The Progress Council was created by the 1993 Connecticut General Assembly. Entitled "An Act Concerning Benchmarks For Decision-Making by State Government," it recognizes the need for government, like business, not only to plan long range, but to see that those plans are implemented. Unless we develop the ability to peer into the future and to take intelligent action in a timely way, Connecticut, as the pace of change increases, will be shackled by complacency, cynicism and low growth.

The twenty-eight members of the Progress Council are a blend of legislators and executive branch officials, plus representatives of key segments of the private sector. The Council's internal diversity and collaborative structure is designed to spotlight the connections between issues such as environment and economic development, job training and crime, education and the ability to attract new businesses.

The work of the Progress Council will be on-going. Over time, it will create a continuing dialogue with the people and businesses of our state, revising vision, goals and benchmarks so as to keep pace with change. The goals and benchmarks, because they measure performance (not merely activity), will guide the state budget while the vision provides Connecticut with a road map to our ultimate destination.

As the Connecticut Progress Council, at invitational forums and regional meetings, has listened to people from richly diverse backgrounds talk about the future of their state, a host of common values has shone through. Although the Progress Council acknowledges the existence of what some have termed "two Connecticuts," one rich and one poor, the Council also found that most Connecticut residents are more alike than different in their personal aspirations, moral standards, and hopes for the society their children will inherit.

Council Members:

Eunice S. Groark, Chair
Jefferson B. Davis, Vice-Chair
Mary Jane Burt
Nicholas R. Carbone
John J. Carson
William J. Cibes, Jr. / Susan Shimelman
Vincent L. Ferrandino / Theodore S. Sergi
Emil H. Frankel
James M. Griffin
Anthony Guglielmo
Joseph H. Harper
Barbara M. Ireland
Reginald L. Jones
Eileen Kraus
Linda K. Lorimer
Moira K. Lyons
Edward C. Marth
Joseph J. McGee
Susan D. Merrow
Thirman L. Milner
Michael E. Niedermeier
Curtiss E. Porter
Audrey Rowe / Patricia Giardi
Joel Schiavone
Robert R. Simmons
Kevin B. Sullivan
Philip A. Wheeler