UpFront

On this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of biopharmaceuticals with a leader who's been at the helm of innovation and change in this critical field. Joining us is Jennifer Good, the co-founder, President, and CEO of Trevi Therapeutics—a company dedicated to developing groundbreaking treatments for patients with chronic cough conditions, where no approved options currently exist. Jennifer's leadership has guided Trevi since its inception in 2011, and her journey in the pharmaceutical industry is nothing short of inspiring. But what does it really take to lead a company that's on the cutting edge of such important work? How do you navigate the complexities of the biopharmaceutical world while striving to improve patients' lives? We'll also discuss some solid business advice, what Jennifer does to disconnect, what inspires her and so much more. Let's get UpFront with Jennifer Good. More on Trevi Therapeutics: www.trevitherapeutics.com

Dennis House is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and is celebrated as one of Connecticut's most influential figures. One of his first big breaks was breaking the rules to get an interview with President Ronald Reagan. For the last 30 years he's brought a local perspective to some of the biggest news stories and has appeared nationally in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Politico, MSNBC and many others. Today, Dennis anchors the nightly newscasts at WTNH News 8. We talk about the move to WTNH, overcoming adversity and his childhood aspiration of always wanting to work in news. Let's get UpFront with Dennis House. More on Dennis House: www.dennishouse.tv

Carl Zuanelli is the CEO of Nuovo Pasta. On this episode he shares his incredible story of working in banking and later leaving to start Nuovo Pasta. He walked into a local restaurant and asked the owner to teach him how to make pasta. Carl is the founder and CEO of Nuovo Pasta, the president of the International Pasta Association and the past chair of the National Pasta Association. Carl says it takes a leap of faith to start a company. We talk about this and his love of doodling, how to convince investors that your idea will work and the power of intention. Let's get UpFront with Carl Zuanelli from Nuova Pasta. More about Carl Zuanelli and Nuovo Pasta: www.nuovopasta.com www.carlzuanelli.com

Suzanne McKenzie is the founder and chief creative officer of Able Made, the Original Off Pitch Soccer Style brand that combines soccer-inspired apparel and accessories with responsible manufacturing and giving back. Suzanne has a great love and appreciation for design that dates back to her early childhood. She's worked in the advertising and design consultancy world for numerous global brands and then a life changing event led her to start Able Made. We talk about what it takes to start a fashion brand with a purpose, what it was like to cold call Anna Wintour at Vogue Magazine and how design saved her life. Let's get UpFront with Suzanne McKenzie. More about Suzanne McKenzie and Able Made: www.ablemadeshop.com

Michelle Ciulla Lipkin is the Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). Michelle has helped NAMLE grow to be the preeminent media literacy education association in the U.S. Other accomplishments include launching the first ever Media Literacy Week in the country, forging strategic partnerships with Thomson Reuters, Meta, YouTube, and Nickelodeon to name a few. She has spoken at countless conferences and in the media regarding the importance of media literacy education.  Her passion for media literacy education stems from a very personal place, which we'll learn more about in this episode. We dive into what media literacy is, why it's important and learn more about Michelle's love of baseball, the theater and how to overcome some of life's most unexpected challenges. More about Michelle and NAMLE: www.namle.net

Where do we begin? For starters, Ann Nyberg has spent more than 40 years in television news. She's the longest-serving female news anchor/reporter in Connecticut television history. You've probably seen her on WTNH News 8 for the 5, 6, 10 or 11 o'clock nightly newscasts. Or, maybe you've caught her own show called “NYBERG” where she interviews all sorts of interesting guests. Ann's list of accomplishments is impressive. In 2015 she was inducted into the Silver Circle, an honor given to television professionals who have made significant contributions to their community and to the vitality of the television industry. Ann has also been voted the Best News Anchor for a decade in the Connecticut Magazine readers' poll, has been nominated for multiple Emmys, published two books, founded a charity, and was awarded the Spirit of the Katharine Hepburn Award. Above all else she is devoted to her family and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. So how does she keep going? What inspires her? What kind of lessons has she learned throughout her career? We find this out and so much more! Connect with Ann Nyberg: www.wtnh.com www.twitter.com/AnnNyberg

