Connecticut Foundation for Open Government names new interim executive director

Jim Wheeler is the new interim executive director of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. | CFOG photo

Posted By: David Fortier March 8, 2024

The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) announced the appointment of a new interim executive director, Jim Welch, effective on March 1.

Kate Farrish, president of CFOG, said the non-profit organization selected Welch from among a group of strong candidates due to his stellar web, social media and communication skills and his passion for government transparency and journalism.

“CFOG is excited to bring Jim on board,’’ Farrish said in the release. “His experience, collegiality and interest in open government makes him a natural fit for us.”

Welch is a former digital producer, homepage editor and deputy state editor at The Hartford Courant. He was an editor on the team that was a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Breaking News for its coverage of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

Welch, of Wethersfield, works as marketing and development coordinator at the Ben Bronz Academy in West Hartford and previously worked for the Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative.

“I’m thrilled to work with such amazing members of CFOG’s board of directors to inform the public, educate students and promote open government across Connecticut,’’ Welch said in the release. “It’s an honor to continue CFOG’s work to ensure government transparency at the local and state level.”

Welch keeps his hand in journalism as a freelance digital editor and reporter for Connecticut Public, producing its “Your Start” newsletter.

He succeeds Katherine L. Garner, who has served as the part-time executive director for the past 15 years.

“Katherine has been a dedicated executive director for many years and has been instrumental in the growth of CFOG and its mission,’’ Farrish said.

CFOG was founded in 1991 by a group of Connecticut residents, lawyers and journalists with the mission of educating the public about the importance of open government.

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