Recognizing business and community leaders who have made significant contributions to the prosperity and the strength of our communities.
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023
DINNER SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR TOP SPONSORS
Forty-four years ago, Junior Achievement established a Business Hall of Fame to recognize current and past business and community leaders who have made distinguished contributions to the history and prosperity of our region.
This year’s outstanding honorees exemplify the meaning of success and the richness of giving back to their communities. By their example, they inspire thousands of children in our state to strive for greatness. Each of our honorees brings special meaning to the mission of Junior Achievement: to empower young people to own their future economic success.
Junior Achievement is grateful to all who have supported this event through their volunteerism, their personal and corporate funding, and through their presence here this evening.
Thank you all for your support of Junior Achievement.
Jeremy Race, M.Ed. President & CEOJunior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc.
JA HALL OF FAME EVENT COMMITTEES
HARTFORD
Don Allan - Committee Chair
Greg Barats
Tom Barnes
Howard Carver
Jim Fanelli
Jeffrey Hoffman
Sue Jackson
Dawn Lazarus
Peter Kelly
Margaret Lawson
NEW HAVEN
Diane Wishnafski - Committee Chair
Bo Bradstreet
Gregg Burton
Kim Healey
Brian Levine
Hugh Manke
James Miller
Todd Modica
Benefiting
Junior Achievement of Southwest New England
Menu Salad
Garden Salad
Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Sliced Onions, Shredded Carrots
Choice of Herb Vinaigrette or Balsamic Vinaigrette
Entrees
Herb Grilled Chicken
Grilled Chicken Breast with Basil Citrus Infusion & Lemon Lime
Cilantro Gremolata
Crusted Salmon
Shredded Phyllo Dough & Herb Parmesan Crusted Salmon Filet with Red Pepper Coulis & Basil Infusion
Filet Mignon
Dijon Rubbed Filet Mignon with Sandoval Sauce
Eggplant Tower (Vegan)
Grilled Eggplant, Arborio Roasted Vegetable Rice & Vegan Cheese
Dessert
Lava Cake
Wine Service
Coastal Vines Cabernet or Pinot Grigio
RECEPTION
The Marriott Foyer
DINNER
The Marriott Ballroom
WELCOME
Brian Shactman
Host, Mornings with Brian & Company, WTIC Radio
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Jeremy Race
President & CEO
Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc.
SPONSOR RECOGNITION
Greg Barats
President & CEO, Hartford Steam Boiler
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Brian Shactman
Host, Mornings with Brian & Company, WTIC Radio
STUDENT REMARKS
Dev Goel
10th Grade Student, Farmington High School
CLOSING REMARKS
Jay Buth
VP, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Eversource
JA Board Chair
PRESENTING SPONSOR
DINNER SPONSOR
RECEPTION SPONSOR
DIAMOND SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
CGI Habitat for Humanity Marcum LLP
Bohan & Bradstreet
M&T Bank
New Haven Bank
CCESR, Central Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Hartford Athletic Charitable Fund
Southern Connecticut State University
Yale New Haven Health System
ACES
Avports
The Cheryl Chase & Stuart Bear Foundation
Donna Collins
EBP Supply Solutions, a Divison of ImperialDade
Dawn Lazarus
Benjamin Minard NewAlliance Foundation
Corbin Advisors
Doug Anderson
BYK USA Inc.
David Newton
Bill & Paula Reis
Reynolds + Rowella
Shimkus, Murphy and Rosenberg, P.C
Dr. Anna Swinbourne (Hillstead Museum)
Charles Szilagyi
Tweed NVN Airport
Ted Whittemore
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Clifford Beers Comminity Health Partners
ConnCAT/ConnCORP
Gateway Community College Foundation
Gaylord Hospital
Joseph Gianni
Peter & Susan Kelly
KMR
In Memory of George A. Lazarus
Murtha Cullina LLP
Quinnipiac University
University of Saint Joseph
Erik Clemons is co-founder of Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), a subsidiary of the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), designed to explore and implement opportunities for economic development and investment in New Haven. He was founding CEO and President of ConnCAT, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating empowering art-based educational environments for at-risk public-school students and workforce training programs for under and unemployed adults.
With an extensive background in nonprofit management and organizational leadership spanning more than two decades, Clemons is dedicated to serving the best interests of diverse and traditionally underserved communities. Previously, he was Executive Director of the Leadership Education Athletics and Partnerships (LEAP) program.
