Our Board President, Alan Hyde, spent the bulk of his professional career in the wholesale fashion industry, primarily in the women's shoe business. His areas of expertise were sales and marketing as well as design, sourcing, and operations. During his career, he held various executive level positions, culminating in Division President at Caressa, Inc. Alan retired from the fashion industry in 2000, and pursued a second career in the hospitality industry where he now serves as the Banquet Manager at the Stamford Marriott, in Stamford, CT. He has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for 26 years and is the father of two children, Ashley and Aaron. His hobbies include golf and fishing. Alan is also in long-term recovery.
"As a very grateful recovering alcoholic myself as well as being the father of a recovering addict, I am uniquely qualified to be of service to other parents whose children face issues of alcohol and substance abuse. The one overriding emotion I remember feeling when I crossed the line between denial of my 16 year old daughter's condition and acceptance that it was the truth, was the feeling of helplessness. Where could I go? To whom could I turn? Who or what was going to help me to help her? Today, I know the answer and the answer is me and others like me. That's my passion. I remember that feeling all too clearly even though it's been over 4 years now. I don't want other parents to suffer the way I did. I want to be able to offer them both hope and help and am in the position of being able to connect directly with them through Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families." - Alan Hyde
Dan Butler is originally from Rochester, New York and came to Connecticut in 1999. He currently resides in Bridgeport, Connecticut and has worked with CTYF since 2006. He is a person in long-term recovery from crack addiction and has been clean and sober for nine years and counting. Dan's passion lies in working with under-served youth and has held many recovery-related events for young people in the Bridgeport area. In 2000, Dan graduated from the Teen Challenge New Haven a drug rehabilitation program. He has completed a certificate as a Behavioral Health Care Specialist I in 2008 from Housatonic Community College and is continuing to pursue his Associates Degree in Human Services. Additionally, he is H.U.D. certified in Public Housing Management and as a Section 8 Eligibility Specialist. In addition to being the Vice President of our board, Dan is currently employed by Warrenton Network as a vocational counselor. He is an ordained minister with a radio broadcast entitled Parakletos Ministries on 1530 A.M. in Bridgeport and facilitates a drug recovery group titled Out of Darkness at the Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love in Bridgeport. Dan is married to Sheila Sneed-Butler who holds a master's degree from the University of Bridgeport in counseling. Sheila is a clinician at an inpatient residential facility in Bridgeport. Their blended family includes Sheila's adult sons, Titus and Timmy, and Dan's adult daughter, Shayla.
Martin Williams, M.D. is a general internist who has been in full-time practice in Danbury since 1982. He is currently the medical director of the Danbury Medical Group, which in the largest general internal medicine practice in the Greater Danbury area. He has also served as the Chief of the Section of General Internal Medicine at Danbury Hospital for over three years until 2006. Dr. Williams' interest in Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families stems not only from his professional experiences with people suffering from drug and alcohol problems and addictions, but also from a deeply personal experience that occurred in his family when his son almost died due to drug addiction at age 17. Fortunately, with the help of a family oriented rehabilitation program where he was involved, and empowered by the family recovery process, his son and family have been successful in their sustained recovery since 2001. Through his professional and personal experiences, Dr. Williams is convinced that family involvement is essential in the successful recovery of our youth. Dr. Williams has been married to Micheline Williams, M.D. for over 32 years and has two children, Natalie and Gregory. He enjoys sports and is an avid tennis player.
Victor Alfandre has nearly two decades of experience working with at-risk youth and is now the sole teacher and coordinator of Project REAL in Monroe, CT, a unique alternative education program whose mission is to facilitate personal and academic growth for students struggling with the debilitating effects of substance abuse. He is passionate about his role as a change agent both in the classroom and in the community. He combines this passion with tremendous energy, serving on several boards and committees in his home town, ranging from Little League, to spearheading an effort to bring local produce into the schools, to serving as the Policy Chair on the Democratic Town Committee and the Land Preservation and Acquisition Authority. He is also a devoted husband and father to two wonderful young boys. Victor holds a masters degree in education from SUNY Albany, a bachelor's degree from Yale University, and has become a lifelong student of the martial arts.
Joseph Menna is a person in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol since the age of 24. Joseph, now 29 years old, is a junior at Southern Connecticut State University seeking a bachelors degree in Secondary Education History with a minor in Political Science. Joseph was a legislative intern for the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2008 legislative session. His interest in public service and policy, coupled with tremendous gratitude for his sober life, are the driving forces behind Joseph's involvement in Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families.
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