As it says, I am a Professor at the Ancell School of Business, Western Connecticut State University, with responsibility for the entrepreneurship/small business management option in the Management Major. I also have several graduate degrees, therefore am academically qualified. I am a published author, attend academic conferences and engage in other professional development activities. I am therefore in compliance with the expectations of my chosen career, but that’s not all…

 

I am also a contributor to my local and regional ecosystems, volunteering for boards and committees, and, for many years, have helped both manufacturing and service industry businesses deal with management and organizational development issues. Just like all human systems, organizations have dysfunctionalities that may need a facilitated intervention. Either I can help, or I know someone else who can…

 

Foundational to all of the above, I believe in art and craftsmanship, and making a difference. I believe in adding value to every interaction, in being authentic, and in remembering to find moments of joy, in some way, in every day. And in staying wonderful, which, as a dear friend once explained to me, means being full of wonder, a state of being I hope to never lose…

 

And I believe in passion, networking, and being willing to fail, for that’s how you learn. My advice? Always be open to opportunities. NEVER stop looking for things you can make better! I tell my students to always remember everyone is different and everything changes, so, again, be open to opportunities, yet know who you are, for self-awareness is key to sustaining a life.

 

And it really helps to stay positive. Winston Churchill said “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” Be an optimist – the glass is always half full! So go forth, keep learning, and become the best “you” you can be. And let me know how it goes…We're all in this together...

Patrice Gans is the Executive Director of Random Hacks of Kindness. Random Hacks of Kindness Junior Inc (RHoK Jr.) is a nonprofit agency that provides elementary and middle school children (specifically 4th-8th grade) the opportunity to come together as problem solvers and innovators to make the world a better place.

 

RHoK Jr. Inc., in partnership with local schools, universities, businesses and charitable organizations, provides local youth the chance to create mobile apps for their communities. RHoK Jr. promotes "hacking" for good causes and computer science education for all. There has been a lot of press lately about exposing students to computer programming the “app competitions” and “hackathons”. RHoK Jr. embraces that concept, while simultaneously providing students a venue for focusing on solving real problems for real people.

 

RHoK Jr. Inc. was formed in direct response to the growing demand for computing skills in the workforce. The goal of the organization is to introduce students to the growing field of computer science and technology. The ultimate goal of the event is to empower students while simultaneously fueling their enthusiasm for a potential career in computer science. The anticipated short term outcomes is for participants to learn a variety of problem-solving skills, to become more familiar with the problems and concerns of their local community and the wider national community, and lastly to develop basic skills with computer programming.

Proven track record of product placement and bringing initiatives to major companies and universities globally. Current track record includes managing and increasing the yearly business growth of Diversity and Inclusion associations. In this role, I average above quota in sales year to date. Responsible for a portfolio that averages over 3M in sales yearly.

 

Over 5 years of consulting and career center management for associations that include; The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the College Diversity Network/HBCU Business Deans. Lead account executive for a team managing D&I associations, with an emphasis on pitching and delivering products that disrupt the market.

 

Over 10 years of experience in event production & brand management. Transformed a talent showcase into an incubator for emerging artists and an economic driver reaching over 65 cities. For more information please click here.

I help my clients plan well for today and the future through our exclusive Confident Retirement® approach. It starts with a personalized conversation about covering essentials, ensuring lifestyle, preparing for the unexpected and leaving a legacy. By breaking your financial goals down into doable steps, I can help take the uncertainty out of planning for your financial future. In fact, 90% of Ameriprise clients who have had the Confident Retirement conversation feel more confident about retirement1. I’m here to help you feel more confident, too. When you have the right financial advisor, life can be brilliant.

Bernard Kavaler is Managing Principal of Express Strategies, a strategic communications and public policy consulting business he founded in 2012. The firm has expertise in advocacy writing, media relations, content development, speech writing and crisis communication, and through the Express Strategies Collaborative teams with top-notch professionals in social media, graphic design and video profile production.

 

Bernard has worked with entrepreneurial businesses in Connecticut, organizations focusing on finance, law, business, civic involvement and higher education, and is an Adjunct Faculty member in the University of Hartford's School of Communication. During a previous career in journalism, he was recognized by the Connecticut Associated Press for outstanding cooperation in news coverage. He founded, manages and compiles Connecticut by the Numbers, the state's leading numbers-driven news website.

 

Ryan Keating, Vice President at Keating Agency, is building & growing the modern insurance agency by adopting technology trends and finding opportunities to make the commercial and personal insurance experience more efficient for all. Ryan spent the better part of a decade in Florida, California, and Texas gaining experience working with various startups, major league sports franchises, and his own entrepreneurial endeavors before returning to CT.

 

Ryan is an entrepreneur at heart and has used this drive to help the Greater Hartford community. He was the founding president of FLOW – Future Leaders of West Hartford, host of Linkedin Local Hartford and recently co-founded a non-profit Finest Hours Hartford to support and promote nonprofits in Greater Hartford by bringing people together for events and volunteer opportunities.

 

Actively involved in the community, Ryan is an advisor with InsurTech Hartford, Playhouse Theatre, Board of Governors for the Hartford Club and co-host of the Experience We-Ha Podcast.

Bill Kenney is the founder of MEET. MEET helps international B2B companies soft-land and scale in the U.S. through trade shows and in-person events. Bill has also recently launched Soft Land Partners, a global marketplace that helps international companies find "best fit" market-entry service providers.

Tim Laubacher is a Connecticut entrepreneur and software engineer. Tim's company, Sound Web specializes in helping people with ideas for new tech business get started. Sound Web is celebrating 10 years in business in Connecticut this year.

 

Tim is involved in Connecticut's entrepreneurial ecosystem in several ways. This is Tim's third year supporting the CT Entrepreneur Awards. Tim in an EIR (entrepreneur in residence) at The MEWS in Middletown where he mentors startups on technology related matters.

 

In 2014, Tim started developing Launch EZ to help serve startups in Connecticut, which he launched in January of 2015. Launch EZ is currently being used in Innovation Destination Hartford, reSET, CTNext and The MEWS websites. In 2018, Launch EZ served over 45,000 search results to entrepreneurs in Connecticut and around the country.

A DevOps maven with over 20 years of professional experience providing enterprise class and industry leading best practices in the areas of DevOps, Cloud Transformation and Agile.

 

Proficient at building standards and streamlining process at enterprise level with a collaborative mindset while aligning deliverables with organization goals.

 

Confident, effective, and persuasive communicator with strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Recognized as a motivator, mentor and experienced in large scale and high impact projects.

Paige Rasid is the Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Serving as the assistant and liaison to the Deputy Commissioner-DECD. Responsible for the daily operations of several divisions; assist in special projects, research, and budget control. Paige has a rich history of working for some of the states leading entrepreneur facing organizations from TIP, UCONN's Technology Incubation Program to the CT Technology Council.

Laura Stetler is a Program Manager for the Women's Business Development Council (WBDC). The WBDC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing the tools and resources to help women thrive in business. They believe that when desire, education, and preparation come together, opportunities are created, ideas are ignited, and economies are expanded.

Rob Zielonka is a Senior Manager, Commodity Management at Collins Aerospace. Collins Aerospace works side-by-side with its customers to tackle the toughest challenges in aerospace and defense. They combine boundless imagination with a broad portfolio and an unmatched dedication to customers – all to make the skies and spaces we touch smarter, safer and more amazing than ever. They are redefining aerospace.