Clemons is an Education Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a Yale-New Haven Hospital Trustee, and a Commissioner of the Housing Authority of New Haven. Additionally, he is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Community Development Advisory Council, Connecticut State Board of Education, and the Board of Trustees at New Haven Bank and Quinnipiac University.
Robert Cox is a Partner in the law firm of Halloran & Sage, and Chair of the Business and Commercial Law practice areas. He represents middle-market companies and financial institutions across the region in corporate, financing, real estate and healthcare transactions, gaining clients’ trust and confidence through clear, concise, honest communications.
He recognizes that business goals impact a client’s legal strategy, and establishes long-term lawyer-client relationships that are sustained by his ability to anticipate issues as well as opportunities, developing a thorough understanding of the industries in which his client is involved in order to tailor appropriate legal responses.
Attorney Cox has written and lectured extensively on a variety of business topics on behalf of clients and various professional organizations, serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and is active in the New Haven Regional Leadership Council, New Haven Manufacturer’s Association, the Connecticut Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and the MetroHartford Alliance.
Dr. Alice Forrester is Chief Executive Officer of Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic in New Haven and the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County in Norwalk, collectively referred to as Clifford Beers Community Health Partners. These widely recognized, highly regarded community-based mental health centers are reaching well over 5,000 children and families annually, many of whom have experienced trauma.
Under Dr. Forrester's leadership, Clifford Beers received the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Innovation Award in 2014 for a model of care called Wrap Around New Haven and in 2020 earned a seven-year CMS grant to create a new system of care called Integrated Care for Kids. In 2021, Clifford Beers was awarded a five-year National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative grant and a three-year Department of Justice STOP School Violence Grant focusing on work in the New Haven Public Schools. Dr. Forrester serves as Project Director for these initiatives.
Dr. Forrester serves on the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council, the Connecticut Children’s Mental Health Task Force and the Governor’s Youth and Urban Violence Commission.
Rhona C. Free, Ph.D., became the ninth President of the University of Saint Joseph in 2015, and has guided deliberations that led to the University’s decision to become fully-coeducational and championed establishment of the Women’s Leadership Center. She has overseen the launch of numerous academic programs and the implementation of capital projects to enhance student life, campus accessibility, and classroom spaces.
Dr. Free serves as Chair of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges Board of Directors, a member of the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education Board of Directors, and a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Presidents’ Council; she is also a member of the Connecticut Science Center’s Board of Trustees and a Hartford Hospital Corporator.
Dr. Free came to USJ from Eastern Connecticut State University, where she served as vice president for academic affairs (20072013) and provost (2013-2015), and taught Economics for 25 years. In 2004, she was the Council for Advancement and Support of Education/Carnegie Foundation National Professor of the Year from Master’s Granting Institutions.
RhonaJoe Gianni is President of Bank of America Greater Hartford, serving as the company’s enterprise leader in the region, working to connect businesses, families and individuals to Bank of America’s banking and investment teams.
He leads efforts to direct bank resources to address local priorities and help build strong communities, and is on the company’s Government Relations team, engaging with public officials and local leaders on policy priorities. He previously served as the Northeast Region Executive providing oversight in local annual charitable contributions and sponsorships, leveraging those initiatives with employee volunteer efforts.
Gianni has been with Bank of America and its predecessor banks in Connecticut since 1989. He serves as the executive sponsor of the local Military Support & Assistance Group and Domestic Violence Task Force, helping to raise awareness about the issues. Appointed by two Connecticut Governors to the Capital City Economic Development Authority, he also serves on the boards of Connecticut Foodshare, Governor’s Workforce Council, MetroHartford Alliance, Kingswood-Oxford School and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Karraine Moody, as Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity North Central Connecticut, is passionate about making a major difference in her community. Under her effective leadership and guidance, Habitat for Humanity North Central Connecticut took a leap of faith during the past year, and as a result many of the organization’s strategic initiatives – including expansion into Tolland County and the opening of a ReStore in Vernon– came to fruition as construction and extending help to families throughout the newly expanded region continued.
Moody has previously held positions with Hartford Public Schools, United Technologies and managed her own consulting firm prior to becoming CEO at Habitat for Humanity in the Hartford region in 2014. Through the years, she has consulted with several Hartford neighborhoods to assist with community and economic development initiatives.
She believes that through adequate housing, other accomplishments can be achieved including education attainment, career growth, civic engagement and family stability. Moody volunteers with local shelters and supports other community empowering organizations.
