ElderHouse’s 5th Annual Dancing with the Stars Gala Event
Will See Two Norwalk & Two Rowayton Business Leaders
Vying for its Coveted Winning Disco Ball
Local area will be well represented on the dance floor at
ElderHouse’s annual benefit being held March 24, 2018 in Wilton
Seven Fairfield County business community leaders are moving their feet to the beat, practicing several days a week as their competitive dance floor time approaches. They will be competing in ElderHouse Adult Day Center’s Dancing with the Stars – 5th Annual Gala Benefit, being held March 24, 2018, at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton, CT. Four local residents will be representing Norwalk and Rowayton.
CAROLYN DONOHUE-ULMAN: Norwalk
For the past 38 years, Carolyn Donohue-Ulman has worked for Norwalk-based Dooney & Bourke, a fashion icon in quality leather goods including designer handbags and accessories. She is administrative assistant to the president and director of D&B’s Trademark Anti-Counterfeit Program. On March 24th, Carolyn will be taking that style to the dance floor.
A lifelong Norwalk resident (born in New Bern, NC), Carolyn attended Norwalk schools and graduated from Norwalk High. She has always been an active member of her community. Most notably, she was one of the founders of the Norwalk Athletic Association Girls Basketball and Softball Program. She has been recognized for that outstanding contribution with a plaque bearing her name, which hangs in Norwalk City Hall. Carolyn believes fervently in ‘paying it forward’ and contributes greatly to supporting local schools and favorite charities, including Norwalk’s ElderHouse.
When she is not attending a fundraiser, you’re likely to find Carolyn listening to country music or to one of her favorite songs — Neil Diamond's “Sweet Caroline” — tending to her garden, or motoring in and around Long Island Sound on her boat “Sea La Vie.” She also has a passion for food and loves to eat out, trying new restaurants and frequenting her favorites.
Carolyn has been married to husband, Bob, for 22 years. They have six children, 19 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. For Carolyn, spending time with family and friends is her greatest joy.
KAREN M. KELLY: Norwalk
Karen M. Kelly is senior vice president and chief digital banking officer at First County Bank, a 1.5 billion dollar mutual community bank headquartered in Fairfield County, Conn. As a member of First County Bank's senior management team, Karen is responsible for leading the bank's digital strategy and roadmap. In her previous role as chief marketing officer, Karen managed the bank's marketing communications and public relations programs. Under her leadership, First County Bank has been awarded numerous New England Financial Marketing Awards (NEFMA) and Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) for creative excellence in branding, advertising, and direct marketing.
Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from New York University. In 2016 she graduated from the Stonier ABA Graduate School of Banking and Wharton Leadership Program at University of Pennsylvania.
Karen is also proud of her work as vice president of the First County Bank Foundation, where she meets regularly with local nonprofit leaders to assess community needs. She oversees the Foundation's grants and scholarships programs and is responsible for implementing marketing and public relations programs to increase awareness of the Foundation and its work.
Karen is a member and officer of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center Board of Directors, a standing member of their executive committee, and chairperson of the Museum's Strategic Development and Marketing Committee. She is immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees and current board member of SilverSource, a leading resource for older adults in Stamford. In 2015, Karen was named a BRAVA award honoree by the YWCA of Greenwich. She was named a 2013 Women of FIRE, which honors leaders in the finance, insurance, and real estate industry.
Rowayton’s Nathan Gottlieb is co-owner of All Seasons Marine Works with locations in Westport and Norwalk. All Seasons Marine Works is an industry leader in selling, servicing, and storing boats from 13 to 45 feet in length. All Seasons Marine participates annually in the New York, Norwalk, and Greenwich Boat Shows. If you are a boater in Fairfield County or have attended one of the boat shows, the chances are fairly good that you have met Nathan or one of his staff.
Having lived in Rowayton his entire life, Nathan has a lifelong love of the water and of the community. Whether at work or during his off time, Nathan is rarely far from the water. He is a member of the South Norwalk Boat Club and was the superintendent of Five Mile River Harbor. In addition, he is a former member of the Rowayton Volunteer Fire Department.
Nathan received his bachelor’s degree from UConn in English and anthropology. He is a certified outboard mechanic and Coast Guard certified captain.
Nathan spends as much time as possible with his wife Andrea and two children, Delia (7) and Hugh (5). Summer weekends are nearly all spent cruising Long Island Sound and beyond. In the off season, Nate and his family like to spend time in Rincon, Puerto Rico enjoying the beaches, sailing, boating, fishing, diving, and mingling with the wonderful locals.
On March 24th, Nathan will come off the water and take his well-honed talent to the dance floor.
ANDREA KOSTANECKI: Rowayton / Darien
Andrea is a dedicated and highly regarded real estate professional with an impressive, proven track record. Having entered the business in 2003 with a competitor, she quickly rose from “rookie of the year” to become their #1 producing agent in the Darien/Rowayton marketplace in 2010 and in the top two percent nationally. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm, market knowledge, and commitment to customer service are her hallmark and familiar to all who know her.
Andrea attributes her success to a combination of professional experiences — her career has spanned entrepreneurial to traditional financial services, sales, and marketing. As a 30–year resident of the Rowayton area, she is well positioned to handle all listing or buying needs, from condos to waterfront residences and first–time buyers to empty nesters. Her expertise includes the sales of lots and land, new construction properties, and charming antiques. She covers coastal Connecticut, including Darien, Rowayton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Southport, Fairfield, and Greenwich with her niche revolving around waterfront properties.
Andrea enjoys sailing and is a Noroton Yacht Club member, skiing, biking, kayaking (she built her own!), cooking, traveling around the world, reading, and photography.
Dancing with the Stars Gala Benefit is ElderHouse’s largest annual fundraising event, and brings in significant and vital support, which helps to sustain its award-winning program of adult care, socialization, and recreational activities to a senior population living with aging diseases. Funds will be raised through ticket sales, pledges, onsite voting, live auction, and a paddle raise.
For more information on how you can donate, make a pledge to your favorite dancer, or for event tickets, please contact ElderHouse at 203-847-1998 or visit: www.elderhouse.org/events.
About ElderHouse
Celebrating its 40th year serving the community, ElderHouse Adult Day Center is a highly-regarded nonresidential facility that delivers nurturing, respectful, and responsive hands-on care along with recreational activities to senior adults living with aging diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, stroke, depression, heart disease, and diabetes. ElderHouse provides award-winning adult care and socialization in a safe and nurturing environment. It offers seniors the opportunity to remain as independent as possible, while sharing time with others, receiving necessary medical care, and affording time and peace of mind to caregivers.
For more information on the 5th Annual Dancing with the Stars Gala Benefit, contact Judie Szuets at 203-858-3359 or email jszuets@optonline.net.