Age: 29
Title: Owner/Art Director
Company: Lesley Abate Graphics & Marketing
Company location: Plainville
Career Highlights: I provide graphic design services for a wide array of clientele in the Hartford and New Haven regions. A recent significant career moment has been my management of the Connecticut Business Leadership Network (CTBLN) campaign. I developed their marketing materials for print, Web, radio and billboard advertisements giving them added accessibility and a new, professional appearance. Being involved in designing and publishing a book, “Sassy Goes to Work,” written by Therese Nadeau and funded through the University of Connecticut A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has also been an exciting experience for me. The purpose of the book is to educate children on the role of service dogs in the lives of people with disabilities. I’m proud to have been able to work so intricately with several organizations whose mission supports advocacy, research, education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This is where I find my true personal and professional fulfillment.
Community Involvement: My latest opportunity for community involvement was speaking on a panel of people with disabilities at the CTBLN employment conference in May 2009. I was able to share my story of the challenges I’ve overcome, and undeniably left others with a sense of hope, will and determination to continue working regardless of their own circumstance. I’ve also contributed to several fundraising events in Plainville to help families who’ve been affected by illness and life altering accidents.
Musical Inspiration: Ani DiFranco is my musical inspiration. She’s the ultimate singer/songwriter/guitarist and mother who started her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in the 90’s. Ani sings about social and political happenings with heartfelt, body-moving rhythm. I admire her unique, independent style which captures a wide diversity of musical genres.
Person you most admire and why: The first person that comes to mind is a designer friend Ann (Blanchard) Caranci. Ann is an illustrator and designer from northern Connecticut where she lives with her husband and three young boys. I admire her creativity, approach to design and overall balance of life. She’s a real inspiration to me.
Age: 36
Title: Director, Fund Development
Company Name: Hands On Hartford
Company Location: Hartford
Residence: New Britain
Career Highlights: Until late 2008, I served as a psychologist for a non-profit community mental health clinic, where I provided treatment for adolescent males. Although I enjoyed working with patients, I preferred the role of patient advocate, interfacing with agencies involved in their care. My strengths in the mental health care industry include matching resources with need, and I left to pursue a career which involved that. Following graduate school, I was a predoctoral fellow at the West Haven VA Hospital. Afterwards, I trained at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., where I worked with veterans suffering from military/combat and non-military related brain injuries. Upon returning to Connecticut, I began a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale’s School of Medicine. I served as a primary clinician to adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. In 2006, I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford. Until recently, I worked as a campaign manager for a Stamford mayoral candidate. It was my first foray into politics, and it’s what I consider to be my first step towards fundraising and helping to shape mental health policy-making. I recently accepted a position with Hands On Hartford.
Community Involvement: My Italian-American family promoted close family relationships and stressed the importance of establishing strong community ties. Hartford has a special place in my heart, and my commitment to service has made me an agent of positive change for our capital city. I serve as events committee chair for Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs; secretary for the Trinity Club of Hartford; and as committee member in Friends of St. Jude’s.
Musical Inspiration: I’m a fan of Toby Keith, whose primary theme is patriotism. Country speaks to the intersection of family, hardship, human resiliency and faith.
Person you most admire and why: My professional and personal mentor has always been, and remains, my mother — Imma Aiello. She has been a successful small business owner in Hartford for 22 years. However, she is most proud of the family that she raised with my father. They’ve raised our family, cared for their own elderly parents, juggled their individual careers and remained active in their community. My mother feels that the “business” of running a successful family has been her most rewarding challenge.
Age: 39
Title: Principal
Company Name: Russell Phillips & Associates, LLC
Company Location: Plainville
Residence: Bloomfield
Career Highlights: I entered the fire and disaster planning field in 1994 and embarked on a career serving a portion of our population that not many see — an environment where patients are unable to protect themselves in a fire or disaster. Highlights include:
Acquiring Russell Phillips & Associates: My partners and our team know the work we do is intense, but it is rewarding and the best career decision I ever made. I know that what we do will prevent a negative outcome from a nursing home fire or will ensure that a hospital can withstand a disaster.
