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More than 4,000 bills were introduced during the 2025 General Assembly session, with only 286 gaining final legislative approval. The CBIA BizCast team sat down with CBIA vice president of public policy Chris Davis to break down the session and some of the important bills that will impact the business community. “There were a lot of long nights right at the end of session, especially in those last few days,” Davis said. Much of the focus in the last days of the session centered on the state budget. The $55.8 billion budget adopted by the state legislature uses fiscal guardrail workarounds and business tax hikes to increase state spending by $2.6 billion over the next two years. Davis said the workarounds to the fiscal guardrails are troubling for businesses. “For us in the business community, they're not just talking points these caps,” he said. “They are truly what gives us predictability, sustainability, and stability. “Boosting up that spending beyond what we can really afford is what gives us a lot of pause, because that's going to lead to future tax increases, something that we know that businesses simply can't afford here in Connecticut.” The budget did create a new endowment that will pay for early childhood development programs. “We're happy to see that this expansion happens because getting more people back into the workforce, having them have the ability to afford that childcare in order to go back to work is very important,” Davis said. “We just felt like there was much better ways that we could have funded it and be more sustainable over a longer period of time.” Davis said the session did feature some important “wins” for the business community and state economy. Those bills include reforming the apprenticeship hiring ratios for trades industries, raising the R&D tax credit for bioscience companies, and addressing potentially costly changes to the workers' compensation system. Davis also highlighted the importance of key permitting reforms and replacing the outdated Transfer Act with new release-based cleanup regulations. “We really see this as one of the biggest economic wins that we've had in decades here,” he said. “We're really looking forward to working with our partners in state government in order to implement them.” Davis did note that there was a lot of focus on preventing costly labor mandates and healthcare policies from being enacted. While the 2025 session may be over, that does not mean the work ends for CBIA's policy team. They're working with state agencies to implement the new regulations and other bills. And the team will also spend the coming months engaging with members and legislators. That includes coordinating legislator visits at businesses around the state, listening tours, and reviewing CBIA's annual Survey of Connecticut Businesses. Those conversations and feedback will help inform CBIA's policy solutions for the 2026 legislative session. “It's important for businesses to know that we are here getting your feedback, not only from things that just passed this past session, but also things that you would like to see change going forward,” Davis said. Related Links: CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/ Chris Davis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-c-davis/

The landscape surrounding tariffs and international trade has been at the forefront of conversations since President Donald Trump came back into office in January. Within the last week, the U.S. and China agreed to a temporary pause on triple-digit tariffs as the two countries work to negotiate a trade deal. Despite the pause, the administration's tariff policies and trade negotiations have led to increasing uncertainty for businesses. To get a better understanding of tariffs and their impact on businesses in Connecticut, Ulbrich Steel board chair Chris Ulbrich joined CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima May 5 on the CBIA BizCast. Ulbrich Steel imports about 30% of its products from outside the U.S. including China and Europe. “We're trying hard to figure this all out,” Ulbrich said. And Ulbrich added that the economy is just starting to feel the increased costs from the tariffs. Ulbrich said the company recently shipped metal from China at $100 a pound, but by the time it reached the U.S. the actual cost was closer to $300 a pound. He added that the only company in the U.S. that makes the product sells it for $400 a pound, leaving companies with a difficult decision to make. “Then the trick is—the domestic producers—are they going to tailor what they need?” Ulbrich asked. “Will we start seeing them increasing their prices?” Ulbrich added that they are currently “a couple million dollars behind” with costs that haven't moved down the supply chain. But he said the added costs of tariffs will impact customers. Ulbrich said the way their supply chain flows, it can take six-to-eight weeks for them to bring in raw materials and another six-to-eight weeks to get it out of their facility to the customer. “You've got to make the product,” Ulbrich said. “You've got to collect the money from the customer.” Ulbrich said adding to the unknowns is what happens to the products they ship to China from Connecticut. “All our orders are basically on hold because the customer, the Chinese customers, do not want to pay 145% tariff on our product,” he said at the time of the recording. Ulbrich said he can see positives from Trump administration trade policies. “We are seeing reshoring,” he said. “People want to buy from the U.S. So there are jobs coming back.” Still, Ulbrich said that reshoring brings its own set of challenges and uncertainty. A lot of the materials they use are not made here, noting that 90% of stainless steel rod is imported. “You don't build a billion-dollar steel mill here overnight,” he said. Ulbrich also said that a big concern is finding the workforce needed to take on the potential new demand. “Even if all this works, and they negotiate great treaties this week and in the months ahead, and more reasonable tariffs are put in, we need a workforce,” he said. “Where are the people going to come from?” With 82,000 open jobs, Connecticut is already dealing with a labor shortage. Ulbrich said the state can help by addressing important issues like housing, workers' compensation, and finding ways to develop and get polluted sites back on municipal tax rolls. “I've heard Gov. Lamont say, ‘76,000 people, if we can find jobs for those people, that's 76,000 people paying taxes,' and it's wonderful,” Ulbrich said. As the tariff situation unfolds, Ulbrich said its important for business leaders to meet with their employees regularly. “Everybody knows,” he said. “They see on the plant floor maybe the jobs are half what they used to be. “Full communication, I think, helps so much.” Related Links: Ulbrich Website: https://www.ulbrich.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ulbrich-stainless-steels-&-special-metals/ Chris Ulbrich LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ulbrich-66a21b11/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Twenty five years ago this summer, The Latimer Group CEO Dean Brenner thought he'd be in crunch time training for the Olympics in Sydney, Australia.  He was sailing professionally and he and his wife quit their day jobs because they thought he had a shot.  While their second place Olympic selection trial finish wasn't the outcome they'd hoped for, it led them on a journey to starting their own business, one that is thriving, and helping other teams achieve their goals.  “One door closes, another door opens is the cliche,” said Brenner on the CBIA BizCast.  Brenner and his wife, Emily, built their business around their strengths and what they believed in–the power of effective communication. Today, The Latimer Group employs 15 people and works with corporations around the world to provide training and coaching to people and teams on powerful and persuasive communication skills.

