Chamber Breakfast and Job Fair Recap

Last week I wrote that the atmosphere of the Travelers Championship would provide excitement for those of us in Middlesex County.  After a week that featured a celebrity pro-am as well as competitive tournament atmosphere at the TPC River Highlands course in Cromwell, it is safe to say that the event truly brought about all that is positive in this great County.   Much thanks to everyone at the Travelers Championship organization for making this tremendous event possible.  Again, without the support of people like Travelers Championship Chairman and CEO Jay Fishman, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette, and Tournament Director Nathan Grube and his staff, the County would not be able to enjoy the great tradition of this tournament. The Chamber Breakfast held last Tuesday provided to be a great kickoff to the week’s fun-filled events.  As always, the June breakfast was a well-attended event and included members of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and non-members alike.   Those in attendance were able to listen to some candid remarks delivered by golf pro Jay Williamson, the morning’s featured speaker.  As you may know, Jay was last year’s second place finisher in the tournament.  Before Jay spoke, Henry Hughes, who is a fixture within the local, national, and international golf scene, was honored for his life-long contributions to the game as well as the community. Henry is currently the CEO of the Players Championship, but traces his roots back to the great state of Connecticut as a Wethersfield native.  With his leadership of the Greater Hartford Open in the 1970’s and prior extensive volunteerism with the Greater Hartford Jaycees, Henry is an outstanding ambassador of our state.  Both PGA Pro Brad Faxon and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem spoke on Henry’s behalf and did a great job of paying tribute to his efforts. As always, much thanks to the folks at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell for hosting the event and providing and ideal forum for our speakers as well as guests. Also, much thanks to the Crowne Plaza staff for providing a smooth transition into the Chamber’s second event of last Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Middlesex County Career Fair. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the hotel opened the doors of its Grand Ballroom to over 800 job seekers throughout the course of the day.  Inside, these individuals were able to have direct access to nearly 50 employers including local companies like Dattco, Inc., Liberty Bank, and The Hartford Financial Services Company.  There were also many nationally-based companies that participated such as Verizon Wireless, CarMax, FedEx Ground/Home Delivery, and Allstate Insurance Company. Companies like these conducted on-site interviews with potential job candidates of varying backgrounds and experiences.  From those seeking entry-level positions to those exploring a potential career change, employers at the Career Fair spent valuable time with each person in attendance. During a time when jobs are difficult to come by, the event served as a great resource to those in our community.  Based on the attendance, it is clear that it was a resource that was well-utilized.   With that said, this event would not be possible for the community if it were not for the outstanding partners who are cognizant of the market needs and circumstances that employers face.  The Middletown Press, Workforce Alliance, and CT Works/Department of Labor are all sponsors who demonstrate this awareness through their involvement with and support of the 2008 Career Fair. It is great to see that those in the community took advantage of the opportunity because it has always been a priority of the Chamber to develop the region’s business in part by facilitating the communication between employers and potential employees. Without question, the continually changing economy is dependent on a sound workforce.  I strongly encourage everyone to continue to take advantage of the upcoming workforce development programs that the Chamber is involved in. For more information on Chamber activities, please contact Matt Fraulino at (860) 347-6924 or email him at

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