Hurricane Katrina: An opportunity to be on a review team that visited the impacted healthcare facilities. We evaluated their experiences and learned about the true impact of preparation and planning for disaster.
Pediatric disasters: In 2009, I led a team that wrote a regional hospital evacuation plan in the Pacific Northwest to protect neonatal/pediatric patients in the event of a disaster. It made me realize how vulnerable kids are and how few plans are thorough enough to protect them.
Community Involvement: In 1998, a group of University of New Hampshire alumni started Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation to support the life of my college roommate’s sister. I had the honor of serving as one of the founders and president of the organization for 5 years. What began as a foundation to support one person evolved into a group providing financial support to hundreds of cancer patients and their families in the North Conway, New Hampshire area. Locally, I’ve volunteered for the Capital Regional Emergency Planning Committee to support the organization in developing alternate care facility tools addressing healthcare challenges in an Influenza Pandemic.
Musical Inspiration: Andrea Bocelli . While I was not born an opera fan, as a toddler, my son heard Bocelli sing, and has been mesmerized by opera ever since. Bocelli inspired him to love music, showing me the impact musical talent and passion can have.
Person you most admire and why: My father is my role model. He built his veterinary practice around trust and relationships and his personal life around ensuring that everyone gets the benefit of the doubt. He always puts others first and taught me that success is not based on what is in your wallet, but the steps you take to lead a quality life.
Age: 34
Title: President & CEO
Company: Skylightsys Strategic Staffing
Company location: East Hartford
Residence: Glastonbury
Career Highlights: I started Skylightsys Strategic Staffing in 2005 in a closet-sized space with barely enough room for a phone and a desk. I quickly grew the firm into a premier technology consulting and staffing organization that serves many of the nation’s top Fortune 500 firms, including several in Connecticut. Today, we overlook the scenic Connecticut River from our beautiful 17th floor offices, but I often look back at our simple beginnings for inspiration and motivation. The core values of Skylightsys can be summarized by 3 basic principles: ethical business practices, excellence in client service and a focus on a diverse workplace.
The firm is comprised of the best and brightest staffing professionals in the industry. Naturally, this trickles down to high quality service for our clients. Being a woman and minority owned enterprise, we were recently certified as members of the Women’s Business Enterprise and the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Many ask where the name Skylightsys comes from. It is named after my daughter, Diya, a name that in English, translates into “light. She is most definitely the light in my sky.
Community Involvement: My community involvement is 100 percent focused on promoting leadership and initiative in today’s younger generations. Whether I’m leading my daughter’s local Girl Scout troop or helping young adults reach their career goals, I feel it is a wonderful opportunity to develop and nurture our youth. Additionally, I am happy to share Skylightsys’ financial success by contributing to several organizations that focus exclusively on the health and well-being of our children. Skylightsys supports many inner city initiatives as well as participates in St. Jude’s Partner In Hope program for children with cancer.
Musical Inspiration: Music is a constant at my house. When my daughter takes a small break from listening to Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift, I sneak in my favorites. I especially enjoy Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire.
Person you most admire and why: I admire people who are passionate about who they are and what they do. Their willingness to commit themselves to their core ideals, beliefs, a specific cause or an organization is both encouraging and inspiring. I especially admire my parents who came to this country with very little and taught both me and my siblings the importance of work and conservative spending.
Age: 37
Title: Deputy Director
Company: Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance
Company location: Hartford
Residence: West Hartford
Career Highlights: One career highlight was my involvement in Connecticut’s 1998 gubernatorial campaign. My participation allowed me to tie together many of my core beliefs: helping people, a passion for politics, and my sense of family. A more recent career high point was receiving my master’s degree in public policy. This more formal training provided me a set of tools to address the issues and challenges I first faced on the campaign trail. The work I do every day for SINA requires I utilize both the theory of the classroom and a decade of real world experiences in working to make all of Hartford a better place to live.