The Lee Company president and CEO Marietta Lee never saw herself leading the business her grandfather started 77 years ago. Today, the Westbrook-based manufacturer employs 1,200 people making miniature hydraulic components for the aerospace, medical, and automotive industries. “We are a family business,” Lee told the CBIA BizCast. “We've always treated our employees as our family and we've benefited from a lot of loyalty from our employees over the years.” But Lee, who was elected CBIA board chair in December 2024, started her career journey not just outside the family business, but far from the manufacturing floor. “It really wasn't my dream to work there at all,” she said. “I went off to school and became a lawyer.” “I worked in TV news for a long time, that was what I wanted to do.” After several years working as an investigative journalist and having children, Lee moved back to Connecticut to be closer to family. “My dad came to me and said, ‘Have you ever thought about working at the company?'” she explained. After a lot of “soul searching” she decided to join the family business. Lee worked her way up, including earning a master's degree in engineering management. “I worked in a lot of different facets of the company on my way to where I am now, which has been really invaluable,” she said. Lee became CEO of the company in 2023, but she points to the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point in her career. Lee said she not only worried about her workers' safety, but about getting groceries for her family as so many stores were impacted. “Somebody said, ‘How are you doing?' And I just lost it,” she said. “I was like, ‘I am not good. I go home, I cry.' I just totally let down my guard. “And the woman looked at me, and she was like ‘me too.' And we had the best conversation.” Lee she'd previously emulated the styles of those that came before her, which she perceived as stoic and strong. “It sort of dawned on me that I need to be authentic. I need to be me.” she said. “I don't have to be somebody else's leader or lead the way somebody else does. I can be myself. It was refreshing.” Lee said that by being authentic and vulnerable, she works to empower the people that work for her. “I think people respond to it. And I make better decisions as a result,” she said. Lee acknowledged that being a woman in manufacturing isn't easy. “I am usually the only woman at the table, and that's kind of a lonely place,” she said. She said that when she joined The Lee Company, there were a lot of women, including young mothers. But there were not a lot of women in middle and upper management—something that has changed during her tenure. Lee also started “The Ladies of Lee,” an informal group that gets together every few months to talk about issues unique to being a woman in the workforce. “It's always going to be tough, but to know that you have a little bit of a support system at work, I think is really great,” she said. Lee's term as board chair comes at an historic time for CBIA and a pivotal moment for the state's economy. “For the first time ever, we have more women than men on the board, which is really great,” she said. Lee said the diversity of the board of directors is critical, not just when it comes to gender, but also the size of the companies and the different industries represented. “Connecticut, I think, is in a really good place right now, and we have a great opportunity to make Connecticut even better for our business community,” she said. “I think it's very important that we work hard to make Connecticut an affordable state for both potential employees and for businesses.” Related Links: The Lee Company Website: https://www.theleeco.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lee-company/ Marietta Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietta-lee-17729410a/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

With the start of the 2025 General Assembly session, the CBIA BizCast team sat down with CBIA vice president of public policy Chris Davis to discuss the session and CBIA's ReimagineCT policy solutions. Supported by a bipartisan group of 73 lawmakers and a growing coalition of businesses, the policy solutions are designed to drive economic growth, address the high costs of living and running a business, expand career pathways, and foster innovation. "If legislators were able to really sit back and think about, 'Is this making Connecticut more affordable, and is it making easier to employ people here in Connecticut,' I think you'll see a lot of good legislation get passed," Davis said. CBIA developed the solutions in collaboration with residents and business leaders from across the state. “What's really impressed me is the level of engagement that our business community has, especially around public policy issues,” Davis said. “These are items that they have said to us, ‘If we can implement these changes, we can really start moving the needle here in Connecticut to grow our economy and improve our workforce.'” Davis said the ReimagineCT policy solutions are a way to build coalitions around critical issues to the business community. “It's a way for us to really have those conversations across party lines about these real solutions that will really grow our economy and our workforce," Davis said. "Because at the end of the day, that's not a partisan issue. “Trying to get your constituents more access to jobs and trying to help those businesses within their communities, is something that transcends party.” While Davis and the CBIA's policy team will be advocating for these solutions at the State Capitol, he said CBIA members and the business community also play an important role. “One of the key things that we do on our public policy team is getting out and meeting with members,” he said. “We oftentimes will bring a legislator with us and have them have the opportunity to see firsthand exactly how that business operates here in Connecticut. “Hearing directly from your own constituent business can play such a huge role in your decision making process as a legislator.” Related Links: ReimagineCT: https://www.cbia.com/news/media-center/reimaginect-cbia-2025-policy-solutions-2 https://www.cbia.com/resources/issues-policies/reimaginect-general-assembly-pledges CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Get ready to dive into the 2025 Connecticut legislative landscape with Season 3, Episode 3 of From Lawyer to Employer! Join host Dan Schwartz and special guest Chris Davis, Vice President of Public Policy with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), as they preview key issues for the 2025 Connecticut General Assembly session. This episode highlights what employers need to know about upcoming labor and employment law developments, from proposed changes to non-disclosure and non-compete agreements to predictive scheduling, AI regulations, and workplace conditions. Stay informed, get involved, and discover practical insights for navigating potential legislative changes in the workplace.

