Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

Last week featured two very exciting announcements that serve as great news for Middlesex County and the State of Connecticut.

On Wednesday afternoon, I attended a press conference at Pratt & Whitney headquarters in East Hartford which announced an important agreement between the state and United Technologies. This deal ensures that the company will remain anchored in our state, and that Connecticut will continue to be a world leader in the aerospace field. Pratt & Whitney will build a new engineering center in East Hartford, and will be headquartered in Connecticut for at least the next 15 years. The deal also guarantees that Sikorsky will remain headquartered in the state for at least the next five years, and UTC Aerospace Systems will build a new customer training center in Windsor Locks. Overall, UTC will invest up to $500 million to upgrade and expand its aerospace research, development and manufacturing operations over the next five years. Pratt & Whitney’s Middletown Engine Center is a major employer in our city and in Middlesex County. This deal provides stability, and is a real positive for Middlesex County and for the State of Connecticut. I applaud Governor Dannel Malloy and UTC Chairman and CEO Louis Chênevert for their vision, their leadership, and their commitment to Connecticut. This agreement is not only important for Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, UTC Aerospace Systems, and UTC Building and Industrial Systems, but for the many local suppliers that support thousands of jobs. It also will lead to terrific employment opportunities for Connecticut’s best and brightest students. I was honored to attend the press conference along with many state and UTC officials, and fellow representatives of the business community. This is indeed great news for our state. 

On Thursday morning, I attended a press conference at The Connecticut Convention Center announcing that Travelers has reached an agreement with the PGA Tour to extend its title sponsorship of the Travelers Championship through 2024. As I have noted many times over the years, the Travelers Championship is an outstanding professional event that is an important economic generator, tourist attraction, and philanthropic endeavor in Middlesex County and in the State of Connecticut. The fact that we know the tournament will be played at TPC River Highlands for at least the next ten years is terrific. I would like to thank Governor Malloy, Travelers Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Jay Fishman, Travelers Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette, Tournament Director Nathan Grube, and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem who all spoke at Thursday’s announcement. This year’s event will be played from June 19-22, a nice thought as we continue to navigate the winter season. 

I look forward to attending a Grand Opening event for Moonlight Sushi Bar & Grill, 130 Main Street – Metro Square, tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Mayor Dan Drew and I will join Lin Ling and her team as we welcome this new business to Middletown.

Connecticut Business Day 2014, sponsored by CBIA and the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, will be held this Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at the State Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m., and the Program will be held from 8:05 a.m. to 12 Noon. This year’s focus is Building a Brighter Economic Future for Connecticut, with a special focus on state taxes and spending, regulatory reform, and labor and employment. A bus, courtesy of our good friends at DATTCO, will transport Chamber members to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford free of charge. Members can either depart from the Chamber or the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. The bus will leave the Chamber at 6:45 a.m. and will head to the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. The bus will leave the Crowne Plaza Cromwell for Hartford at 7:00 a.m. There is NO CHARGE for the bus or for Connecticut Business Day. To register for Connecticut Business Day and/or the bus, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com. 

On Tuesday, March 11th, the Chamber will host a Business Seminar on "Telephone Etiquette" at the Chamber office on Main Street. Isabel Jackson, Vice President of The Essex Group, will lead a discussion on the importance of telephone etiquette in the modern office environment. To register for this seminar, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com.

Employers, educators and parents are invited to join the Chamber’s Business & Education Partnership Advisory Council at Middlesex Community College on Wednesday, March 12th 7:45-9:00 a.m. for a special Breakfast Program with Dr. Anna Wasescha, President. The program will focus on several kinds of connections between employers and the programs offered by Middlesex Community College, and will offer brief presentations on two programs relevant to workforce needs in the area: New Media and Health and Life Sciences. The session will explore how these and other of the college’s programs prepare graduates to contribute to the economic vitality in this region. To attend, please register online: www.middlesexchamber.com or Email: Jennifer@middlesexchamber.com.

The Chamber’s Everybody is Irish Party will be held next Friday, March 14th, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam. This event will feature a great spread of Riverhouse food, Irish cheer, friends, and great conversation. Registration information can be found at www.middlesexchamber.com.

The following Monday morning, on Saint Patrick’s Day, we will welcome UCONN Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma to our March Member Breakfast Meeting. The Member Breakfast will be held at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell and will undoubtedly be a sold out event.

I would like to again thank our sponsor for this event, Middle Oak, and CEO Gary Vallo who serves on our Executive Committee and is a strong supporter of the Chamber. I also want to again thank Coach Auriemma for speaking to our Chamber for the third consecutive year. We look forward to hearing from Geno as the Lady Huskies begin their journey which will hopefully lead to the Final Four in Nashville. 

The Chamber’s 2014 Business After Work Auction and Taste of Downtown is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25th, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Italian Society Center of Middletown. As always, the event will feature delicious samplings from over 15 downtown restaurants, a live auction featuring over 100 items, a silent auction, complimentary beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, and the best networking around. This year’s event will have a Great Gatsby theme and will be the 30th Anniversary of the Auction and Taste of Downtown. I would like to thank our Auction Committee, led by Co Chairs Al Santostefano and Rich Greco, for their effort and support.

Finally, the Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Leadership Series will continue on Friday, March 28th, when we welcome Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey to a special legislative meeting. This will be the third of our four legislative events for 2014, after a successful meeting with the Republican leaders from both the House and the Senate, and the 2014 Legislative Breakfast with the Middlesex County delegation. We will welcome Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams on Monday, April 21st. 

February is in the books, March is underway, and the Chamber continues to be on the move. 

For more information on Chamber events and activities, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com.