Donald Allan, Jr. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
Francine Austin Francine’s Salon and Day Spa
Thomas Bailer Executive Support Services, LLC
Adele Balboni ConnectiCare
Steven Brodrick Alteryx
Jay Buth- Chair Eversource Energy
Matthew Cambi PwC
Trevon Canada The Hartford
Lawrence Carboni Whittlesey
Brian Carillon Centreville Bank
Pamela Carpenter Retired, Travelers
Jennifer Castro Smithberger Biogen
Jonathan Collett, CPA CohnReznick
Joseph DeSantis Deloitte LLP
Anne Evans Universal Strategies Limited
Jack Fazzino State of CT House of Representatives
David Firstenberg The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.
Beth Frankel Merenstein, PhD Central Connecticut State University
Paul Foody Waste Management
Michelle Galeota East Hartford High School
Jason Gutcheon Professional Business Insurers
John Guy, Jr. Webster Bank
G. Christopher Heyl CiDRA Corporate Services
Terrell Hill, PhD Windsor Public Schools
Matthew Hoffman Hoffman Auto Group
Claude Howard Travelers
Geoff Hunt Pratt & Whitney
Susan Jackson KPMG LLP
Patricia King Connecticut Technical Education and Career System
Dawn Lazarus Lindberg & Ripple
Donna Lecky, JD, MBA HealthVenture
Brian Levine Bank of America
Celia Lofink, PhD University of Hartford
David Louden Fathom
Karmela Malone The Hartford
Susan Martinelli RSM US LLP
Kenneth McGovern KMR Executive Search LLC
Samuel McKnight Retired, AT&T
Nitin Mhatre Berkshire Bank
Mark Nisbett People, Places & Spaces
Michael Pelletier CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Thomas Phillips
TL Phillips Consulting Services
William Piotrowski Alkegen
Joseph Radziewicz
Stanley Black & Decker
Sean Riegler Ernst & Young LLP
Kelly Rome Empower
Tina St. Pierre, CPA Ares Management
Pamela Sawyer Access Health CT
Robb Schilberg
Prime Materials Recovery, Inc.
Wendy Simoncelli IBM
Bala Thiru Deloitte Consulting
Dawne Ware Arch Insurance Group
Steve Weir State of CT House of Representatives
Edward Whittemore Retired, Murtha Cullina LLP
Susan Winkler Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services (CT IFS) Metro Hartford Alliance
Kelly Young Pratt & Whitney
Jonathan Adongo, PhD Albertus Magnus College
Bo Bradstreet Bohan & Bradstreet
Gregg Burton Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, LLP
Anthony Castellon Citizens Bank
Robert Coro Marcum, LLP
William Creaser JPMorgan Chase
Jodie Driscoll Murtha Cullina LLP
David Finnerty Guilford Savings Bank
G. Christopher Heyl CiDRA Corporate Services
Patrick Kampermann Roto Frank of America, Inc.
Kevin Kiss RSM US LLP
Donna Lecky, JD, MBA HealthVenture
Brian Levine Bank of America
Nicholas Lombardi OneSource Companies
Joseph LoPresti ImperialDade
Jill Albertelli Pratt & Whitney
Gregory Alcorn Carrier
James Bolduc Retired, Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority
Edward Bradstreet Bohan & Bradstreet
Christine Bromberg Robinson & Cole LLP
Larry Brown Horton International LLC
Howard Carver Retired, Ernst & Young LLP
Chris Fuselier Retired, GE Consumer Industrial
David Keiser Retired, Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Margaret Lawson Retired, The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co.
Brendan Lynch Retired, Travelers Annuity
Hugh Manke Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC
Kolé Mascoll JPMorgan Chase
Samuel McKnight Retired, AT&T
Camille Murphy Murphy & Company CPA’s, LLC
Matthew O’Connor, PhD. Quinnipiac University
William Rice
Area Cooperative Education Services (ACES)
Brian Walker Walker Associates, Inc.
Raymond Sprague Napatree Advisors
Lindsley Wellman Wellman Consulting Group
Diane L. Wishnafski Retired, NewAlliance Bank
Special thank you to all current and former Junior Achievement Board Members for your committment, support, and leadership.
L. Coffin*
1986
John F. Lundgren 2013
Joyce and Andrew Mandell 2014
Christine C. Marcks 2011
John G. Martin* 1982
Joseph R. McCormick * 1983
Liam E. McGee* 2014
John J. Meehan 2007
Yvette Melendez 2021
Paul A. Mongerson* 1988
Robert K. Mooney* 1990
William H. Mortensen* 1993
Denis F. Mullane* 1995
John David Murphy* 2000
Kathleen A. Murphy 2008
Robert Henry Murphy* 2000
Denise L. Nappier 2006
Madelyn Colby Neumann* 1993
William J. Pape, II 2001
Robert E. Patricelli 2004
John J.