On any given day after school, you might think kids would rather play than to keep going to class. But in a way, that's just what's happening at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club's new STEM lab at their Madison Avenue community clubhouse in Bridgeport. The organization gave the CBIA BizCast team an up-close look at the space that they built in partnership with global semiconductor industry leader ASML. “We have about 50 to 75 kids, depending on the day, that are coming in regularly, to use our space,” said Wakeman Boys & Girls Club CEO Sabrina Smeltz. “When you have the opportunity to see the students in the kids in this space, they look like they're playing, but they're learning,” said ASML program manager for society and community engagement Brian Amero. “They're actively learning. They're problem solving.” The Wakeman Boys & Girls Club first opened its doors in Southport in 1913. The organization opened its first location in Bridgeport about 15 years ago, and opened the Madison Ave. clubhouse in 2023. The facility offers programs for kids aged three up to 18, with an early learning preschool center and after school programs including sports, arts, technology, and STEM. “It's a community center, it's a partnership, and it's an awesome space,” said Smeltz. Wakeman's relationship with ASML began a few years ago. The Netherlands-based company, which employs 3,300 people at its Wilton location, is an advanced lithography company that makes machines used to produce microchips. Amero, who started with the company in 2022, was looking to build new community partnerships. “It's not enough for us to write a check, slap our logo on something, and walk away from it,” Amero said. “We wanted a seat at the table. This entire process has been incredibly hands-on for us.” That partnership led to the creation of the STEM lab. “There's been a lot of intentionality around this,” Smeltz said. “We both went into this being transformational.” “We built in staff time and training time to be able to be successful, because ultimately, we don't want a whole bunch of stuff just sitting in a room. ”We want it to be used all the time.” Smelz said ASML helped them train their staff to run the lab, which offers everything from robotics to hydroponics, mechanics, engineering, and STEM art learning opportunities. “We're challenging our kids to learn,” she said. And it's not just Wakeman staff that are getting hands on with the kids. ASML employees also spend a lot of time volunteering at the club. The company provides eight hours of PTO time for full-time employees to volunteer. “When the students here have the opportunity to engage with ASML employees, they see themselves reflected in our workforce,” Amero said. “And if they can do it, so can you. And I love that secondary benefit to giving back to our community." Smeltz said the skills the students are gaining in the lab go beyond learning technical skills. “Sometimes these projects don't go the way they planned,” she said. “And I think that sometimes is even the more exciting part of it, because our kids are learning in a day-to-day environment that isn't scripted, but is helping them learn how to solve the problem, deal with conflict.” “The skills that they're learning in this lab are the skills that will help elevate them to jobs and career success,” Amero added “It is absolutely magic. It's just great to see.” Related Links: Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Website: https://www.wakemanclub.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakeman-boys-girls-club/ Sabrina Smeltz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinasmeltz/ ASML Website: https://www.asml.com/en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asml/ Brian Amero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bamero/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Over the course of this past year, we've spoken with some exceptional leaders on the CBIA BizCast. Some are entrepreneurs, growing successful businesses. Others are changemakers, leading organizations with lasting legacies in Connecticut. These leaders have not only shared their stories, but also insights and wisdom into overcoming challenges, building successful teams. To close out 2024, we wanted to share some of those stories. This episode features insights from: Jeremy Bronen, founder and CEO, SedMed Stephen Tagliatela, managing partner, and Chris Bird, general manager, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina Jill Mayer, CEO, Bead Industries Inc. Meghan Scanlon, president and CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Stephen Moroney, market president for Connecticut and Rhode Island, TD Bank Mike Abramson, General Manager, Hartford Yard Goats Jamie Lissette, president, Popup Bagels Kevin Barros, president and CEO, The Computer Company Jenny Drescher and Ellen Feldman Ornato, co-founders, The Bolder Company Carmen Romeo, president, Fascia's Chocolates Elona Shape, market retail leader, KeyBank Sal Marino, director of finance and operations, Charles IT Carl Zuanelli, founder and CEO, Nuovo Pasta Productions, Ltd Thank you to all of the leaders who sat down with us this year. And we want to thank you for listening and watching the BizCast. We look forward to sharing more insights, lessons, and stories of success in 2025. Connect with CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

The Governor's Prevention Partnership 35th Anniversary Celebration. Chris DiPentima is the president and CEO of CBIA along with Kelly Juleson, Co-President & Chief External Affairs Officer for Governor's Prevention Partnership discuss this years event

Chris DiPentima from CBIA discusses the Manufacturing Bus Tour

Chris DiPentima, the president and CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about CBIA's new economic action plan and how education and economic growth intersect.

Level up your industry language by visiting www.riskeducation.org/insurtech to learn about a brand new self-paced course developed with BrokerTech Ventures: Introduction To Insurance for Insurtech Professionals. Douglas Ver Mulm is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Turris, a financial infrastructure platform for the insurance industry. Prior to this, Douglas was the Co-Founder & CEO at Stable Insurance, focusing on distribution and analytics for insurance in the shared/on-demand economy. With a background in law and economics/finance, Douglas has also served as a Volunteer Executive Director at InsurTech Association and as a Lead Mentor at Founders Network. Garrett Droege, CIC, CPCU, CLCS, CBIA, CWCA, CRIS serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Innovation and Digital Risk Practice Leader at IMA Financial. His role oversees IMA's national focus in the technology, and digital risk verticals (collectively called the Advanced Industries Specialty). He also co-manages IMA Labs, IMA's insurtech innovation, investment, and strategy with BrokerTech Ventures. Additionally, he is part of the founding team of IMA's web3Labs initiative and helped IMA become the first broker to build an insurance and risk management facility in the metaverse and issue the industry's first “proof of coverage” via blockchain/NFT. He serves on the Crypto.Chicks NFT Advisory Board and consults with several other NFT projects.Prior to his current role, he served as CEO/Executive Director of TechAssure Association, Inc., an international consortium of insurance agents/brokers specializing in technology-related risks.  Garrett's expertise includes Errors & Omissions, Cyber, and Technology Risk Management. Additionally, he is a brokerage technology specialist – focused on InsurTech, AMS/BMS/CRM platforms, data mining, and client journey tech stack development. Garrett has designed complex insurance and risk management programs for some of the most sophisticated and diverse tech businesses in the country.  These include firms in info tech, medical technology, telecommunications, new media and all types of digital risk and blockchain. Garrett is an alumnus of University of North Carolina at Wilmington and The Hartford School of Insurance.  He was named to the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under Forty list and Insurance Business America's Young Guns of Insurance list. Garrett is routinely featured in national publications and media productions, including NPR's All Things Considered.  He holds the esteemed Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) industry designations, among others. He has been a featured keynote speaker for numerous organizations, including: Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Public Radio, CIO Magazine, Society of CPCU, Insurance Innovators, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Net Diligence, Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), North Carolina Technology Association, Texas Blockchain Council and many more. Droege has been named three times to the Hot 100 List – a group of the top 100 insurance professionals that have “moved the industry forward” over the past 12 months. Garrett also serves as an advisor and mentor to several technology startup companies and has extensive relationships with global accelerator programs and investors. He is a frequent guest on business podcasts including: “The Insurance Guys”, Lowenstein Sandler's “Don't Take No For An Answer,” “InsurTech Geek Podcast,” “Beyond Insurance,” “A.I. Wisdom,” “The Insurance Coffeehouse,” has context menu Focusing exclusively on risk management and insurance professional development, the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance provides a practical advantage at every career stage, positioning our participants and their clients for confidence and success.