That's a wrap! The second season of UpFront featured inspiring conversations from some of Connecticut's top business and community leaders who are doing amazing things. This episode highlights some of our favorite segments of advice on leadership, failure, daily routines and more. Kick back and enjoy this UpFront wrap-up with Scot Haney (WFSB), Chef Tyler Anderson, Jill Meyer (Bead Industries), Claire Criscuolo (Claire's Corner Copia), Matthew Berry (NBC Sports), Alexander Williams (Blue Earth Compost), Michael Field (Mason) and Jeff Brooks (Giv Coffee). About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

Episode 18. Jeff Brooks (Giv Coffee) Jeff Brooks is the co-founder of Giv Coffee along with his wife Emily. After visiting friends in Kentucky who owned a coffee company with a philanthropic purpose, they were inspired that a great cup coffee could be tied to a bigger cause and giving back. Jeff, a coffee connoisseur himself, started roasting his own beans and in the fall of 2011 Giv Coffee was born. We talk about what it's like to run a growing coffee company, traveling the world to source Fair Trade beans and how his faith keeps him grounded, helped him overcome challenges and guides his decision-making process. Let's get UpFront with Jeff Brooks. More on Giv Coffee: www.givcoffee.com

Michael Field is the Vice President and Executive Creative Director here at Mason. We've been talking about doing this special episode for quite some time as a way to introduce him to the wider world and to get to know him a little better. Prior to joining Mason, Michael has held creative positions at agencies such as Ogilvy Health, Atmosphere BBDO, and others throughout the country. He's also a big soccer fan, maybe borderline soccer maniac, with a deep love for the sport. We talk more about that in the show! So what does a creative director do? And why is good not good enough and how do you get to great? We'll find out this and much more… let's get UpFront with Michael Field. More on Michael Field: www.twitter.com/michaeldavidfield www.mason23.com

Let's talk trash on this episode. No, really. And why you should think more about your garbage. When it comes to throwing our food away, and I don't mean to offend anyone here, but most of us just toss it in the garbage. Or maybe we put it in the sink disposal and grind it up. But throwing it away is bad. Why? Well, we're about to find out…   Alexander Williams is the owner & the director of operations at Blue Earth Compost. After purchasing the fledgling business in April 2014, Alex has grown the company into a full-service food scrap collection business with 12 employees and approximately 2,000 customers. In 2017, in recognition of his efforts to solve the food waste crisis, Alex received the Northeast Recycling Council's Environmental Sustainability Leadership Award – Young Professional. That's no easy feat.   I know I learned a thing or two from this episode about food waste, and I hope you will too…

“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” - Queen If you play fantasy sports, then you know who Matthew Berry is. He's an expert on the subject and helped popularize it from being a backroom secret to a pop culture phenomenon. And if you follow him, then you are probably aware that he has left ESPN. It's important to note that this episode was recorded before his ESPN departure and you may hear some references to things that seem out of time or place. Matthew's story is inspiring. It's an incredible story of perseverance and never giving up on your dreams. We talk about what it was like to grow up in football-heaven Texas, his days of being a Hollywood show writer on “Married With Children”, how he became a New York Times best-selling author and yes, all things fantasy sports. Let's get UpFront with Matthew Berry. More on Matthew Berry: www.twitter.com/MatthewBerryTMR

Claire LaPia and Frank Criscuolo were married on February 22, 1975. Claire was a registered nurse and Frank was a musician who played bass and lead guitar. The two were madly in love and wanted to spend as much time as possible together. The solution? Start a business and work together! Claire loved to cook and was raised in a traditional Italian-American family. Her mother was obsessed with eating delicious, fresh, homemade food. Her mother's mantras were “eat this, it's good for you” and “we don't eat foods with ingredients I can't pronounce”. Claire wanted to cook that way for the masses and opened Claire's Corner Copia on September 17, 1975. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. If you've ever been to New Haven, it's right there in the heart of the city on the corner of Chapel and College Street. It's a New Haven institution and Claire's was organic before it was a trend and marketing buzz word. Claire Criscuolo joins us and shares her story of growing up in Worcester Square, the story behind the Corner Copia name, her undying passion for good food and all of the lessons learned running her own kitchen.

