December 22, 2010

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor-Elect Dan Malloy announced the addition of Colleen Flanagan and Arielle Reich to his office's senior staff today. Flanagan will assume the role of Director of Communications, a position she currently holds for the Transition Team; Reich will be Director of Intergovernmental Affairs/Special Assistant to the Governor.

"Colleen is smart, tough, and she really understands the old and new media," said Governor-Elect Malloy. "Given the way communications has changed dramatically over the past few years, it's more important than ever that we're in constant touch with the people we were elected to serve. Colleen understands that I'm 100% committed to having an Administration that is open, transparent, and accessible. She's a person I trust to be a strong voice for my Administration."

"Arielle worked for me in the Mayor's office in Stamford, on the campaign trail, and during this transitional phase," said Governor-Elect Malloy. "She knows me as well as anyone, and she is my right-hand person. Arielle's strength is that she makes things happen - fast. I've also come to rely a great deal on her judgment. She'll be a tremendous asset to this Administration."

Flanagan began her career as a press aide for the Connecticut Senate Democratic Caucus. She left Connecticut in 2006 to move to Washington, DC and worked as a press secretary for Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), eventually assuming the role of Communications Director. On his Presidential Campaign, Flanagan was Senator Dodd's National Press Secretary. She left Senator Dodd's office in 2008 to move to North Carolina and work as Communications Director for Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who defeated Senator Elizabeth Dole.

In 2009, she returned home to Connecticut to help the Connecticut Democratic Party with their communications outreach efforts, where she eventually finished the 2010 cycle as a consultant to the Party.

Reich has worked for Governor-Elect Malloy beginning in 2006, most recently as his Deputy Campaign Manager. While Governor-Elect Malloy was Mayor of Stamford, Reich held the cabinet-level position of Executive Aide to the Mayor from 2008 until he left office December of 2009. Prior to her that, Reich worked for Ned Lamont in his 2006 run for U.S. Senate, as well as Governor-Elect Malloy's 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign. Reich has a Masters Degree in Public Health from Columbia University with a focus on health policy.

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