Like its labs—tucked away at the far end of a Branford research park—ViiV Healthcare's accomplishments may not be well known. But the company is an authentic Connecticut success, with a story that needs to be told. ViiV and its cutting-edge R&D to treat and someday to cure HIV because the company has had such a profound impact on so many lives. ViiV head of drug discovery Dr. Umesh Hanumegowda joined the CBIA BizCast for a conversation with CBIA Bioscience Growth Council executive director Paul Pescatello. Few of us realize that in the wake of the chaos and tragedy of the 1980s AIDS epidemic, some of the most consequential research into HIV—the virus that causes AIDS—occurred in Connecticut. Connecticut scientists were among the first to identify and find effective treatments for HIV. HIV is so devastating because it is, first, a virus and therefore almost indescribably small—one human cell is 100 to 1000 times larger than a virus. And viruses are wily and zombie-like, inserting themselves into a host's cells and then taking over the cell's protein synthesis pathways to replicate. HIV is uniquely threatening because it destroys the immune system, the very mechanism our bodies use to fight infection. “It's a tough virus, a challenging virus,” Hanumegowda described. “It's a sneaky virus, because it knows how to integrate, mutate and hide.” Yale University research produced some of the first effective HIV medications. Building on the work of Yale scientists, Bristol-Myers Squibb's Wallingford labs became a center for the development of the first antiretro-viral treatments. In many ways the intellectual heir to the rich Connecticut history of HIV R&D is ViiV. Founded in 2009, ViiV is in the forefront of HIV research. The company was the first to introduce the second generation HIV integrase inhibitor, now the backbone of HIV treatment. ViiV's HIV treatments suppress HIV to undetectable levels, dramatically improving the lives of HIV patients but also preventing transmission to others. ViiV is also a leader in pre-exposure medications to prevent HIV infection. ViiV's pre-exposure medications stop HIV from taking hold of a cell. They act as a catalyst to help the body produce antibodies which block the enzyme needed by the virus to replicate and spread throughout the body. Hanumegowda chose to make HIV and ViiV the focus of his career. ViiV has a “state of the art research lab right here in Connecticut,” he said. “And HIV is challenging, and I like a tough challenge.” Another factor in Hanumegowda's professional choices was the fact that “HIV disproportionately affects particular communities.” “There is a socio-economic aspect to the disease,” he said. “There is a deep stigma associated with HIV, and I feel this is a population I can help.” Will there be a cure for HIV? Hanumegowda is confident there will be. The cure could take the form of a vaccine, or “a combination of medicines and strategies.” One such strategy is the Initiative to End HIV by 2030. Among other measures, the initiative is about using testing and identifying barriers to treatment to combat HIV. Its goals are simple: diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond. It is a public-private partnership, built on collaboration with federal and state public health agencies and the business community. CBIA has signed on, pledging to make its employees and members more aware of how to prevent and treat HIV. As to ViiV, the company plans to stay focused. Hanumegowda emphasized that ViiV has “demonstrated that staying focused will fetch us the right results.” “So, we are in it till HIV and AIDS aren't,” he said. Related Links: ViiV Healthcare Website: https://viivhealthcare.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viiv-healthcare/ U.S. Business Action to End HIV: https://www.healthaction.org/endhiv CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/ Paul Pescatello on X: https://twitter.com/CTBio

Looking back over Nuovo Pasta's success, Carl Zuanelli said he wouldn't be where he is without overcoming major challenges. “Anybody who's looking to have a big change in their life or to go out and pursue their dream, should understand that there are no big breakthroughs without big breakdowns,” he said. One of those breakdowns for Zuanelli came with the 2008 financial crisis. At that time, 75% of the company's business involved producing pasta for chefs and restaurants, with about 25% retail. But during the economic downturn, people stopped going out to eat, and Zuanelli said it looked like the company was going to be wiped out. “I was at probably the lowest low of my life,” he said. “This was about as low as you can get. This was subterranean low. “I come to realize later, the strong that do survive are those that are able to adapt." Zuanelli said he took a close look at the state of the industry. With the struggling economy and the growing popularity of food television, more people were cooking at home. Nuovo shifted their focus to retail and consumer packaged goods, leading to what Zuanelli called meteoric growth since 2008. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change," he said. Zuanelli said commitment to quality is a big part of the company's success. But he said Nuovo Pasta's employees are just as important as the pasta. “As the company continues to grow, and as we change the way that we grow, we can't lose the aspect of the culture of the company and that the people are the most important,” Zuanelli said. “One of the initiatives that we have, is a certification in a great place to work. We're working towards that.” Zuanelli said the company has monthly communication sessions with employees from different areas to get their feedback. “It's so important to get that perspective from your team, your company, the employees, so that you can continue to be a place that grows and be a great place to work,” he said. Zuanelli said that for both the company and his family, Connecticut is a great place to call home. “I think Connecticut is, in so many ways, a great place to do business,” he said. Zuanelli said organizations like CBIA and government agencies like the Department of Economic and Community Development have been helpful for businesses in the state. “Yeah, there's work to be done,” he said. “And, you know, I'm leaning in on that, but I think they've been very positive in creating jobs.” Zuanelli said he's pushing for more incentives for businesses to open more factories, or invest in new equipment or technologies. “I think that there's work to be done for manufacturers and attracting more manufacturers, and how we can keep more manufacturers here in Connecticut,” he said. Zuanelli also credited Connecticut's workforce, calling it “an asset for any company.” He said part of what makes the workforce so special is work ethic. “I think a lot of it is based on the old New England work ethic, but also the immigration that's taken place and how open Connecticut has been,” he said. Zuanelli said that growing up in a family of immigrants, he understands the immigrant experience. That passion for the immigrant community led him to join the board of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. CIRI is a nonprofit organization that provides support and services to immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking. “I don't think we can pay back the sacrifices that our families have made in terms of their immigrant journey,” Zuanelli said. “So if we can't pay back, we've got to pay forward, and that's why I think it's so important.” Related Links: Nuovo Pasta https://www.nuovopasta.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuovo-pasta-productions-ltd/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-zuanelli-88523230/ Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants https://cirict.org/ CBIA https://www.cbia.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Last week we talked about this year's Top 100 list... In this episode, we're starting off with a confession: Mistakes were made.One of the hallmarks of The Top 100 is that the contents of the list are very tightly held until the moment of publication. That secrecy creates various logistical problems, not the least of which is proofreading. Only a handful of people, most of whom work in the Capitol Weekly office, are involved in the editing or proofing process at any level. Having so few eyes on the List is a recipe for error, and this year we had a doozy: we left someone off.Dan Dunmoyer, of the California Building Industry Association has been a regular on the Top 100 for five years, since he succeeded former CBIA President and CEO (and former state Senator) Dave Cogdill. CBIA is a major player in a state where the Housing Crisis is a top concern for most voters - and their representatives in the legislature.  Dunmoyer has been on the List every year since 2019 - and he was supposed to be on this year's edition.Hosts Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster talk about what went wrong, and chat with Dunmoyer about California Housing Policy, why some cities are building more housing than others and how California can start to course correct after decades of anti-housing policy.  Show Notes:45: Mistakes were made3:19 Welcome, Dan Dunmoyer5:52 Setting the record straight7:19 A big year for Housing issues9:36 Comparing building costs between California and neighboring states12:04 Environmental Policy vs. Greenhouse gas policies15:01 The local angle21:57 This is not a Republican - Democrat issue - it's a California issue23:55 Is desire for home equity value driving anti-housing policy?25:32 The cities of Dallas and Houston build more housing than the entire state of California27:23 Where is the legislature?31:15 Gubernatorial candidates?35:16 Volunteer proofreaders39:36 WWCAWant to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io  