UpFront with Jill Mayer Bead Industries Chances are you probably have never heard of Bead Industries, i didn't… but I can guarantee that you know two of the many products they've made. The first is the beaded-light pull chain that you use to turn a light on and off. The second are the dog tag chains for the US Military that they manufactured during World War Two. Founded in 1914, Bead Industries is comprised of two divisions - Bead Chain and Bead Electronics, and a wholly-owned subsidiary, McGuire Manufacturing Company. All of them are based here in Connecticut. Jill Mayer is the current CEO and the fifth generation of this family business, who took over running the company from her father in 2014 and has built on his legacy by transforming the organizational culture through innovation, shared purpose and accountability. We talk a lot about that in this episode. She's fiercely passionate about manufacturing and is the President of ManufactureCT, Connecticut's largest manufacturing association, a board member of the CBIA and is active in Vistage and Women in Manufacturing. Let's get UpFront with Jill Mayer and learn about what inspires her, how you can transform a company culture and what it's like to run a family manufacturing business. www.beadindustries.com

UpFront with Chef Tyler Anderson Tanda Hospitality If you go to his website, you're greeted by a big, jovial smile and a simple, inspiring message we should all adhere to - work hard, be nice, eat well. Chef Tyler Anderson was born and raised in Southern California where he started his career in the professional kitchen. In fact, it really started when he was a child selling snow cones on the street he lived on. Today, that entrepreneurial spirit lives on and his passion for the craft and locale are evident in his cooking style, which is inspired by simple quality goods and the culinary traditions of New England. He's the driving force behind his restaurants Millwright's, Ta-Que. Terreno, Bar Pina and Tanda Hospitality. He's also been nominated for the James Beard Best Chef Northeast award seven years in a row, named Connecticut Chef of the Year and he was a fierce contestant on Top Chef, Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay. So who won? We'll find out as we dive into what kind of leader it takes to run a kitchen, his daily habits and routines, what inspires him and how Covid has forced the restaurant business to be innovative. Let's get UpFront with Chef Tyler Anderson! About Tyler Anderson and Tanda Hospitality: www.cheftyleranderson.com www.tandahospitality.com www.instagram.com/cheftyleranderson

UpFront with Scot Haney WFSB Channel 3 There's no question about it - he is one of the most well known media personalities in Connecticut. His warm personality, sense of humor and dynamic character are a part of the Channel 3 weather team and Great Day Connecticut in the afternoons. We're thrilled to have Scot Haney from WFSB on the show! Scot started his broadcast career in mid 1990's, but landed at Channel 3 in November 1998 and hasn't looked back since. He earned his bachelor's degree from St. John's University in New York City, his master's degree at Syracuse University and is a proud graduate of the American Meteorological Society. Early on, his career path wasn't quite figured out. Scot had a burning passion to be on television, but often found himself working in jobs he didn't want. His story is about perseverance and setting goals to do what you really want to do in life. Scot is also a non-stop, driving force in the Connecticut community, volunteering at various events and making a commitment to help good causes anyway he can. He's received numerous awards and accolades for his community support, including awards from My Sisters Place, the American Red Cross and many others. So let's get UpFront with Scot Haney and learn more about his career path, failures, triumphs and what being in the news has taught him. About Scot Haney and WFSB: www.wfsb.com www.twitter.com/scothaney3 www.facebook.com/scothaney

