July 27, 2020 - Hartford Business Journal

With community support, Tops Marketplace rebuilds after devastating fire

After Tops Marketplace burned to the ground in a devastating fire in March 2019, it would have been perfectly understandable if John Salerno decided it was time to retire.

CNC Software Inc.’s father-to-daughter transition required ‘proper thought and execution’

When Meghan Summers West was 12 years old and wanted a cat, her father asked her to put together a business plan.

Paine-Miller prepares to take reins of family’s trash-hauling empire

As the vice president of Paine’s Inc. Rubbish and Recycling, Julie Paine-Miller has a hand in just about every aspect of the family business. Finances, marketing, customer service, long-term planning — Paine-Miller does a bit of it all.

Schneider turns small lightbulb shop into thriving energy solutions/solar installation business

Sam Schneider was a freshman at Central Connecticut State University when he first opened a small lightbulb shop on Route 83 in his hometown of Ellington.

Geologist Mark Smith’s Macropod puts small creatures in full focus

If you read a news story about giant “murder hornets” descending on the U.S. this spring, you may have seen images captured with Macroscopic Solutions’ technology.

Siemon family protects legacy of century-old IT infrastructure manufacturer

As president of a family business with more than a century of history behind it, Carl N. Siemon sees himself as more than just the top executive at Siemon Co. He’s a protector of its legacy.

Winterberry Garden’s diversification play leads to fertile growth

It was Thanksgiving eve 2018 and Winterberry Garden employees were working late into the night, assembling garland with bulbs and decorations so they could be loaded onto trucks and driven north to MGM Springfield.

Viking Construction’s focus on quality yields staying power, growth

If Viking Construction Inc. had a company motto, it would be this: Always finish strong.

Adaptive Prosthetics & Orthotics’ artificial limbs bring patients hope, joy

Category | Fewer Than 25 employees — Glastonbury-based Adaptive Prosthetics and Orthotics LLCWhen Dave Hewett started Adaptive...

Small Business

🔒Meet HBJ’s 2020 Family Business Awards winners

The coronavirus pandemic has put strain on all Connecticut families, as they manage the stress of financial, social and mental and physical health hardships.

Nonprofits

🔒COVID-19 makes corporate volunteerism a virtual experience

Before their team meeting last year, workers in Cigna Corp.’s operations group built planter boxes for the Keney Park Sustainability Project, literally getting their hands dirty to help provide produce for Hartford’s urban neighborhoods.

Health Care

Long-term care insurers request big rate hikes, but COVID-19 not to blame

Long-term care insurers, which provide coverage for future stays in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, as well as at-home care, have asked Connecticut regulators for major rate hikes in recent months, putting further pressure on policyholders who have consistently shouldered escalating costs over the last half-decade or so.

Banking & Finance

🔒Serial fintech acquirer SS&C Technologies draws legal blowback from $2.6B purchase

Two competitors are going after SS&C Technologies in court, accusing the Windsor-based financial software and services powerhouse of using unfair tactics to gain monopoly power in key markets.

Education

🔒Trinity College President Berger-Sweeney navigates liberal arts school through historic challenges

Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity College President Joanne Berger-Sweeney is in the thick of working to reopen Trinity's campus safely this fall, and expects recent national unrest and a racial-justice protest movement to spark debate and controversy among students and faculty.

Real Estate & Construction

🔒New Hartford office tower owner, Congressional candidate Askar staying course during quiet leasing period

Florida businessman and GOP congressional candidate Casey Askar has big aspirations for Hartford's empty 25 Sigourney St. office tower.

Real Estate & Construction

Hartford’s office market in limbo as COVID-19 uncertainty delays expansions, renewals

COVID-19 has slammed the brakes on new office leasing in downtown Hartford.

Manufacturing

🔒West Hartford tech CEO’s podcast highlights CT manufacturing success stories

Ari Santiago, host of the West Hartford-based “Made in America” podcast, made small talk during a recent July afternoon with his guest, Excello Tool Engineering & Manufacturing Co. Chief Operations Officer Marcy Minnick, while the show’s producer occasionally interrupted to refine their audio before they started recording.

Economic Development

🔒$6M Simsbury land sale would sink controversial affordable housing development

A controversial Simsbury housing development that included an affordable component and has been on the table for more than two decades, would officially be dead if a pending $6-million land sale to a California-based conservation nonprofit is completed in the months ahead.

July 27, 2020Edition

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