For The Computer Company president Kevin Barros, a career in IT was something of an accident. “I kind of started off individually on my own, just kind of doing a little bit of side work, make a few extra bucks on the weekends and nights,” he told the CBIA BizCast. Barros said he always liked technology, but never thought he'd own a company. “Slowly it kind of grew to one referral, to another referral.” Barros launched the venture with name KBIT Group, before acquiring Shell Systems in 2018. Through those early years, he was working by himself, while going to school. “Iit was very difficult, a lot of hours, a lot of white hairs, but it was all worth it in the end.” In 2020, Barros realized that he needed help to keep up with the demand and acquired The Computer Company. The company offers IT services for small and medium businesses, education institutions, and government entities. Those services include helpdesk support, networking, development and website design, and cybersecurity. The company also has data centers in Cromwell, and Las Vegas to help ensure disaster recovery capabilities. “Everyone has their own unique challenges,” Barros said. “But at the end of the day, the goal is the same.” “People want to be up, they want IT to work, they want it to be productive, and of course, they want it to be secure.” Barros said cybersecurity is becoming a bigger concern for companies, especially small businesses. “Even large companies have breaches,” he said. “But those can weather the storm, they can weather that breach and they could weather the bad publicity for a little bit.” “But the smaller guys don't have that luxury as much. They don't have the financial backing. So the impact is much greater for those smaller ones for sure.” Since Barros acquired The Computer Company,the business has grown from 12-13 employees to nearly 40. He credits that team for the company's success and growth, adding that seeing his employees thrive is one of his favorite parts of his job. “The team is everything to us,” he said. “The company is not just me, it's them.” “I love seeing when they kind of get really excited about tech and saying, ‘Hey, I figured this out.'” Barros said that as a Connecticut native, he's committed to growing the business here. “This is my backyard,” he said. “I have this push to stay here even if there are some struggles.” Barros said growing the business is all about taking risks, and knowing that you aren't always going to get a return on it. But he was encouraged by a family member to take the leap and grow the business. “He was kind of like, ‘Listen, you can do this,'” Barros said. “‘Yeah, it's gonna be stressful. Yeah, you're gonna hate it some days. But you gotta just do it.'” “And I really appreciated that.” Barros said that as he grew the business, he realized that acquiring companies is about a lot more than money. “You have to also think about that old business owner,” he said. “It's kind of their baby.” He said that they want to know that their clients and employees will be taken care of. “It's trying to show or build that trust with them to kind of say, ‘Hey, don't don't worry about it, I got it, we can take it to the next level.'” As for what that next level is for Barros and The Computer Company? He said they're looking for additional acquisitions and bringing on more employees. “40 is cool. Four hundred would be better,” he said. Related Links: The Computer Company: https://computercompany.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-computer-company-inc./ Kevin Barros on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-barros-a55a2ba9/ CBIA: https://www.cbia.com/

KeyBank market retail leader Elona Shape credits her mother for giving her a passion for helping women in business. “She's one of those women that continues to inspire me today, but really instilled the value of what women in business or women in leadership bring to the table,” Shape told the CBIA BizCast. Shape is co-chair of KeyBank's Key4Women for Connecticut and Massachusetts. “It's a program that really helps our women entrepreneurs motivate, empower and advocate around the things that can help their businesses thrive,” she said. She said it's important that women in business get the support and guidance they need. “As women probably more than our male counterparts, you don't typically go into a bank and say, ‘Hey, I need some advice, I'm starting this new business, this is my vision, this is my business plan, I really need your help,'” Shape said. KeyBank and Key4Women sponsored When Women Lead, CBIA's annual women's leadership summit March 20. “I love the work that we've done,” Shape said. “I think it's really critical to keep building that up—to help elevate women-owned businesses is going to be critical.” More information: KeyBank's Key4Women: https://www.key.com/small-business/services/key4women/overview.html

This episode of the CBIA BizCast is the second of a two-part discussion on a key issue in Connecticut and across the country—whole genome sequencing. In this episode Paul Pescatello, CBIA senior counsel and executive director of the Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council speaks with Dr. Adam Matson and Dr. Louisa Kalsner from Connecticut Children's. Dr. Matson is a neonatologist and lead researcher for Genomic Sequencing in the neonatal and pediatric population at the hospital. And Dr. Kalsner is the division head for Genetics. Doctors Mtson and Kalsner highlight the importance of whole genome sequencing in both research and clinical settings. They also discuss the technology's future and its value to patients, caregivers, and families. Please click here for part one of our discussion on whole genome sequencing with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Dr. Tom Defay: https://www.cbia.com/news/issues-policies/cbia-bizcast-whole-genome-sequencing

This episode of the CBIA BizCast is part one of a two-part discussion on a key issue in Connecticut and across the country— whole genome sequencing. In this episode Paul Pescatello, CBIA senior counsel and executive director of the Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council speaks with Dr. Tom Defay. Defay is a computational biologist and Deputy Head Diagnostics Strategy & Development at New Haven-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He details how the technology is valuable to patients for early diagnosis and treatment, and a cost saver for our healthcare system. This legislative session a bill to promote expansion of whole genome sequencing, HB 5367, An Act Concerning Medicaid Coverage of Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing for Critically Ill Patients, is before the Connecticut General Assembly. This is important legislation and it is strongly supported by the CBIA Bioscience Growth Council.

