Jean Collier

Born and raised in Stratford, Jean Collier has dedicated her life to leadership, service, and strengthening communities. The ninth of ten children, she grew up in a working family – her father at Avco Lycoming and her mother as a nurse at Bridgeport Hospital – and she has proudly called Stratford home for over 64 years.

 

After graduating from Stratford High School, Jean went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from New York University. She began her career as a public accountant at KPMG and then served more than two decades as an executive at GE, where she led major efforts in corporate finance, communications, marketing, leadership development, philanthropy, and volunteer engagement. Her work included managing billion-dollar portfolios, supporting education systems with more than $25 million in grants, and leading GE Volunteers, an organization of over 100,000 employees who contributed more than a million hours of service annually.

 

Jean then spent 15 years as a philanthropy leader, raising millions of dollars for higher education (University of Notre Dame, University of Denver) communities in CT (United Way of Coastal CT) and food and nutrition insecurity awareness (Wholesome Wave).

 

Her commitment to service extends well beyond her professional career. Jean has held leadership roles with the Notre Dame Alumni Association, Advisory Council, and Board of Trustees; supported local schools and parent organizations; and served as a volunteer with the Stratford Fire Department, where she helps produce and distribute the Lordship Business & Residential Directory to nearly 1,000 households each year. Jean also served on the Stratford Board of Education from 2007 to 2011, giving her first-hand knowledge of how local government works and how to advocate for residents effectively.

 

Today, Jean is seeking to represent the 1st District on the Town Council. Since retiring in 2021, she has been looking for a new way to serve Stratford and sees this role as a natural extension of her lifelong dedication to community. She believes Town Council should be a place where residents’ concerns are heard, respected, and acted upon, and she is ready to put her skills and experience to work for her neighbors.

 

Above all, Jean is motivated by her deep roots in Stratford, her love of community, and her belief that local government should reflect the voices and values of the people it serves.