Richard Tiani, Executive Director
Mr. Tiani is leading all aspects of Groundwork Bridgeport as Executive Director.  Since joining Groundwork Bridgeport in 2002, he has instituted several innovative programs that have proven to engage the community in environmental education and neighborhood beautification.  He has introduced business practices and a financial management process that are ensuring the stability of the organization and the sustainability of its programs.

Mr. Tiani was a senior executive with American Express, Bank of America, and Exxon Enterprises before joining Groundwork Bridgeport and brings over 15 yeas of strategic marketing and business building experience to the organization.  He holds a BS in Corporate Finance and a MBA in International Business and Marketing from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.

Joseph P. Lanier, Green Team Program Manager
Joe Lanier is currently a high school Biology teacher at Oxford High School located in Oxford, CT.  He has started a Youth Conservation Corps at the high school, and continues to work with Groundwork Bridgeport and the Green Team.  Mr. Lanier has been very innovative in bringing together students from Oxford and Bridgeport to work together and learn from one another.

From 2001-2007, Mr. Lanier was employed as a Biology teacher at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport.  Mr. Lanier was the Horticulture Society Coordinator for the Bridgeport Board of Education September 2001 to June 2007.  As the Horticulture Society Coordinator, he designed and constructed an urban gardening club and has initiated programs to promote and foster self-esteem through gardening and leadership activities.  He was named ‘Teacher of the Year’ in Bridgeport in 2003.  Mr. Lanier also designed the original Butterflies Are Teachers program curriculum and trained the teachers and mentors involved in the program.

Mr. Lanier received his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Northeastern University and his Master of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport.

Jonathan Shubert, Green Team Program Manager
Jon Shubert is currently the program manager in Bridgeport for the Green Team and Butterflies Are Teachers programs.  Mr. Shubert is now in his second year of teaching at Warren Harding High School, where he is the student supervisor and adult mentor for the new Nature Club, which engages student in the Groundwork Bridgeport programs.

Mr. Shubert received his BS in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University and MS in Biomedical Science from the University of Connecticut.  He worked at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT for two years doing independent molecular biology research and worked at John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, CT for five years doing independent research on gene regulation. 

Community Organizer
Our Community Organizer position has been filled by a Jesuit Volunteer since 2004.  The Community Organizer is responsible for community outreach and takes the initiative to lead community projects and organize volunteers.  The biggest community event planned by the Community Organizer is the Park City Sweep.

As one of the few full-time employees in the Groundwork Bridgeport office, the Community Organizer also assists in many other activities around the office.  The Community Organizer has been essential in the construction and planning of the Neighborhood Environmental Demonstration Sites, assisted in grantwriting, and helped plan the expansion of the Our Folks program.  The creation and updating of the organization’s website has also been done by the Community Organizer.

The Groundwork Team

Diane McHone was referred through the Maturity Works program at Career Resources.  She is an asset to the Our Folks program and maintains all our billing and scheduling. Diane deals daily with our customer service, and likes working with the Our Folks clients because she is able to help elderly people by providing the Our Folks service.

William Dudley has worked with the Our Folks program since 2004 and is our trusted landscape Team Manager. William also started with us through the Maturity Works program and was later hired as a full-time employee.  He especially likes working with the landscaping program because he is outside every day.

Gerald Gregory was referred to Groundwork in September 2007 through Maturity Works, and worked with the Our Folks program.  Right away, Gerald enjoyed the camaraderie with the other employees, and says he would recommend the job to anybody.  Groundwork has since hired him full-time, and he now maintains the building and grounds where we are located. 

The Landscape Team is made up of workers referred to Groundwork through other social service agencies.  The team serves all of the Our Folks clients from the Spring through late Fall.  The landscape positions are seasonal and the team usually changes from year to year as we assist employees in finding full-time employment.