When Jill Mayer joined Bead Industries, the average age of an employee was 60 and there were little to no women in senior management. Today the average age of an employee is mid 30s and more than half of the management positions are filled by women. “Changing a culture at an organization takes a lot of patience and time, it doesn't happen overnight,” Mayer told the CBIA BizCast. “You don't want to throw out the good parts of the culture that you have. You're not scrapping the culture. You are just improving what is there.” Mayer, the fifth generation leader of the company, will share more about her experiences and leadership advice at CBIA's When Women Lead conference March 20. Event details can be found here: https://www.cbia.com/events/when-women-lead-2024 Bead Industries: https://beadindustries.com/

Should Connecticut adopt an electric vehicle mandate? We ask auto expert, Paul Miller, about the findings from automakers and dealerships here and across the country. (0:00) Should Connecticut expand the paid sick leave program to all companies, no matter how many employees are on the team? It may sound like a slam dunk idea but is that the case? CBIA's Ashley Zane shares why this could be a disaster, especially for small businesses. (14:19) Keeping those fiscal guardrails in place is a battle right now in Hartford. What does that actually mean and is there an alternative to messing with the guardrails? We spoke with Comptroller, Sean Scanlon, to hear his ideas to reach a compromise. (29:32) We still have a housing crisis in Connecticut, so what is already on the books and what could happen during the session to improve the issue? We spoke with CT169Strong founders, Alexis Harrison and Maria Weingarten. (43:20) A piece of legislation is being discussed in Hartford during this legislative session. The bill focuses on pay for hospitality workers. A national coalition, One Fair Wage, says this legislation needs approval, while the Connecticut Restaurant Association reports the potential law would destroy wait staff and bartenders. Hear both sides of the argument right here featuring: Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage (56:05) & Scott Dolch, President and CEO of CT Restaurant Association. (1:09:27). Image Credit: Getty Image

CBIA released its 2024 Transform Connecticut Policy Solutions, a 12-point package of recommendations designed to unlock Connecticut's economic potential, on Feb. 1. CBIA vice president of public policy Chris Davis joined senior public policy associate Ashley Zane on the CBIA BizCast to discuss the process behind the development of the policy priorities. “We looked to identify some solutions that help leverage the state's strengths and really foster new opportunities focusing on a vibrant, robust, and equitable economy,” said Zane. The 2024 solutions focus on expanding career pathways and making the state a more attractive and affordable place to live and work. “We're going to be spending a lot of time at the state legislature over the next three months, as you can imagine, right up until the deadline, as things get negotiated right up to the end," Davis said.

“We need to be looking through the windshield, and not the rearview mirror, because that's where the opportunities lie,” says Fuss & O'Neill CEO and newly elected CBIA board chair Kevin Grigg. Grigg sat down with CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima for a special episode of the CBIA BizCast. He said for the state to achieve its economic goals, it's important to focus on issues like housing, education and training, workforce development. “This is kind of like the threshold of opportunity,” he said. “I think we have all the elements in place to really accelerate the growth and prosperity of the state, and I'm looking forward to doing whatever I can to help.”

Our guest this episode of Mission CTRL is on a quest to return Connecticut to the economic powerhouse it once was.  Born and raised in Connecticut, Chris DiPentima has an affinity and a love for the nutmeg state.  DiPentima is the president and CEO of CBIA, Connecticut Business and Industry Association, a  leading business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state.   Chris started his career as an attorney practicing in various areas of transaction law and litigation, including M&A, banking, and labor law.  DiPentima was intentional about not joining the family business, but after receiving an offer he couldn't refuse he decided to step out of his comfort zone.  Tune in to hear how Chris acquired the business acumen necessary to transform Pegasus Manufacturing, position it for acquisition by a Fortune 500 company and continue his father's legacy: all of which prepared him to lead the CBIA.  Before diving into this dynamic episode Ramon, Chris and the PD Flight Crew commiserate over Big Blue's latest performance and discuss current events.  . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

TD Bank's Mike LaBella joins the CBIA BizCast to discuss ways the bank is supporting manufacturers' growth and success. “The bank's been a tremendous supporter of all industries, but especially manufacturing, because it's so key to our economy,” LaBella said. TD Bank is sponsoring CBIA's Made in Connecticut 2023 Manufacturing Summit Oct. 11 at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville. With interest rates rising, liquidity winding down, and ongoing challenges from the workforce shortage, LaBella said “it's more important than ever to really have a strong bank relationship.” “I think manufacturers really need to take that long-term view now of what's going to make them more productive, reduce their cost of operations, and bring them into a better position technologically for their future growth.”

Chris DiPentima is the President and CEO of CBIA.  He talks about the latest survey of CT Businesses. 

Most people know DoorDash for its food delivery service, but the company does much more than that for its more than 6,000 merchant partners in Connecticut alone. In 2018, DoorDash launched Project DASH, a social impact initiative to fight food insecurity. Project DASH is a last-mile delivery service allows organizations like food banks to use DoorDash for their deliveries. “We do have the logistics and we do have the social impact resources to solve for these problems around food insecurity,” said Christina Kennedy, DoorDash's government relations lead for New England.

A proposed bill would set limits on how warehouses track worker productivity where we live. Amazon – which currently employs more than 15,000 Connecticut residents across its 14 locations – was the focus of a recent hearing on the bill. This hour, an Amazon spokesperson responds to the legislation. Kelly Nantel says they support the "goal of the bill" and look forward to working with state lawmakers, but clarifies that Amazon does not have "set quotas" for workers. "We assess our performance based on what we believe are safe and achievable expectations for all employees." Plus, State Sen. Julie Kushner, Business Insider tech correspondent Katherine Long, and CBIA's Eric Gjede join the conversation. GUESTS: Kelly Nantel: Spokesperson, Amazon Julie Kushner: Democratic State Senator; Chair, Labor and Public Employees Committee Katherine Long: Tech Correspondent, Business Insider Eric Gjede: VP of Public Policy, Connecticut Business and Industry Association Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Later this year, the healthcare landscape for Virginia small businesses and their employees will change dramatically when they gain access to broad new options for affordable, quality health insurance. “This is a game changer,” said Democratic state Senator Monty Mason, a key figure behind bipartisan legislation permitting what are known as association health plans. “I think this has the capacity to be one of the most consequential pieces of legislation as far as impact on people." Healthcare costs jumped by 6% last year in Connecticut—more than $2 billion—and state lawmakers are now considering legislation similar to the Virginia law. HB 6710 continues to move through the General Assembly, clearing its latest legislative hurdle May 1 when it was approved by the Appropriations Committee with overwhelming support.

