Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner

Seila Mosquera-Bruno was appointed the Commissioner of Housing by Governor Ned Lamont in 2019 and re-appointed for his second term in 2023. As Commissioner, Seila directs the lead state agency for housing matters for the State of Connecticut. The Department of Housing is responsible for all aspects of housing policy including the development, redevelopment and preservation of housing and neighborhoods. 

Since her 2019 appointment, Seila has developed partnerships with financial institutions as well as service providers, advocates, and nonprofits, while serving as the Board Chair of the CT Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), Connecticut’s quasi-public organization dedicated to financing the production and preservation of rental housing and homeownership. 

Under Seila’s leadership, the Department of Housing: distributed $500MM for the preservation and production of 13,000 affordable units; Created “Time To Own” a forgivable down payment Assistance Loan Program; Developed an affordable Housing Planning guide for municipalities and awarded $1.2MM in technical assistance grants to 84 municipalities; administered $600MM in COVID emergency relief funds; created a COVID emergency rent relief program and launched an innovative utility bulk payment program to deploy COVID emergency resources; redesigned congregate emergency shelters with the use of hotels and the creation of micro units; funded $4MM for non-profit developers to support the creation of new affordable units and created a partnership with a financial institution that provided $1MM in matching funds. In her capacity as Commissioner, she serves as Board chair of CHFA, and as a board member of the Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA) and Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA).

Prior to her appointment, Seila was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mutual Housing Association of South-Central Connecticut, Inc., dba NeighborWorks® New Horizons. NWNH is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing affordable housing opportunities to help build strong communities and revitalize neighborhoods. After joining NWNH in 1994, Seila served in many different capacities and became the Executive Director in 2003. Under her leadership, the organization expanded operations beyond New Haven County to New London and Fairfield Counties, managed 38 employees and $100 million in Assets. 

Seila holds a master’s degree in Urban Studies from Southern Connecticut State University, a B.A. in Business Administration from Charter Oak College, and completed the Achieving Excellency in Community Development an 18-month fellowship program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. 

Included in her many board associations, she served on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Advisory Council, the Santander Bank Community Advisory Board, the Board of The Connecticut Legal Rights Project, and the Board of the National NeighborWorks Association.  

Seila received the Forty under 40 Award from New Haven Business Times; she received the Housing Good Egg Award and was recognized as a Rising Star by Business New Haven. Seila was inducted into the Gateway Community College Foundation’s Hall of Fame for her exceptional contributions to the community. She was named one of the 50 most influential Latinos in Connecticut recognized by Latinos United for Professional Advancements (LUPA).  

Seila has been a speaker at local and national venues on housing related issues including as a guest lecturer at NYU. She conducted conferences in capacity-building and provided technical assistance to non-profits in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In 2018 she spearheaded a partnership with NWNH and NHS Puerto Rico to assist in their recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. 

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Brandon L. McGee, Jr., Deputy Commissioner

Brandon L. McGee, Jr., community activist and architect of social solutions, small business owner, and former Connecticut legislator, now Deputy Commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Housing, has devoted his work to helping people. His favorite quote is by Dr. Cornel West; “You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people if you don't serve the people.”
 
Brandon was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to Brandon, Sr., and Dawn L. McGee. He grew up during a time when two generations of matriarchs (Grandmothers Barbara Long and Helen Dixon and great-grandmother Lizzie Palmer) shaped his life and commitment to family and community.  He committed to community organizing and public service early in his career after being inspired by local and national champions; one, in particular, was by Mrs. Rosa Parks, one of the most influential figures of the civil rights movement, whom he considered a mentor to activists navigating the struggle.  Brandon holds his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alabama State University and a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus College.
 
McGee has also been actively involved in the political arena for two decades. Most recently, he served as the Political Director for the second-term Governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont. McGee is also known for his political and moral insight and charismatic approach to galvanizing his community. 
 
Brandon is no stranger to the advocacy space. In 2021, State Representative McGee led the clarion call of declaring Racism as a public health Crisis, an essential first step to making Connecticut finally question its identity. During that same year, Brandon, alongside his colleagues, gave final passage to declaring racism a public health crisis; that would trigger an exploration of the effects racism has on public health. From leading the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus as chair through the COVID pandemic to passing reforms to the education and the criminal justice system, Brandon understands the power of creating progressive processes that skillfully marry standard grassroots techniques with the art of relating to people on basic levels.
 
Understanding the power of relationships, being mentored by Dr. Marichal B. Monts and Dr. June Archer, he continues to pay it forward by offering young men of color opportunities to engage with other professional men of color through his initiative called the 50|50 Club. 
 
Brandon has committed his time, talent, and treasure to organizations with a major impact on the community and young people. He has numerous community affiliations and serves in various capacities, including: 

⦁ Ascend Mentoring, Board President
⦁ BSL Education Foundation, President
⦁ Hartford Behavioral Health, Board of Directors
⦁ HARC Inc., Board of Directors
⦁ The Citadel of Love, Board of Directors
 
Brandon has received numerous awards for his civic work. During its 2013 inaugural class of 100 Men of Color, Brandon was the recipient of an ongoing tradition of celebrating Black success. In 20I8 and 2021, Brandon was named among the 100 most influential Blacks in Connecticut. In 2017, he received the Excellence in Mentoring Award from the National Mentoring Partnership for his commitment to youth mentoring. He was also named 2017 Citizen of the Year by the Tau Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In 2009, Brandon was the youngest recipient of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Offices Community Award. 
 
Brandon lives in Hartford with his wife Geralynn and daughters Sylver Kennedy and Bailey Kyndall. He is a proud Citadel of Love Church and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc member.