Community Involvement: I truly believe that one person can make a difference. Whether that person stands alone or with a group, the end result has the potential to improve the social fabric of a community. I carried this lesson through my involvement in the effort to change the Hartford Charter in 1999 and 2000. Walking the city streets during the petition drive gave me an incredible opportunity to work with other likeminded advocates in making a difference in a city we all care about deeply. Making a difference also comes from helping someone discover their full potential. I have been a member of Nutmeg Big Brothers and Big Sisters’ board of directors for four years. This experience has brought home how important mentoring is in the lives of children whose abilities and goals have yet to be realized or nurtured.
Musical Inspiration: There are many different musical genres that inspire me. Right now I am fascinated by jazz. The complexity of the music intrigues me because the true masters make it look so effortless and seamless.
Person you most admire and why: The person I most admire is my father. His decades of tireless public service humble me and fuel my desire to work for those in need of advocacy and assistance. He passed away five years ago, but there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t look to his life for inspiration. He worked tirelessly for the most vulnerable in our society. Whether as Hartford’s state’s attorney, or as Connecticut’s chief state’s attorney, he had a deep passion for giving voice to the interests of those in need of protection. My father truly believed that public service was the noblest of careers.
Age: 25
Title: Community Affairs
Company: Metropolitan District Commission
Company location: Hartford
Residence: Wethersfield
Career Highlights: Since joining the Metropolitan District (MDC) in 2007, I’ve been responsible for internal and external communications, media relations, crisis communications and, most importantly, building positive working relationships with our customers. What I enjoy most about my occupation is crisis management, including response, prevention and planning. Prior to joining the MDC, I was a lobbyist for a Hartford based government relations firm. In 2005, I interned for sixth district State Senator Donald DeFronzo. During the 2005 legislative session, I was tasked with a personal and professional goal to advocate and lobby for the passage of SB 34, “An Act Authorizing the Issuance of Protective Orders in Harassment Cases.” This vital piece of legislation was signed into law in October 2005.
Community Involvement: Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” I strongly believe in following those words by giving back to society. I am a member of the board of directors for Clothes Make the Man; an advocacy volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a proud alumnus of Central Connecticut State University. I’ve had the pleasure to be the MDC organizer for the Annual Earth Day Celebration and for the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s Source to Sea Cleanup. In addition, I am active in the Wethersfield Democratic Party and serve on the Youth Services Advisory Board.
Musical Inspiration: Alicia Keyes. Every woman feels empowered and energized after listening to such a talented singer and writer.
Person you most admire and why: The person I will always admire is my late father-in-law. A loving husband, father of two, dedicated firefighter, EMT and nuclear radiologist technician who believed a job wasn’t just work, but a way to better serve the community and his family. His public service and small acts of kindness showed me the true meaning of living. Chuck Sheehan, Kristine Shaw and Kerry Martin at the MDC are three business people who can juggle more than anyone I know and still come into the office every day ready to take on more.
Age: 35
Title: Senior Marketing Communications Consultant, Retirement Plans Group
Company Name: The Hartford Financial Services Group
Company Location: Simsbury
Residence: West Simsbury
Career Highlights: In 2008, I transitioned to The Hartford after nearly 10 years in nonprofit work. This year, I played a lead project management role in the marketing launch of The Hartford’s new Cash Balance product, a defined benefit program for small businesses and professional practices. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford, I helped create and grow the organization’s first-ever leadership giving society for donors of $1,000 or more. I also graduated from Leadership Greater Hartford’s leadership training program, Quest, and was elected to serve on the organization’s board of directors.
Community Involvement: I currently serve on the board of directors for Leadership Greater Hartford, and co-chair the organization’s development committee. I am also involved as a development volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and have served on the organization’s Dashaway Luncheon committee. Additionally, I have provided freelance grant writing for the Urban League of Greater Hartford and volunteered as a coach for the Farmington Valley YMCA’s girls’ basketball league.
Musical Inspiration: I have always loved “Small Town” by John Mellencamp. I associate the song with Larry Bird, who I idolized as a kid. Growing up in French Lick, Ind. and becoming an NBA legend, Bird demonstrated to me that success isn’t limited by where you’re from, but where you take yourself with hard work.
