Ex-Hartford Admin Named Senior Advisor To Lamont

State of Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford resident has been named to Gov. Ned Lamont's staff as a senior advisor, Lamont said Friday.

Lamont said he is appointing Thea Montañez of Hartford — a former high-level administrator for the City of Hartford under ex-mayor Luke Bronin — to serve as senior advisor in the Office of the Governor.

In this role, Montañez will lead interagency initiatives to connect more residents to opportunity, including educational, economic, and social service resources, and develop partnerships that engage public, private, and philanthropic institutions in support of Connecticut’s residents.

“Thea is well known by policymakers and advocates as someone who’s made real change on the full range of issues that still hold too many communities back, from a lack of economic opportunity to support systems that aren’t reaching people they’re meant to help," Lamont said.

Montañez said her experience working for the City of Hartford will help her in her new role.

“For the last eight years, I’ve had the privilege of working for the city that I love, and it’s a privilege now to have the chance to do work for the state that I love,” Montañez said. “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont for his confidence in me and look forward to working along his administration to help build a fairer, stronger, more just Connecticut.”

Montañez most recently worked for the City of Hartford under Bronin as chief operating officer from 2020 to 2023 and as chief of staff from 2016 to 2020.

Montañez was previously appointed by former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra as the founding director of the North Hartford Promise Zone.

In addition to her work in the public sector, Montañez ran her own consulting firm, focusing on strategic communications and community affairs.

Outside of work, Montañez has volunteered her time with several boards and community organizations.

She is a graduate of Syracuse University.

For more information on the appointment, click on this link.