We hope you have enjoyed the first season of UpFront! The idea of this show is simple. It's about featuring the personal stories of Connecticut's top business and community leaders who are doing great things. We want to know more about their daily habits, choices and decisions that have led them to where they are now. Each guest has an amazing story to tell and they also share some solid business advice that we can apply in our own lives. This wrap-up episode features the guests from our first season and highlights some of our favorite pieces of advice on leadership, failure, daily routines and more. Kick back and enjoy this UpFront wrap-up episode! About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Jennifer Rizzotti President, Connecticut Sun Mention the University of Connecticut or UConn and the first thing most people think of is basketball. UConn basketball – championship after championship, legendary players and legendary coaches. The school has a proud tradition of winning basketball championships and Connecticut is passionate about it. It's almost like a fairytale, except this is very real. Playing a starting role in the story of UConn women's basketball is Jennifer Rizzotti. She was there in the beginning of it all, winning the school's first NCAA championship in 1995. Today, Jennifer is the President of the Connecticut Sun women's professional basketball team that is affiliated with the Women's National Basketball Association. From her days on the court as a Husky and later playing pro women's basketball, to coaching teams and being a women's basketball hall-of-famer, Jennifer shares her inspiring story of perseverance, how being competitive can lead to success, and the lessons she's learned on and off the court that has helped shape her into the person she is today. Let's go one-on-one with Jennifer Rizzotti on UpFront! About Connecticut Sun: www.connecticutsun.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Jim Koplik President, Connecticut and Upstate New York Region Live Nation The power of music. It brings people together and makes us feel happy. It can make us feel sad and it has the ability to heal. More importantly, music brings people together and adds some joy into our lives. It's something we can all relate to. Jim Koplik is the president of Connecticut and the Upstate New York Region for Live Nation. A legendary concert promoter, Jim is responsible for thousands of shows that include legends such as The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra to name a few. His story is the thing that dreams are made of. It's about following your passion. In this case, Jim's passion is music and he turned that first show at Ohio State University back in 1968 into a thriving business. And make no mistake, music is a business and it is hard work. Jim shares his incredible story - where he came from, the triumphs, the challenges, where the live music business is going and a few stories from backstage. Let's dive into a little bit of rock and roll history with Jim Koplik on UpFront! About Live Nation: www.livenation.com www.oakdale.com www.hartfordtheatre.com www.hartfordhealthcareamp.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Reverend, Dr. Leroy Perry St. Stephens AME Zion Church (Branford) Cultural Ambassador, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation A life changing experience set Reverend Dr. Leroy Perry on his path in life. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, he earned his BA from Livingstone College, his MDiv from Yale Divinity, STM and doctoral degree from New York Theological Seminary in New York City. Having pastored in Harlem and his home church, Mt. Olive AME Zion, he presently serves as senior pastor to the St. Stephens Church, Branford CT. In addition to his work as pastor, Dr. Perry presently serves as the Director of the Fatherhood Initiative program at New Opportunities Inc, Waterbury, CT and as a Yale Center for Clinical Investigation Cultural Ambassador for the past ten years. He is devoted to improving the lives of anyone he meets and is committed to the improvement of community. We talk about his time of growing up in Roanoke as a child, why family is so important, what makes great leaders, some personal hard lessons learned and why you can't achieve success without sacrifice. About St. Stephens AME Zion Church: www.ststephensamezion.org/ About Yale Center for Clinical Investigation: www.yaleclinicaltrials.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Eric Hummel 3rd Generation Owner, Hummel Brothers There's nothing more American than a good old fashioned hot dog! We love them. Especially Hummel Bros. hot dogs. The Hummel Bros. story begins in 1933 when German immigrants William and Robert Hummel scraped together $1,000 to purchase a bankrupt sausage kitchen. They both were "wurstmachers" - sausage makers - back in Germany, so they knew a thing or two about making quality products. Fast forward to today and Hummel Bros. is a thriving family business that extends far beyond Connecticut. People love their food, especially their hot dogs. There are online groups dedicated to Hummel Bros. and fans from around the world who will have them shipped as far away as Hawaii and Alaska. Eric Hummel is one of the third generation owners and he took the time to share some insightful advice on the importance of giving back to the community, why employees are truly like family and the best way to enjoy a Hummel Bros. hot dog. About Hummel Bros.: www.hummelbros.