Person you most admire and why: I have great admiration for President Obama. He is the first political figure of my lifetime that I have found personally inspiring. I am most impressed with his ability to create and articulate a vision, his temperament under pressure, and his willingness to seek — and understand — multiple and contrasting viewpoints to find common ground. As an active volunteer, I also admire President Obama for his experience in community organizing and his national call for public service to engage people, especially young people, in making grassroots investments in their communities. That volunteer service is greatly needed in many communities nationwide, including Hartford.
Age: 29
Title: Attorney
Company: Updike, Kelly and Spellacy P.C.
Company location: Hartford
Residence: Portland
Career Highlights: As a corporate attorney at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C., I worked on financing, stock and asset purchase deals involving high-tech companies. As an immigration attorney, I enable businesses to obtain work visas or green cards for their foreign workers and to comply with immigration laws. I recently obtained asylum at the appellate level for a client who escaped ethnic persecution from a country affected by genocide. I had to communicate with the client in French, and prove her asylum claim when only scarce documentation was available. It feels very fulfilling to have used my legal skills in this manner because the client can now bring her family out of a war-torn country. In 2008-09 I was selected as one of 10 attorneys to be part of the Meritas Leadership Institute, a leadership program developed by an alliance of nearly 200 law firms in 60 countries around the world known as Meritas.
Community Involvement: As the chair of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Young Professionals Committee, I help organize events such as the 2009 WorldQuest Trivia, to increase awareness about international affairs in Connecticut. I am very active with the Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) task force which aims to stimulate entrepreneurship in Hartford. As a member of the steering committee of the Young Connecticut Venture Group of Emerging Professionals (YCVG), I help organize events that bring together young investors and entrepreneurs. In the past, I served as secretary and treasurer of the Connecticut Bar Association’s International Law section and as a board member of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association. In addition, I provide free legal services during Citizenship Day each year to lawful immigrants applying for naturalization.
Musical Inspiration: Juan Luis Guerra, singer, songwriter and self-producer who sings about the immigrant experience and various social/ economic concerns in Latin America.
Person you most admire and why: My mother, Lucia Bucin, for building a thriving furniture manufacturing business from scratch in post-communist Romania. With my father’s help, in a few years she has taken the business from a small operation to currently supplying the largest retailers in Europe.
Age: 37
Title: Marketing Coordinator
Company: Capitol Community College
Company location: Hartford
Residence: Somers
Career Highlights: On the surface, it would appear that successfully launching a newspaper, winning journalism awards from the New England Press Association and meeting most all of my childhood heroes would qualify in this regard. And I suppose they do. But for me, really, the greatest appeal of it all is that I can honestly say I enjoy most everything I do most every single day…and the day something becomes “not fun,” is the day it gets dropped from MY “day-to-day.”
Community Involvement: With both my wife and mother being local teachers and two little ones immersed in a host of activities ranging from dance recitals to karate tournaments, I seem to attend — and/or, lend a helping hand — to most every community event of note. Sometimes, they may simply include donating prizes or volunteering, or, thanks to my newspaper, offering free advertisements and/or sponsorships. I also co-founded the Somers Four Alarm Chili Festival, which raised proceeds for the town fire department. For the past five years, I’ve served as an executive board member of The ARC of Greater Enfield, which, through the aid of various fundraisers we run throughout the year, offers programs like “Camp Shriver” for children who are intellectually disabled or have related disabilities.
Musical Inspiration: My main inspirations range from Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Stone Temple Pilots, Sinatra and James Brown to the scarily-talented/more obscure (Segovia, Stanley Jordan, Buckethead). That said, I have a guilty pleasure which I must CONSTANTLY defend: the wonderful escapism that is KISS. I will admit I have a Paul Stanley bobble-head on my desk. I am oft-inspired by Mr. Stanley’s seemingly boundless energy and upbeat attitude in an age of jaded shoegazers and otherwise disenchanted “too cool for the roomers.” Four decades, night in and night out — the man never phones it in.
Person you most admire and why: At present, I would say, my grandfather…for the simple reason that, without being abrasive or argumentative, everybody always knew exactly where they stood with him. He never minced words, glad-handed, feigned interest or even offered a faux smile. Such an approach to life seems so appealing and common-sensical, yet such a challenge to put into daily practice.
