As state lawmakers and special interest groups prepare for the start of the 2025 legislative session, the state’s largest business lobby announced Tuesday the hiring of two new policy advocates.
The Connecticut Business & Industry Association said it has added Grace Brangwynne and Jenna Grasso to its lobbying team. They are replacing two policy advocates who left the organization, a spokesman said.
The CBIA will have a seven-member lobbying team, led by former state lawmaker Chris Davis and CEO Chris DiPentima, heading into the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 8 and runs through May 7.
Prior to joining CBIA, Brangwynne served as a congressional campaign manager to U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, real estate lobbyist, and gubernatorial campaign staffer for Gov. Ned Lamont.
Grasso worked in the Connecticut House of Representatives as a GOP legislative aide and public affairs coordinator. She also led several campaigns across Connecticut and worked as a lobbying assistant at New Haven government relations firm DNB Lobby.
Brangwynne will focus on policy related to housing, insurance, planning, public health and human services. Grasso will focus on issues related to improving talent pipelines and expanding access to affordable child care, CBIA said.
Brangwynne earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Connecticut.
Grasso earned her bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and is pursuing a master’s at UConn.
