The Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), Connecticut's statewide association of towns and cities, has named long-time Associate Director James J. Finley, Jr. of Durham (formerly of Meriden) as its new Executive Director and CEO.

In addition, the board named Bruce A. Wollschlager of Cheshire as President and CEO of the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA), the risk management and insurance services arm of CCM. Wollschlager has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CIRMA since 2001.

Joel Cogen, the Executive Director of CCM and President of CIRMA, who has led CCM since its inception in 1966 and CIRMA since its start-up in 1980, will become Executive Director Emeritus.

The change in executive leadership of CCM and CIRMA will take effect March 1.

“The Board of Directors is pleased and excited to announce these major appointments,” said Herbert Rosenthal, First Selectman of Newtown and President of CCM. “The board was unanimous in its view that Jim and Bruce are the best choices to ensure maintaining and enhancing CCM’s and CIRMA’s leadership and service roles with Connecticut municipalities.

“The appointment of Joel Cogen as Executive Director Emeritus is befitting for the person, who as chief executive and friend, brought both CCM and CIRMA into life and led the impressive growth of both organizations for so many years,” noted Rosenthal.

Jim Finley has been with CCM for 27 years, and has more than 25 years experience in lobbying the state and federal governments. He has been a member of the executive management team and responsible for public policy development and advocacy for the association, including the development and execution of CCM's state and federal legislative programs, as well as advocacy before state regulatory agencies and the courts. He has particular expertise in education finance, labor relations, planning and zoning matters, municipal law, and state aid issues. Jim serves on a variety of state commissions and task forces.

“I thank the Board of Directors for placing their confidence in me,” said Finley. “I look forward to building on the legacy of excellence left by Joel Cogen and positioning CCM for even greater success in meeting the needs of towns and cities.”

As the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CCM, Finley will provide the leadership and vision for CCM in executing its mission on behalf of towns and cities. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the development and execution of CCM activities, programs, and services to its 140 member towns and cities.

Finley will direct the overall business affairs of CCM, including finances, human resources, information technology, and office management. He will oversee planning and execution of CCM’s organizational development; and the development and execution of public policy and advocacy services, and public education activities on behalf of member towns and cities. Finley will also manage CCM relationships and interactions with other organizations and individuals in the state and federal governments and in the private non-profit and for-profit sectors.

He earned a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Connecticut and an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Jim resides in Durham with his four children, Erin, Jamie, Brendan and Michael.

Bruce Wollschlager joined CIRMA in 2001 during a time of great turmoil in the insurance industry. His promotion to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRMA comes during a period of consistent strong growth in the organization’s membership, revenue, and program offerings.

Herbert Rosenthal, chairman of the CCM and CIRMA boards of directors, said, “I am very pleased to announce this promotion; Bruce has a deep understanding of all aspects of insurance operations and municipal risk management; and we look forward to CIRMA’s continued success and growth under his leadership.” In his new role Bruce will provide strategic direction, insight, and vision to CIRMA’s risk management and risk financing operations.

Bruce has worked in Connecticut’s insurance industry for almost three decades. Before joining CIRMA, he was general counsel and vice president of claims and human resources for the Blue Ridge Insurance Company in Simsbury, and held executive positions at the Middlesex Mutual Assurance, Shelby Insurance, and Sentry Insurance companies. He has served on the board of directors of NLC-MIC, Connecticut Fair Plan, the Connecticut Insurance Guarantee Association, and the Insurance Association of Connecticut.

Wollschlager said, “This transition is one of both continuity and opportunity for CIRMA and its members. CIRMA is well-positioned for enduring growth and financial stability, while its mission remains the same, that of service to Connecticut’s municipalities, school districts, and other local public agencies.”

Bruce is a long-time Connecticut native and lives in Cheshire with his wife Christine. He received his bachelor of art in politics from Fairfield University, and was awarded a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Western New England College School of Law. Bruce received his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 1987.

Joel Cogen, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, is completing 41 years of service to CCM and 26 years as President and CEO of the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency.

Cogen has been with CCM since its inception in 1966, first as legislative counsel and staff member, and since 1968 as executive director. In 1976, he became general counsel as well. He became chief executive officer of CIRMA upon its formation in 1980.

From 1968 to 1976, Cogen was also a partner in Cogen, Holt and Associates, an urban affairs consulting firm specializing in management, planning, evaluation, financing, and development, with major clients in the non-profit, governmental, and for-profit sectors.

From 1959 to 1968, Cogen was with the New Haven Redevelopment Agency, most lately as Executive Director-General Counsel. During the same period he was an assistant to Mayor Richard C. Lee; served as the mayor’s legislative counsel; developed new programs in housing and community development, human resource development and other areas of municipal concern; and supervised and coordinated programs involving several agencies.

His previous positions were with the Ansonia Redevelopment Agency, the New York State Mediation Board, and the U.S. Wage Stabilization Board. He served two years as an Army officer in various management assignments. Cogen received a B.S. from the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, and an LL.B. from Yale Law School. He is a member of the Connecticut bar. Joel resides in Hamden with his wife Beth Gilson.