GARRETT DROEGE, CIC, CPCU, CLCS, CBIA, CWCA, CRISGarrett Droege serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Innovation and Digital Risk Practice Leader at IMA Financial. His role oversees IMA's national focus in the technology, and digital risk verticals (collectively called the Advanced Industries Specialty). He also co-manages IMA Labs, IMA's insurtech innovation, investment, and strategy with BrokerTech Ventures. Additionally, he is part of the founding team of IMA's web3Labs initiative and helped IMA become the first broker to build an insurance and risk management facility in the metaverse and issue the industry's first “proof of coverage” via blockchain/NFT. He serves on the Crypto.Chicks NFT Advisory Board and consults with several other NFT projects.Prior to his current role, he served as CEO/Executive Director of TechAssure Association, Inc., an international consortium of insurance agents/brokers specializing in technology-related risks.  Garrett's expertise includes Errors & Omissions, Cyber, and Technology Risk Management. Additionally, he is a brokerage technology specialist – focused on InsurTech, AMS/BMS/CRM platforms, data mining, and client journey tech stack development. Garrett has designed complex insurance and risk management programs for some of the most sophisticated and diverse tech businesses in the country.  These include firms in info tech, medical technology, telecommunications, new media and all types of digital risk and blockchain. Garrett is an alumnus of University of North Carolina at Wilmington and The Hartford School of Insurance.  He was named to the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under Forty list and Insurance Business America's Young Guns of Insurance list. Garrett is routinely featured in national publications and media productions, including NPR's All Things Considered. He holds the esteemed Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) industry designations, among others. He has been a featured keynote speaker for numerous organizations, including: Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Public Radio, CIO Magazine, Society of CPCU, Insurance Innovators, FinTech Association of Hong Kong, Net Diligence, Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), North Carolina Technology Association, Texas Blockchain Council and many more.Droege has been named three times to the Hot 100 List – a group of the top 100 insurance professionals that have “moved the industry forward” over the past 12 months. Garrett also serves as an advisor and mentor to several technology startup companies and has extensive relationships with global accelerator programs and investors.  He is a frequent guest on business podcasts including: “The Insurance Guys”, Lowenstein Sandler's “Don't Take No For An Answer,” “InsurTech Geek Podcast,” “Beyond Insurance,” “A.I. Wisdom,” “The Insurance Coffeehouse,” and more.

The CBIA BizCast team sits down with Nessel founders Stephanie Boms and Della Leapman.  For mothers who are breastfeeding, having a dedicated and comfortable lactation space at work goes a long way toward making them feel supported by their employers.  But those spaces aren't always available.  That's where Nessel comes in.  “We provide lactation furniture, we provide lactation pods, we do custom design work, and we do consulting to help do some executive education,” said Boms.  “Our mission is to transform organizations and really help support working women when they return from maternity leave.”

In this episode, Ari and Chris DiPentima, President and CEO of CBIA, talk about the current state of the CT economy and how the "Transform Connecticut 2023 Policy Solutions" will help unlock Connecticut's true economic potential.   These policy solutions sit in 3 main buckets: Cost of doing business Workforce development Investment in the future   From tax credits to immigration to housing, Ari and Chris cover a ton of ground on policies that CBIA is pushing forwarding and the work they are doing to get legislators on board.   In the end, we love to hear Chris say: "I'm feeling good about where we are and where the state is."   Chris DiPentima, President & CEO, CBIA CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ CBIA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/ CBIA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CBIAvideos CBIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBIAfb/ CBIA Twitter handle: cbianews Chris's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdipentima/   Ari Santiago, CEO, CompassMSP Company Website: https://compassmsp.com/ Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeinAmericaPodcast Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/made-in-america-podcast-with-ari Company YouTube:  https://youtube.com/c/MadeinAmericaPodcastwithAri Ari's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asantiago104/   Podcast produced by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/   Chris and Ari discuss: Workforce Small business R&D tax credits Housing Unemployment Labor participation Immigration

The CBIA BizCast team spoke with RSM industrials senior analyst Kendra Blacksher about how employers are navigating and thriving in the uncertain economy. Blacksher and RSM supported the creation of the 2022 Connecticut Manufacturing Report, which highlights the needs of manufacturers in the state. She also moderated a panel of manufacturing leaders during CBIA's Made in Connecticut: Manufacturing Summit.

It's an exciting time for Bill Smith, the founder and CEO of Infinity Fuel Cell & Hydrogen, Inc. The company is at the forefront of the hydrogen fuel cell industry, highlighted by their involvement in a NASA program to launch one of their fuel cells into space on an unmanned ship in September. The fuel cell, which has been in the works since 2005, is now being tested to simulate conditions in outer space. The technology has other potential applications as well, drawing interest from the U.S. Navy. “It turns out that the same technology is very useful for use underwater, another air independent application, an application where you don't have access to outside air,” Smith said.

CBIA's BizCast team sits down with James Shmerling, the president CEO at Connecticut Children's Medical Center to discuss his 42 year career, navigating through the pandemic, and the role of children's hospitals in the community. “We have to understand and appreciate that there is a definite role for children's hospitals,” Shmerling said. “But we have a much bigger role in trying to promote their health out in the community, engage with families, and work with social service agencies.”

CBIA's BizCast team sits down with Downes Construction vice president of field operations John Fraioli and apprentice carpenter Michael Feliciano to discuss the company's apprenticeship program. Fraioli, who was born and raised in New Britain, started as an apprentice carpenter himself with Downes 42 years ago. “I've seen our company grow from probably 15 employees to now at 65 employees,” Fraioli said. Feliciano is a recent graduate of New Britain High School, who learned about Downes and the apprenticeship program after the company gave a presentation in his construction class. “It really stood out to me and caught my eye,” Feliciano said. “They explained how construction touches everything. “They were explaining how we don't start with the walls, but the foundation. I took that not just literally but metaphorically because you have to build that base especially when you're young right out of high school build that base and work your way up.”