Age: 38
Title: Partner
Company: 4Biz Group LLC
Company location: Plainville
Residence: West Hartford
Career Highlights: In 1996, I followed my dreams and bought a one-way ticket from Bangladesh to America. Immediately following my MBA graduation, I started working for General Electric, Stanley and SaiSoft and soon came to realize that my purpose was to open my own company. Since I’m as passionate about technology as art, opening a Web site/graphic design company made perfect sense. 4Biz became a successful Web site, graphics and software design company in just five years. 4Biz’s initial business concept was grassroots technology development, with a core focus on creating Web sites and portals for local small-scale businesses that were struggling to achieve an Internet presence. Our concept became a successful model that later evolved to serve mid-size and enterprise-level companies with robust content management systems (CMS). 4Biz continues to invent new cutting-edge technologies such as very affordable CMS for small business websites, e-broadcasting, and integrated marketing solutions.
Community Involvement: I am a board member of the Wheeler YMCA and Plainville Chamber of Commerce.
Musical Inspiration: Most of my inspiration came from Indian classical music. But, of course, when I heard John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Bob Marley’s “One Love,” it reinforced my belief in “oneness.” Even though our uniqueness makes this world exciting, the larger dimension is that we are all inseparable. We are all “One.”
Person you most admire and why: My father left his village in India on his bicycle for the farthest town offering opportunities for social mobility. He started the first book-store in that town. His entrepreneurial spirit and natural business acumen led him to build a business that included three movie theatres, film-editing labs and distribution centers. He passed away when I was a teenager, but all his wisdom that he imparted in me made me who I am. He continues to inspire me every day and in every business decision that I make. Here’s one of his wisdoms — “Son, while you are taking this journey through time, always be fair, be compassionate and celebrate every minute!” Oh, here is another one: “If a woman (my mom) has changed a man like me; they can certainly change the entire world, so if you want to change the world, find a woman who will love you — even if you fail.”
Age: 23
Title: Marketing Director & Financial Representative
Company Name: New England Financial Group
Company Location: West Hartford
Residence: Enfield
Career Highlights: Being able to work among some of the top financial professionals in the country, in a firm that has been serving the Hartford community for over 100 years, allows me to excel through teamwork with the knowledge and experience of my colleagues. In a field that is dominated by individuals much older, my sense of technology, attention to detail, and ability to create solutions to fit sophisticated clients’ needs allows me to be a member of a great service oriented financial firm. From day one I have been told, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
Community Involvement: I am very fortunate to be in a firm that was named “Best Places to Work 2009.’’ Our success allows us to have a “help-others-help-others” mentality to not only be involved in what is important to us as individuals, but also to get involved in what is important to our colleagues and peers in the office. It gives us a great sense of community and allows me to model myself after extraordinary individuals who have lifetimes worth of achievements that I can only hope to mirror.
Musical Inspiration: Billy Joel is a great American icon to me. That guy has figured out how to have wings and roots at the same time. His career has taught everyone a lot but, to me, he stuck with the one thing that he knows how to do. There are too many people trying to be a professional at more than one thing and they become mediocre at everything. He’s a musician and he knows how to be one. I help people out with anything I can, but I also understand that my concentration on being a financial representative will help people more than anything else.
Person you most admire and why: I admire my father the most. Our family came over from Italy with nothing, a few generations ago. Each generation has been able to give their children a better life than they had. Through his sacrifices and working 50 plus hours a week when I was younger, my brother and I were able to be the first generation to graduate from college. He has given me the understanding that anything can be achieved with hard work and dedication.
Age: 22
Title: Government Affairs Coordinator
Company Name: Associated Builders and Contractors of CT
Company Location: Rocky Hill
Residence: Danbury
Career Highlights: Serving with the Marine Corps in the Horn of Africa is my highlight. Here I was at 20, leaving the United States for the first time in my life, heading to a fourth world country located in the hotbed of terrorism. A lot of things go through your head. But it turned out to be an amazing experience. I was able to go out and build schools, improve their infrastructure, and work the hearts and minds side of things. It was quite an experience. Then, working on the McCain campaign was such a ride. Although things didn’t turn out the way I would have liked, to work for a hero like John McCain was just so rewarding.
