, NPR, MSNBC, Reuters, and BBC, and has contributed articles and reviews to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the Harvard Business Review.
She has spoken to audiences all over the world including in Berlin, Moscow, Melbourne, Sao Paolo, Jerusalem, Mumbai, Toronto, Kyoto, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and Seoul. She received the Wilbur M. McFeeley Award from the National Management Association for her pioneering work on leadership and followership, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Leadership Association. From 2015 to 2024, she has been ranked by Global Gurus as among the “World’s Top 30 Management Professionals.” Most recently (2024), she was #9 on the list.
Her next book, Leadership from Bad to Worse: What Happens When Bad Festers, has just been published by Oxford University Press. Kellerman regularly posts blogs at https://barbarakellerman.com/articles/
