Title: Chief Operations Officer
Company: Wings of Hope Recovery
Location: Marlborough, Connecticut, United States
Elizabeth A. Protzman, MBA, chief operations officer at Wings of Hope Recovery, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Real Estate Development and Human Services.
Ms. Protzman has established herself as a leading business professional, marked by innovation and a steadfast commitment to community impact. Since 2025, she has served as the chief operations officer at Wings of Hope Recovery, a real estate development company dedicated to acquiring and renovating distressed properties in opportunity zones throughout Connecticut. In this capacity, Ms. Protzman manages multiple departments and disciplines, oversees a staff of approximately 20 individuals, including managers, coordinators and subcontractors, and supervises over 100 housing units within a mid-sized organization.
Among a range of responsibilities, Ms. Protzman manages human resources, operations management, workflow optimization, time and task management, in-house training across various departments, and the oversight of finance, admissions, house management, facilities and marketing. She also coordinates daily work activities for her team and ensures department performance aligns with organizational goals. Under Ms. Protzman’s leadership, Wings of Hope Recovery has experienced significant growth while maintaining its mission to provide affordable housing for individuals in recovery from addiction or alcoholism.
Ms. Protzman initially served as the director of business development at Wings of Hope Recovery from 2024 to 2025. In this position, she played a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s reach and impact within the community. Ms. Protzman’s strategic vision contributed to the company’s innovative approach of offering stable housing solutions that offered both luxury and technologically advanced recovery residential services to Connecticut residents.
Aside from her full-time commitments, Ms. Protzman has served as a business consultant with Smith PR Company since 2018, specializing in marketing, advertising, public relations and systems design services for both profit and nonprofit organizations.
Before devoting herself to Wings of Hope Recovery, Ms. Protzman served as the director of communications and fund development at Winning Ways Inc. of Connecticut from 2022 to 2024. This nonprofit organization supports individuals in recovery and those transitioning from incarceration through resources such as financial literacy programs, employment services and art therapy.
Among other noteworthy opportunities throughout her diverse and rewarding career journey, Ms. Protzman held leading communication and nonprofit development roles, served in resident services capacities, and held a regional position in the food industry. Her expertise extended to event planning, sales and marketing, and she was a co-host for Le Dîner en Blanc, where she successfully secured sponsorships from prominent companies like Maserati and iHeartRadio for the local chapter of the national brand.
Ms. Protzman’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in legal studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, awarded in 2010, followed by coursework in paralegal studies at CT State Gateway in New Haven, Connecticut, in 2013, and a Master of Business Administration from Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 2025. Further supporting his profession are numerous certifications. Among them, Mr. Protzman earned mental health first aid certification through Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition Inc., mandated reporter and abuse prevention certification through the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, sexual harassment prevention certification from the Connecticut Department of Labor, and, among others, SOAR leadership academy training and SOAR train the trainer certification through Policy Research Associates.
Throughout her career, Ms. Protzman has remained actively involved in industry-related organizations, including Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs, Connecticut Young Professionals, Connecticut Women’s Council and Women’s Leadership Council. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is deeply engaged in civic life. Since 2023, Ms. Protzman has served as the director of concessions for RHAM Youth Baseball and has been an active Rotarian with Rotary International. Her volunteerism also includes ongoing commitments with Love146, Marlborough Food Bank Inc., Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Ms. Protzman’s achievements have been recognized through several awards, recently including a Women Who Inspire Us recognition during the International Women’s Day Exhibit in 2021. She also earned the Sunspot Innovation Award from the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce in 2024 and the Rebekah Lyas Award from Winning Ways Inc. in 2024. Ms. Protzman attributes her success to the support she received throughout her journey.
Looking ahead, Ms. Protzman is committed to expanding Wings of Hope Recovery nationwide, aiming to establish its presence in every state while breaking stigmas around addiction recovery through innovative service models. She is also writing a novel inspired by personal experiences, including advocacy following a tragic drinking-and-driving accident that profoundly shaped her dedication to trauma recovery efforts, legislative change and volunteerism with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Ms. Protzman:
Your message has been sent