Community Involvement: I’ve been involved in several veterans’ organizations, like the American Legion, the VFW, the Marine Corps League and most recently a new organization called ‘No Vet Left Behind’ which assists veterans that may have drug or alcohol addictions, may be homeless or in need of medical treatment. It’s a great thing to be a part of.
Musical Inspiration: U2 has always inspired me. They have been able to touch millions and motivate people to move beyond their comfort zones to see that there is a world out there in need. I remember they played the halftime show during the first Super Bowl after 9-11. To watch them sing, ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ with the victims names in the background, two of those victims being relatives of mine, was really inspirational.
Person you most admire and why: I have to say that I have always really admired Colin Powell, both professionally and personally. To see someone who grew up poor in the Bronx become the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then the first African-American Secretary of State is truly something special. I remember being four years old and watching the news coverage on Operation Desert Storm, and there was Colin Powell in front of these maps and sketches of the battlefield, I was just in absolute awe. I had to have that uniform. And there I was 16 years later, wearing that uniform, serving in a different time, during a different war, but serving nonetheless. I owe a lot of that to him. I still call upon the inspiration I took from him growing up.
Age: 38
Title: Principal and Owner
Company Name: Horizon Home Mortgage, LLC
Company Location: Windsor
Residence: Windsor
Career Highlights: One of my career highlights was obtaining my master’s degree in health administration. I was working and going to school full time while having a family. The businesses that I have successfully opened have been able to give back to the community. I have created an environment through these businesses that allow the individuals who work in them to achieve personal, professional and financial success. I would say this has been my proudest accomplishment.
Community Involvement: I developed a program at Horizon Home Mortgage called Lending a Helping Hand. Through this program, we donate a portion of the loan proceeds to local charities where our customers reside in. We have given donations to the Connecticut Youth Football Scholarship Fund and to many other charities. As an owner of the Union Street Tavern in Windsor, we created a charity fund raiser called the Union Street Tavern Trot. The road race is a certified 3.7 mile on/off road course thru historic Windsor center and along the Connecticut River. We’ve raised over $15,000 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Mary’s Place. The third annual road race is Sept. 20, 2009 and starts and finishes at the Union Street Tavern in downtown Windsor. There is free music, food and festivities for all after the race. Last year we had over 400 runners.
Musical Inspiration: James Taylor is my musical inspiration because in all his music there is something I can connect to. His music is about life, and all it can be.
Person you most admire and why: Bob Masi, a good friend of mine who passed away of cancer a few years ago is my inspiration. He had a tremendous zest for life and had the most wonderful relationship with his three sons. They were teenagers at the time of his death, but the respect and understanding was something I most admired and hope to have someday with my children. They are the main reason why I do the things I do. Bob truly enjoyed living in the moment and not taking anything for granted. As a business owner, I find myself asking what would he do in a time like this, most often he would take the good and worry less about the bad, knowing he was doing the right thing and things have a funny way of working themselves out as long as you are true to yourself.
Age: 36
Title: Policy and Legislative Affairs Liaison
Company Name: Office of Governor M. Jodi Rell
Company Location: Hartford
Residence: Manchester
Career Highlights: I began my career as a case manager in a nonprofit alternative incarceration center, moving from there to a trade association representing about 500 nonprofit organizations across Connecticut. I was promoted to public policy director and recognized for nonprofit advocacy leadership by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations in 2005. I left that position in December 2007 to become a policy and legislative affairs liaison for Governor Rell.
Community Involvement: For seven years, I volunteered with Nutmeg Big Brothers-Big Sisters as a Big Sister. For my work, I was honored for volunteer excellence by the organization and the City of Hartford. Currently, I volunteer with the State Board of Education Services for the Blind (BESB). BESB paired me with a blind Manchester senior citizen. I also volunteer photography services to the Lutz Children’s Museum and serve as my condominium association president.
Musical Inspiration: Bono of U2 has taken his success and used it to fight poverty, racism and AIDS. Rather than just give monetarily, he strives to create sustainable efforts that support causes close to his heart.
