Press Releases
12/31/2018
Lieutenant Governor-Elect Bysiewicz Announces Staff Appointments
(NEW HAVEN, CT) – Lieutenant Governor-elect Susan Bysiewicz today announced key personnel appointments in her office: Adam Joseph will serve as Chief of Staff, Cherie Phoenix-Sharpe will serve as General Counsel, Samuel Carmody will serve as Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs, Jimmy Tickey will serve as Senior Advisor for Economic and Community Development, and Juliemar Ortiz will serve as Press Secretary.
“Our administration is committed to growing our economy by supporting small businesses, investing in infrastructure, ensuring equal pay for equal work, developing our workforce, and honoring our veterans,” said Bysiewicz. “I am proud to announce a team that brings both diverse perspectives as well as strong experience in local, state and federal government.”
Adam Joseph will oversee strategic planning, communications, policy, legislative matters and operations. He has served as Director of Communications and spokesman for the Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney and the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2011. Prior to his appointment with the Connecticut State Senate, Joseph served as Director of Communications and as Legislative Director for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and as Deputy Director of Communications for then Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz. He began his career working in the New York State Senate. Joseph graduated from James Madison University with a degree in history. He and his wife Adriana live in New Haven.
Cherie Phoenix-Sharpe will serve as the Lieutenant Governor’s chief legal advisor. Since 2014, Phoenix-Sharpe has served as Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven, devising legal strategies for the mayor, chief of staff and City departments. From 2007-2014 Phoenix-Sharpe was an Associate with Murtha Cullina, LLP advising clients in commercial transactions and regulatory matters. Since 2013, she has served on the board of Northeast Neighborhood Partners, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to building projects and other activities to advance social and economic development in northeast Hartford. She was the 2015 Pace Law School Black Law Student Association Alumnus Honoree and former Secretary of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Society. Phoenix-Sharpe, received her JD, cum laude, from Pace University and received a MBA/BS, summa cum laude, from Florida A & M University. Cherie and her husband Shadeed live in Hamden.
Samuel Carmody will oversee legislative and government relations on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor. Carmody served as campaign manager during Lt. Gov-elect Bysiewicz’s successful 2018 primary and general election campaigns. Carmody has also served as Director of Party Affairs for the Connecticut Democratic Party and worked in the offices of Attorney General George Jepsen and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. From 2009-2013 he served as Registrar of Voters for the Town of Wallingford where he is currently a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Carmody attended Albertus Magnus College.
Jimmy Tickey will oversee business community outreach and economic development initiatives on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor. For the last 8 years Tickey has served as campaign manager for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. Previously he served as campaign staff to Susan Bysiewicz and Congressman Jim Himes. Tickey is actively involved in the Naugatuck Valley and the City of Shelton where he resides, including: Community Campaign Chair & Board of Directors Vice Chair for the Valley United Way, Co-Founder of Celebrate Shelton, Board Member for the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Corporator for Griffin Hospital and from 2012-2018 as Board Vice-chair for True Colors. He is an elected member of the City of Shelton’s Planning & Zoning Commission. Tickey holds a degree in business management from Fordham University.
Juliemar Ortiz will serve as Press Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. Since 2017, Ortiz has served as a press aide to the Senate Democratic Caucus. Prior to her appointment with the State Senate, Ortiz was a staff reporter for the New Haven Register covering public safety, politics, education, and breaking news in Greater New Haven as well as the New Haven City Hall. Ortiz, a Bridgeport native and New Haven resident, graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in journalism and communications. At SCSU, she was a University President Award recipient and a Robin Marshall Glassman Outstanding Journalism Graduate Award recipient.
Contact
Juliemar OrtizPress Secretary
Juliemar.ortiz@ct.gov
Office: 860-524-7346
Cell: 860-278-6809