Bill Field
Field is president of Mintz & Hoke, a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations firm in Avon.
His personal mission: “Make the agency’s services worth more than the client is paying and everyone benefits.”
The firm’s clients include The Wiremold Co.; Cigna Corp.; Mohegan Sun Casino; Electric Boat; Pratt & Whitney, Otis Elevator, Sikorsky Aircraft and their parent United Technologies Corp.; the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; MassMutual Financial Group and DRS Technologies.
His previous advertising-marketing experience includes stints at Dresser Industries; DIMARC Advertising; Ted Bates Advertising.
Among his lifetime of honors and achievements is the Publicity Club of New England Bell Ringers, EFFIEs, and Inroads Program Mentor of the Year.
Yvon J. Alexandre
This Hartford entrepreneur is president of J. P. Alexandre LLC, a property manager and operator of Vibz Uptown Banquet Hall and Night Club in Hartford.
Alexandre is founder of Caribbean Import Products LLC and Alexandre, Clark Associates Inc., Caribbean and West Indian food and beverage importer, wholesale distributor and retailer.
Before starting his businesses, Alexandre worked for Textron Lycoming in various procurement capacities. He also was a purchasing officer for the state Judicial Department a buyer for Pratt & Whitney Co.
He has served as vice chair of the MetroHartford Alliance; chairman of the Metro Hartford Chamber of Commerce; the Upper Albany Business Network; and the Connecticut Haitian American Association.
Karen Munson
Karen Munson is vice president and owner of Munson’s Chocolates in Bolton and a third-generation chocolatier.
Munson’s is Connecticut largest retail chocolate manufacturer with 11 locations throughout the Connecticut. Its confections are sold and shipped globally via its online store. The 65-year-old company employs more than 200 in production, retailing and its fundraising, wholesale and corporate gift giving divisions.
She is creative director of product development and ensuring Munson’s high standards. She develops all the retail store concepts and directs the visual merchandising plans of the company.
She has been a guest speaker for multiple University of Connecticut School of Business events and Connecticut Business and Industry Association conferences. She is a panelist for Retail Confectioner’s International.
Munson’s was the 2009 recipient of the Business Champions Sustainability Award.
Jerry W. Long
Jerry Long has been a computer consultant since January 1988, when he opened PC Consultants. In 1994, Long founded PCC Technology Group LLC in Bloomfield.
PCC is a 2001, 2002 and 2003 winner of Deloitte & Touche’s “Fast 50” award and the recipient of the Business Development Grant given by Fleet Development Ventures.
He started his career with General Electric, where he spent 13 years. He later moved to then Connecticut General Co. (now Cigna Corp.) for two years, followed by a four-year assignment with The Hartford Financial Services Group before starting PC Consultants.
Long is a board member of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association; The Simsbury Bank; vice chairman of Charter Oak State College Board of Trustees; a director for Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation; chairman of the Bloomfield Economic Development Commission; and a director for Rideshare.
