STAFF

meg
taylor

Executive Director

Meg became Executive Director of Capitol Squash in 2014. A Hartford area native, Meg learned squash on the Trinity College courts before going to Vassar College, where she captained the squash team. After graduation, Meg joined Teach For America and taught special education at an elementary school in Washington DC. She received a Master of Education with a concentration in Special Education from George Mason University.
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Lindsay
Behling

Deputy Director

Lindsay joined the Capitol Squash team in 2023 as Deputy Director. Her journey began at Springfield College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree in School Counseling, She has served at-risk youth through AmeriCorps, coached track and field at both the high school and college level, and oversaw a first year experience department in higher education. She is excited to use her background to equip students to match their passions for sport with a purposeful path towards post-secondary success.

Emily
chernick

Program Director

Emily joined Capitol Squash as an  Academic Director in 2015. She graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2011 with a BA in Social Services. She then went on to get her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. While at Fordham University, she was a Social Work intern at StreetSquash Harlem. Emily graduated from Fordham University in 2014 and is a Licensed Master Social Worker. 

Filip
Madaric

Director of Squash

Filip comes from a highly competitive sports country of Croatia and has held the European Squash Federations highest coaching level degree since 2010, which he received at the age of 19. His coaching career has developed through Croatia, Luxembourg, England and Norway. Filip has developed players of the highest level, from National Junior to Senior champions, excelling at maximizing individual talent. As part of Elitesquash in England, Filip’s close connection with the coaching team was an incredible opportunity for growth as a coach on a high-performance level alongside some of the world’s best coaches and players. As a National Coach in Norway, Filip delivered elite player programs and performance coaching, focusing on individual development.

dEnise
Bonilla

Program Coordinator

Denise joined Capitol Squash in the summer of 2021. She graduated from Connecticut College with a BA in English. At Conn, Denise played squash for 4 years, and captained the team her senior year. She is also an alum of Squash Haven, another SEA member program, where she played for 8 years.

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PAt
Purcell

College Access & Success Manager 

Pat joined Capitol Squash as the College Access and Success Manager in 2023, and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. Previously, Pat was the Vocational Counselor for the Next STEP Transition Program for Vernon Public Schools. In this role he taught high school graduates with disabilities vocational and independent living skills through classroom instruction and community-based volunteer work sites.

Liz
Styblo

Development & Communications Manager

Liz joined Capitol Squash as the Development and Communications Manager in 2024. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University and previously was the Development Coordinator at the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut. In that role she organized fundraising events, solicited donors and sponsors, and helped market the foundation’s programs and services.

manny

Manny Gomez-Mendez

Bilingual Student & Family Engagement Specialist

Manny is join Capitol Squash in 2024 and is a UConn graduate.  Previously, Manny worked at Our Piece of the Pie communicating with students and families to advocate for their educational and personal goals, and assist with the post-secondary planning process. As a fluent Spanish speaker, Manny is committed to breaking down language barriers and ensuring that all families have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.