Person you most admire and why: Gini is the woman I am paired with through my volunteer work with BESB. Gini is visually impaired as a result of having Marfan’s Syndrome. She became completely blind several years ago. As a child, she was kept out of school because she was deemed to be mentally impaired…turns out she was visually impaired. In her 20’s she lived in New York City and took advantage of everything it had to offer. After marrying and adopting two children, she was trained in hypnosis and opened her own center. Her daughter recently passed away after a long illness. Despite these challenges and caring for an ailing husband, her attitude is more positive than most. Gini takes advantage of everything life has to offer. She is a constant reminder to me of how we make our own happiness in life.
Age: 35
Title: WHQ Human Resources Manager
Company: United Technologies Corp. — Carrier Corp. division
Company Location: Farmington
Residence: Hartford
Career Highlights: I was born in Zimbabwe and raised in London, England and Birmingham, Ala. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Alabama State University, cum laude, and two master’s degrees from Purdue University (M.A. in history and an MBA). In 1998, I started my career with Motorola in talent acquisition and diversity. I went on to join UTC in 2001. In 2006, I joined Honeywell and was recruited back to UTC-Carrier in the fall of 2007, where I am currently the world headquarters human resource manager. I served on the sponsor boards for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) (2001-2005) and the National Society of Black Engineers (2001-2004). I built programs which led UTC to receive the Hispanic MBA’s Brilliante award in 2003 and the Black Engineers Golden Torch award in 2004. I received the individual Destino award from the NSHMBA Connecticut Chapter in 2003.
Community Involvement: In 2005 I co-founded OneWorldEpic LLC (OWE), an event production company. OWE productions are community-based and capture the essence of global cultures. OWE wrote, directed, and produced Peculiar People, a play about the civil rights movement, which sold out its February 2009 Hartford Stage debut. This served as the most successful fundraising effort in the history of the Urban League Greater Hartford Young Professionals. I am a member of the board of trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford and president of the Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals. Additionally, I am the vice president, communications, for the Greater Hartford National Black MBA chapter, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The Young Professionals chapter has had a great impact in Hartford, contributing 1,300-plus hours of community service.
Musical Inspiration: Wyclef Jean, because he has not allowed obstacles to distract him from achieving success and he has a strong commitment to helping Haiti, his home country, through his YeleHaiti program.
Person You Admire Most and Why: My mother, mentor, and friend, Edlyne Moyo. She represents how hard work, strong values, focus and humility are life essentials.
Age: 36
Title: Vice President of Business Services, Western New England Region
Company: Comcast
Company location: Berlin
Residence: Seymour
Career Highlights: I’ve had the unique opportunity to help lead the explosive growth of Comcast ’s Business Class service offerings. I oversaw the successful 2008 launch of Comcast’s Business Class Digital Voice service and the roll-out of our bundle offerings of voice, Internet and TV services for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Connecticut. This year, I’ve begun overseeing Business Class operations in Vermont, in addition to Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and New York. I’ve also been able to help Connecticut’s small and medium-sized businesses convert from broadband to wideband. Additionally, I’ve increased Comcast’s involvement in the Connecticut Business Expo and helped Connecticut businesses and chambers of Commerce save money by delivering the latest technology to their businesses through Comcast’s Chamber Rewards program.
Community Involvement: Since moving to Connecticut, I’ve enjoyed participating in the local community, from sprucing up French Memorial Park in my hometown of Seymour as part of Comcast Cares Day, the company’s nationwide day of employee community service, to taking part in Jim Calhoun’s Cancer Challenge Ride, to supporting the company’s annual United Way drive. In the past year, I have also increased my involvement in industry and community boards, representing Comcast as a strategic partner on the Metro Hartford Alliance’s Economic Development Council, serving on the board of directors for the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and volunteering my time on the Middlesex United Way’s New Account Development Committee.
Musical Inspiration: My greatest musical inspiration is Linkin Park. My wife and I were introduced for the first time at our wedding to a Linkin Park song. The band plays intense music that we both like to listen to when we exercise.
Person you most admire and why: The person that I most admire is my father. He is a gifted man who chooses to help people at every turn, whether as a volunteer Sunday School teacher, volunteer ambulance squad member, or in his career as a high school physics and chemistry teacher.