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with John Lyman Executive Vice President, Lyman Orchards If you're from Connecticut, you've probably heard of Lyman Orchards. They're famous for their apple pies, but if you make your way to Middlefield, you'll be amazed at the sprawling property that is more than 1,100 acres of scenic farmland. And it's much more than their delicious pies. There's the Apple Barrel farm market, three world-class golf courses, pick your own in the orchards, the 1741 Pub and Grill and much more. Founded in 1741, Lyman Orchards is one of Connecticut's and the country's oldest continually run family businesses. John Lyman the 3rd is the executive vice president of Lyman Orchards and is a member of the eighth generation of the Lyman family that has been farming in Middlefield since 1741. Join us for an UpFront conversation on leadership, the importance of planning and the wholesome family values his parents instilled in him. www.lymanorchards.com www.facebook.com/lymanorchards www.instagram.com/lymanorchards www.lymangolf.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Nathan Grube Tournament Director, Travelers Championship If you love golf, then chances are you probably know the Travelers Championship. The tournament attracts an incredible player field with some of the biggest names in the game and it gives back millions to charitable causes throughout Connecticut. There's the on course action with the best players in the world. And then there's the off course fun in the fan zone with all kinds of activities for families and kids. So what does it take to put on a PGA Tour event? And who's the team behind it? Meet Nathan Grube. He's been the Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship since 2005. During this time the tournament has generated more than $20 million for charity and has been recognized by the PGA TOUR for numerous awards, including being named "Tournament of the Year" in 2017. In this episode we talk about playing baseball in San Diego, his time as a professional golfer, why he has no regrets and where the tournament is headed. Tee up and let's get UpFront with Nathan Grube. www.travelerschampionship.com www.facebook.com/travelerschampionship www.instagram.com/travelerschamp www.twitter.com/travelerschamp About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Cindi Bigelow President and CEO, Bigelow Tea If you enjoy tea, then chances are you know the Bigelow Tea name. Cindi Bigelow is the third-generation president and CEO of family-owned Bigelow Tea, the U.S. market leader of specialty teas that produces more than 2 billion tea bags annually. On this episode Cindi shares her childhood memories of tea tasting in the family kitchen, her ambition to one day run the company and memories of her grandmother Ruth Bigelow who founded the business in her New York City apartment. Cindi's inspiring story gives us an inside view of what it's like to run a family business, the challenging lessons learned throughout her career and why fluidity makes great leaders. Sit back, brew your favorite cup of Bigelow Tea and enjoy an UpFront conversation with Cindi Bigelow. UpFront is a monthly podcast that features Connecticut-based top performers in their respective field and how they are making a positive impact in their industry and community. Hosted by Derek Beere from Mason, the show takes a deep dive into how our guests achieved success and more insights into the person. www.bigelowtea.com www.facebook.com/bigelowtea www.instagram.com/bigelowtea www.twitter.com/bigelowtea About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Richard Rosenthal President and Founder, Max Restaurant Group The name Max is synonymous with restaurant excellence in Connecticut. The food, service and overall experience is exceptional and it's what keeps people coming back time and time again. From his first restaurant job at McDonald's to getting an education in the kitchens of Connecticut, New York City and Newport, Richard opened his first restaurant "Max on Main" in 1986 in Hartford, Connecticut and hasn't looked back since. Today the Max Restaurant Group has 10 successful independent restaurants, as well as a respected catering company, all based in the Greater Hartford area. Richard shares his inspiring story of what he learned in the New York City restaurant scene instead of the classrooms, why great leaders build incredible teams and how the restaurant industry will survive the pandemic. UpFront is a monthly podcast that features Connecticut-based top performers in their respective field and how they are making a positive impact in their industry and community. Hosted by Derek Beere from Mason, the show takes a deep dive into how our guests achieved success and more insights into the person. www.maxrestaurantgroup.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

UpFront with Jason Jakubowski CEO, Foodshare/Connecticut Food Bank From his childhood aspirations of wanting to become a lawyer to now running the largest food bank in Connecticut, Jason shares his story of growing up in New Britain, lessons he's learned from baseball and what makes a great leader. Above all else, we talk about the important work and challenges of solving hunger in Connecticut. UpFront is a monthly podcast that features Connecticut-based top performers in their respective field and how they are making a positive impact in their industry and community. Hosted by Derek Beere from Mason, the show takes a deep dive into how our guests achieved success and more insights into the person. About Jason Jakubowski: Jason Jakubowski is the CEO of Foodshare/Connecticut Food Bank, which makes it the largest non-profit organization serving the needs of Connecticut's food insecure. Jason also has more than 15 years of experience in public health, public affairs, nonprofit leadership, and community relations. He's worked with Connecticut based companies such as Hospital for Special Care, Charter Oak State College, has been elected twice to the New Britain City Council, served as City Treasurer, and has taught political science at Central Connecticut State University. He also serves as Chairman of the Board at Leadership Greater Hartford and has board experience with Community Health Resources in Windsor, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and was on the transition team for Governor Malloy among other things. www.foodshare.org www.ctfoodbank.org twitter.com/jayjakubowsk About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc