Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

The Chamber’s Business & Education Partnership Advisory Council, the Middlesex Consortium of Schools and Wesleyan University’s Center for Community Partnerships presented the eighth Annual Career Fair Expo for Middlesex County High School Students on April 25.

More than 1,300 students from Cromwell, Middletown, Durham, Middlefield, Portland, East Hampton, Haddam, Killingworth, Chester, Deep River, and Essex attended the 2013 High School Career Fair Expo at Wesleyan University, Middletown.

I would like to publicly thank the 225 business and career professionals from 106 companies and organizations, who were on hand to share their career experiences with the students.  I want to especially recognize our Business & Education Partnership Advisory Council Chairman Tom Serra, and Chamber Staff Liaison Jennifer De Kine, for their hard work and dedication to this major expo.

The event provided our high school students with an excellent opportunity to explore potential careers so that they may better plan their educational goals. The expertise of business and community leaders is invaluable in connecting academics with the skills required in the workplace.Big thanks go to Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas, Pratt & Whitney and Wesleyan University’s Center for Community Partnerships for their sponsorship of the 2013 High School Career Fair Expo. Also, our grateful thanks to Liberty Bank, The Connecticut Water Company, the American Eagle Federal Credit Union, Triple Springs Spring Water Company, Lyman Farms and De Kine Photo for their donations to the Career Fair Expo.

This event is a great opportunity for us to build upon relationships between our students, their schools and employers in Middlesex County and beyond. By business and education working together, it will guarantee that Middlesex County continues as the state leader in providing a better quality of life for all of its citizens. We look forward to next year’s High School Career Fair Expo.

For all their hard work and dedication planning the 2013 High School Career Fair Expo, a special thank you to: Donna Finkelstein of the Middlesex Consortium of Schools; Michael Faenza, Vinal Technical High School; Rosario Rizzo, Pratt & Whitney; Ana Alfaro and John O’Toole, Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas; Sonia Manjon and Patricia Stephenson Gordon, Wesleyan University; Chris Graham, Cromwell High School; Todd E, Corey, American Eagle Federal Credit Union; Ann Esposito, Primerica Financial Services; Mary Ann Lentz, Liberty Bank; Grady Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick Realty; Joanne Barmasse, Coldwell Banker; Cynthia Sanders, Sanders Solution Business Advisor; Barbara Taylor-Hatje, Egidio Assante Wealth Management LLC; Lois Eldridge, LEARN; Anthony Brisson, SERC; Julie Sapia-Bryant, Community Renewal Team; the Middlesex Consortium of Schools Planning Committee, and the Vinal Technical High School Skills USA Team.

Last Tuesday morning, April 23, the Chamber welcomed UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel as guest speaker at our April Member Breakfast Meeting. Warde gave terrific remarks which covered everything from the new UConn Athletics logo, the progress of the new men and women’s basketball facility on campus and a preview of the upcoming football season. It was a great event and I would like to publicly thank TD Bank for its sponsorship and for their strong support of our chamber.

Thursday morning, April 25, began with a trip to The Gelston House in East Haddam for a meeting of the chamber’s East Haddam and Haddam Divisions. State Comptroller Kevin Lembo continued his tour through the chamber’s divisions and once again gave a great presentation. I very much appreciate Kevin’s commitment to visiting with our divisions and we look forward to his next and final stop at a meeting of our Portland and East Hampton Divisions this Wednesday.

Friday morning, April 26, our Legislative Committee hosted the chamber’s third and final legislative event of 2013 when we welcomed Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams to the Courtyard By Marriott in Cromwell. Williams has appeared at this event for many years and we always appreciate his candor and his service to this state. I would like to thank Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Companies, for their sponsorship of this important event and for their consistent support of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. 

This final legislative event of 2013 was a follow up to our very successful Legislative Breakfast in January, sponsored by Comcast, and a Special Meeting with Speaker of House Brendan Sharkey in March, sponsored by Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. I would like to, again, thank Rich Carella and Rick Parmelee, co-chairmen of our Legislative Committee, for their leadership and their commitment to the organization.

Tomorrow evening, April 30, Billy Tee’s in Cromwell will host a Member Business After Work Networking Event. This event will feature free beer, wine, soft drinks, delicious Billy Tee’s pizza and other items from their terrific menu, and of course, the best networking around. I would like to again thank Bill Torza and the Billy Tee’s team for hosting our members and for their support of our organization.

The Annual Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament will be held this Friday, May 3, at Portland Golf Course. The 2013 tournament, which is again sold out, will feature 144 golfers, gifts for each of them, a great dinner from On the Green Restaurant, two Hole in One competitions and much more.  

This event would not be possible without our major sponsors: Middlesex Hospital, Cart Sponsor; Malloves Jewelers, Hole-in-One Sponsor; Lorensen Auto Group, Hole-in-One Sponsor; Madison Capital Group, Fairways Sponsor; Chamber Insurance Trust, Hospitality Cart Sponsor; Back9Network, Player Gift Sponsor; Liberty Bank, Scorecard Sponsor; Lyman Orchards, Snack Cart Sponsor; PRO Physical Therapy, Snack Cart Sponsor; People’s United Bank, Tee-Off Breakfast Sponsor; A&A Office Systems, Tee-Off Breakfast Sponsor;  Connecticare, Lunch  Sponsor; Centerplan Companies, Cocktail Hour Sponsor; First Niagara Bank, Dinner Sponsor; and Farmington Bank, Auction Sponsor. 

I would also like to thank our Golf Committee and the many other Chamber members who donated gifts. Finally, I want to recognize Johanna Bond from the chamber staff for her dedication to this event on an annual basis.

Let the sun shine on Portland on Friday, and let it always shine on Middlesex County.

For more information on Chamber events and activities, please contact Jeff Pugliese at jpugliese@middlesexchamber.com.