Franklin
Robert P. Adler*
Ron D. Aliano*
Parker B. Allen*
Henry D. Altobello*
Vincent A. Amato*
Vincent C. Arpaia*
Barry Banducci
Henry E. Bartels*
David A. Beckerman
Robert F. Behan*
Thomas Beirne III
A. Arnold Bell
Richard G. Bell
Kendrick F. Bellows*
David W. Benfer
Samuel S. Bergami, Jr.
Donald Bidwell, Sr.*
Larry Bingaman
Roland M. Bixler*
Marna Parke Borgstrom
Richard H. Bowerman*
Edward H. Bradstreet
Kevin Burke
Mary Jane Burt
Donald P. Calcagnini
Thomas Candrick, Jr.
Joseph Carabetta*
Henry Chauncey, Jr.
Gerald S. Clark
George B. Clarke
Roxanne J. Coady
Betsy Henley-Cohn
Daniel P. Cosgrove
Stanley R. Cullen*
MacRea Curtis*
John J. Crawford
Claire Criscuolo
Fredrick A. DeLuca*
Lawrence J. DeNardis
Joseph D. DiSesa*
Robert B. Dodds*
Ralph Durante
Andrew J. Eder
George W. Edwards, Jr.
Geoffrey Etherington
Frederick W. Farnsworth
Thomas H. Ferreira
Frederick G. Fischer*
Richard Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Peter Flagg*
Scott Flora
Paul F. Forman*
Lynn R. Fusco
Claire L. Gaudiani
Murray A. Gerber
Stephen & Sally Glick
Louis Goodwin*
Richard J. Grossi
Victor B. Hallberg*
Jean M. Handley*
Carlton L. Highsmith
Howard K. Hill
Jeffrey L. Hubbard
Birgitta W. Johnson*
eversource
Eversource is proud to support the Junior Achievement 44th annual Hartford & New Haven Business Hall of Fame awards ceremony & dinner.
Congratulations
Erik Clemons
Bob Cox
Alice Forrester
Rhona Free
Joe Gianni
Karraine Moody
We salute year’s JA Hall of Fame honorees who work tirelessly to improve our region’s quality of life.
We saute this year’s JA Hall of Fame honorees who work tirelessly to improve our region’s quality of life.
Eversource.com
YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Rhona Free University of St. Joseph, Laureate
Joe Gianni Bank of America, Laureate
Karraine Moody
Habitat for Humanity, Spirit of Hope
Alice Forrester
Clifford Beers Community Health Partners, Spirit of Hope
Erik Clemons
ConnCORP, Community Leadership
Empower is proud to support Junior Achievement of Southwest New England’s mission to prepare the next generation for economic success.
Investing
By empowering students today, we inspire them to dream big and achieve their potential tomorrow.
Congratulations to all the 2023 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame honorees on their well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your commitment and leadership in serving the people and businesses of Southwest New England.
jpmorganchase.com
Celebrating your tireless
We are pleased to sponsor Junior Achievement of Southwest New England.
Every day, you help make our community a better place to live. We do our best to support you, your organization and the people you serve. We’re always proud to help our neighbors.
websterbank.com
Serving our communities means providing reliable, essential natural gas service. It also means investing our energy in the organizations and events that make our communities special. We are pleased to lend our support to Junior Achievement of Southwest New England’s Business Hall of Fame.
We are particularly proud to support
Erik Clemons
Congratulations to all the honorees of the 2023 Junior Achievement Hall of Fame
“Every one has the opportunity t o be great!”
The Regional Water Authority is proud to support JA, helping empower today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders. Congratulations to this year’s Business Hall of Fame honorees.
Yale New Haven Health is proud to support the work of Junior Achievement and congratulates the Hall of Fame honorees.
Hamden Hall is Proud to Support the 44th Annual Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to this year's inductees and honorees!
Special kudos to our past parents
Erik Clemons and Bob Cox.
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
1108 Whitney Avenue Hamden, CT 06517 www.hamdenhall.org
We are delighted to support Junior Achievement again this year, as we have for many years.
The Robert & Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation is committed to supporting health, education, arts, and community revitalization organizations and programs in Greater Hartford. We believe in “activist philanthropy”creating new organizations or helping established groups through heavy personal engagement as well as funding.
Congratulations to this year's Hall of Fame Honorees.
Have a great night!
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