​Our Founders

Photo by Regina Madwed, Capital Photo Interactive

Co-founders Kelly Maffei, Amy Stern and Kris Burbank formed FUTURES-CT, Inc. in 2017.  The nonprofit does business as Woofgang & Co.

​FUTURES stands for "Families United Towards Unlimited Real Employment Solutions."  The co-founders envisioned a business that would provide meaningful vocational training in their community for transitioned young adults with disabilities and increases community awareness of the need for local employment options among these individuals.  Woofgang & Co. does just that and more.  

​Kelly, Amy and Kris have a combined total of nearly 65 years working with young adults with disabilities, juggling multiple roles as working mothers, and serving as active community residents. 

Amy Stern​ is President of the Board of Directors of FUTURES-CT, Inc.  A lifelong resident of Fairfield, Amy is the mother of five children, including an adult son who has Down syndrome.  She has served as a guest speaker for the Fairfield Public School system on the subject of raising young adults with disabilities after high school. Prior to raising her family, Amy practiced as an attorney with McCormick and Epstein (MA) and the Law Offices of James J. Gentile (CT).  She holds a B.A. in economics and political science from Boston College and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. 

Kris Burbank​ is Secretary of the Board of Directors of FUTURES-CT, Inc.  She is a former Southport resident and the mother of three adult children, including a adult son with cerebral palsy. A lifelong disability advocate, Kris served on Fairfield’s Human Services Commission and founded/chaired Fairfield’s Committee for People with Disabilities. She was a founding member of the Stamford Mayor’s Access 4 All Committee, and is a former Board Member of Abilis, Inc., an agency providing services and programs for families impacted by developmental disorders. Kris has been a consultant to Easter Seals, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, and United Cerebral Palsy, following an accomplished public relations career with Procter & Gamble and several independent PR firms.  She holds a BA in communication from DePauw University, where she currently manages a scholarship for international students in need.

Kelly Maffei ​is Woofgang & Co.'s Program & Retail Manager.  She has been advocating for children with disabilities, including her adult daughter, for more than two decades.  A Fairfield resident and mother of three, Kelly was instrumental in creating a Best Buddies chapter at her local high school to help prevent social and physical isolation among students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kelly currently serves as the office manager for a local design firm and has previous experience working in the computer industry. She holds a BA in mathematics from Boston College.