Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has appointed a new member to the state’s Social Equity Council (SEC).
On Wednesday, August 25, the Governor’s Office announced the appointment of Latinas & Power Symposium founder Marilyn Alverio to the SEC.
Last month, Governor Lamont announced Joseph Williams’ and Dr. Kelli Vallieres’ appointments to the SEC.
In July, Governor Lamont also announced officials from his administration who will serve as ex-officio members on the SEC.
The members include Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, and Department of Consumer Protection Deputy Commissioner Andréa Comer.
On August 5, Governor Lamont announced his selection of Comer to serve as SEC Chairperson.
The 15-member SEC was formed during the 2021 summer after Governor Lamont signed a new law legalizing and regulating adult-use cannabis in Connecticut.
Council positions are on an unpaid volunteer basis.
Marilyn Alverio
Alverio founded the Latinas & Power Symposium in 2004 as a professional network for Latinas to collaborate and provide mutual career and business support.
Alverio became the CEO of Latinas & Power Corp. when the group expanded in 2019.
“The nonprofit organization continues to grow at the local, national, and global level with in-person and new virtual platforms throughout the world and a mission to develop influential leaders and community advocates,” states a Governor’s Office press release. “Throughout her 35-year corporate career, she held numerous management positions in the airline, pharmaceutical, health, and financial services industries.”
Alverios recently retired from her position as a marketing strategist and consultant at MassMutual.
The Social Equity Council
Bipartisan legislative leaders, the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, and the governor are responsible for appointing members to the SEC.
The SEC is responsible for creating programs to help people who have been disproportionately affected by cannabis criminalization succeed in the cannabis market.
The Council is also responsible for qualifying social equity applicants for business licenses during the application process and proposing budgets for revenues to support cannabis business startups, job creation, economic development, and reinvestment in neighborhoods.
With the appointment of Alverio to the SEC, there is one more seat on the Council to be filled.
Governor Lamont is expected to make the appointment soon.