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with TD Bank's Mike LaBella about the bank's history in Connecticut and how it works to help small businesses thrive in today's economy. LaBella will also open CBIA's Made in Connecticut 2022 Manufacturing Summit Oct. 27 at the Toyota Oakdale Theater. A year ago when he spoke at the conference, LaBella said we were in a different place—unsure of where the economy was going to go, and with interest rates near zero. “Today we have 8% inflation, the highest in 30 years, interest rates that are rising,” LaBella said. “It just shows what businesses in and of themselves have to go through, and how fast they have to change. We're really there to support them.” LaBella said he encourages businesses to use the resources that are available to them to help with different needs.

Our hosts, Beth Whitney and Cole Harper, are joined in this episode by Dan Dunmoyer to wrestle with allegiances of every shape and size, all while we long for a better, heavenly country. Dan Dunmoyer serves as the President and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, where he oversees all aspects of the association that represents homebuilders. Prior to joining the CBIA, Dunmoyer had various legislative caucus staff leadership and policy committee roles in the California State Assembly, starting as a fellow in the Jesse Unruh Fellowship program. He was president and CEO of the Personal Insurance Federation of California from 1996-2005. He served as deputy chief of staff and cabinet secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2006-2008, overseeing all state agencies for the governor. Most recently he served as senior vice president and head of government affairs for Zurich and Farmers Insurance companies. Dunmoyer is a member of the board of overseers of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, chair of the advisory committee of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, member of the PPIC Water Advisory Board and a former board member for CalPERS. He was on the elder board at Arcade Church for 4 years in the 90's and has been back since 2018. He has attended Arcade since 1984 and is married, with three adult children. Dan's favorite verse is Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” His favorite memory while at Arcade is meeting and marrying his wife. You can submit questions to info@arcadechurch.com.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Shipman & Goodwin LLP's Jaime Welsh and Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford's Rev. Aaron Miller about ways they support the transgender community and how businesses can support employees. The two organizations partnered with GLAD and other community groups for GLAD's Transgender ID project, an ID clinic that offers legal name and gender change services to people.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with CBIA HR Counsel Diane Mokriski about complaints employers receive by mail and how to respond. Mokriski said there are various types of complaints employers may receive from agencies related to CHRO or EEOC discrimination, an OSHA safety violation, improper tax withholding or a complaint related to a Department of Labor violation. Mokriski breaks down the process after receiving a CHRO discrimination complaint, and advice employers should adhere to throughout the investigation.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Nicholas Gondek and Emily Turcan from Adia about the company's focus on additive manufacturing. Gondek is the director of additive manufacturing and Turcan is a strategic account manager. Formerly known as ACT 3D Equipment and Services, the team rebranded to Adia earlier this summer. The team helps large and small companies throughout various industries develop 3D printing solutions.

Dentists using lasers to blast fillings, Fog-Reveal using location tracking to sell info to Law enforcement, CBIA finds that 40,000 unemployment claims in 2 months with DOL new system, T-Mobile home internet seems great can I cut cable? More info on wireless internet for your home, 3G phones are no longer working, Voice control of my computer, Getting Fiber should I keep cable?   

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Paul Savas, vice president of Comcast Business for the western New England region about what the company is doing to support small businesses. Savas said they launched Comcast RISE in 2020 as part of a Comcast $100 million commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Robinson + Cole LLP managing partner Rhonda Tobin about the firm's plans to move its downtown Hartford office to a new location in the city. The firm announced it would be moving to One State Street, known as the Hartford Steam Boiler building, last month. “Our top mission is to deliver outstanding client service, and the way that we do that is to recruit and retain the best talent,” Tobin said.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Michael Weinstock, M&T Bank's Hartford regional president about the new initiatives the bank has implemented to support small businesses across Connecticut. “We're committed to Connecticut because we believe it is a good place to live, to work, and a prime location for businesses to thrive,” Weinstock said.

CBIA's Bizcast team went to Pathways Academy in West Hartford where student interns presented projects to business clients, including Travelers and Hartford Healthcare.

CBIA's BizCast team speaks with Keith Bishop, a fifth-generation owner and CEO of Bishop's Orchards in Guilford. Bishop's family started the farm in 1871, growing vegetables and producing dairy. It has since grown into a destination. The farm offers everything from apple and pumpkin picking, to wine tasting, and other entertainment. Bishop and his three children work full-time to help run the family business. “I'm very proud of the family and where we have come,” Bishop said. He said they have been adapting to the times, including the lingering pandemic challenges. Overall, he said farming in Connecticut is more costly than other areas of the country, especially with the regulations. “There are a lot of good sound policies, but carrying them out as individual businesses costs money,” Bishop said. The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Amanda Marlow.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Shipman & Goodwin LLP's Brenda Eckert, an employment and family immigration law attorney. Eckert participated on a panel at CBIA's Economic Update conference last month that focused on the role immigration can play in helping address the labor shortage. She sees increasing competition for foreign workers, noting Connecticut can support immigration by improving access to affordable housing and transportation. “One of the challenges for a U.S. employer seeking to employ a foreign worker, or to tap into employing an immigrant workforce, is to create a reputation where the state or local communities within the state is not a problem for immigrants,” said Eckert. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Ali Warshavsky.

In the first of a series sponsored by CTrides, we look at the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, their employees, and Connecticut's roadways and transit systems. Are Connecticut employees returning to the workplace in person? How can our transportation infrastructure accommodate and facilitate that process? John is joined by Chris DiPentima of the CBIA, Orlena Cowan-Bailey of the Connecticut SHRM state council, and Rich Andreski of the CT DOT, to explore the latest developments as the state tries to achieve a new normal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Jim Barger, market president of KeyBank, ahead of CBIA's April 21 Connecticut Economic Update, where he will make opening remarks. Barger said KeyBank has invested in several fintech companies to enhance the digital channels they have. Since the beginning of COVID-19, Barger said customers have become more reliant on digital banking and the bank is learning how to balance those services with the ones offered in brick and mortar branches. “What we see is more and more of the interactions are done digitally, but when our costumes have complex needs, like they need a mortgage, or how do they fund tuition, or how do they plan for retirement, that is a situation when our bricks and mortar networks still come into play,” said Barger. CBIA's Connecticut Economic Update takes place Thursday, April 21 at the Trumbull Marriott in Shelton. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Ali Warshavsky.