WEST HARTFORD – Michelle Bonner, a former ESPN anchor, has been appointed the new marketing director of the Mandell Jewish Community Center of Greater Hartford, it was announced recently by Annie Keith, the JCC’s chief operating officer.

Bonner previously served as principal and owner of a Connecticut-based public relations and marketing consulting firm. Prior to starting her business, Bonner was an Emmy, Associated Press & Murrow award-winning television anchor and reporter who worked for ESPN for more than seven years anchoring a variety of shows, including SportsCenter, the network’s flagship sports news program. Previously, Bonner worked as an anchor at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and Los Angeles, California.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Michelle join our family,” says Keith. “Michelle’s experience running her own business along with her experience as an industry professional as well as a media expert brings a wealth of expertise that will help us expand our brand on another level. In addition to finding someone who is a great marketer, we also wanted to hire someone who can really connect with our members and the community. Michelle and her family have been involved with the JCC for the last four years, so she comes to us already having a connection and an involvement with our organization and community.”

Bonner, who serves on several boards and chairs several committees in the West Hartford area, is also an adjunct professor, most recently at the University of Hartford.

“The JCC is one of the truly great community organizations in Connecticut,” says Bonner. “I am incredibly honored to have been selected among so many qualified candidates. I consider it a tremendous privilege to oversee the marketing efforts for a non-profit that has such a storied history of offering an endless array of programs and services. They have an incredibly talented staff and I’m looking forward to working with them as we continue to serve everyone in the Greater Hartford area.”

Bonner plans to begin marketing efforts for the JCC’s 2018 summer camp programs, health and wellness initiatives, film festival and several special celebrations of ‘Israel at 70’ and the 40th anniversary of the JCC’s Camp Shalom.

“We are incredibly excited to observe and highlight these extraordinary anniversaries this upcoming year and we encourage everyone to celebrate with us,” she says.