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Gubernataurial Candidates and Chamber Happenings |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
A big thanks to the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce for hosting a great event with gubernatorial candidate and former Stamford mayor Dan Malloy on Thursday at their offices in downtown New Haven. The event was basically a small—by Chamber standards—roundtable discussion with Mayor Malloy. There were about 40 business leaders and Chamber executives from throughout the state who attended and were able to ask questions of the mayor for the better part of an hour.
I am very proud that our Chamber had a fantastic showing, sending a total of six to the meeting: Chairman Anthony Assante, Durham Agricultural Fair Association president Gene Chiappetta, Chamber Board member Gerry Dyar, Transportation Committee member Russ St. John, Chamber Legislative Coordinator Jeff Pugliese and Public Relations Director Matt Fraulino. Really, this great representation is no surprise as our members are some of the most active Chamber members in the state.
The meeting opened with general remarks from Mayor Malloy, and he then fielded questions from the audience. The topics included the need to streamline government labor issues, healthcare mandates, state regulatory processes, and how to stop the “brain drain” of students who seek employment outside of the state; all issues that the race for governor will hinge upon.
I applaud Metro Chamber and Greater New Haven Chamber president Tony Rescigno for organizing such a great event. It is very, very important that each and every one of these gubernatorial candidates are given a forum to sit in front of a cross-section of the state’s business community and tackle issues head on.
Today, the Chamber kicks off its series of Continuing Education Real Estate courses, which are all mandatory for realtors, in the morning at 9:00 with the CT Buyer Agency class, followed by an afternoon session of Short Sales in CT at 1:00. The entire month, the chamber will offer these continuing education courses for realtors and brokers in our area. Our Real Estate Council has worked to offer these state-approved courses for the past few years and I would like to thank it for making Middlesex County such a realtor and broker-friendly region. These classes, offered right here in Middletown, are absolutely necessary for 2010 license renewal so I hope that all realtors in the area will take advantage.
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Dr. Phil Sheehan and Ted Tine |
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Monday, 01 March 2010 |
As you all know, as a former football player and coach, I am committed to always being positive and upbeat; this is the attitude of some of the most successful players, teams, and organizations in sport, and also in the business world. Sometimes, though, it takes a little more resolve to maintain this way of thinking.
For me, last week was one of those times. I was very saddened to hear the news that my good friend, and longtime supporter of this community Dr. Phil Sheehan passed away last Monday. It made me think of how I saw Phil shortly before his passing at a dinner with him and his wonderful wife Marie, Al and Mary Hamrah, Bob Byrne and Lynn Yuris for a surprise birthday celebration. The dinner was a great chance for me to get together with these friends and talk to Phil and Marie at length—something that I have done many, many times.
This is a man that I have known since I began my career in Middletown years and years ago. I grew to be very close with Felix during his time as the team doctor at Xavier. His ability to, and love for, practicing medicine was made perfectly clear by the way he treated the students, and the rest of the people in this community. For years—47 to be exact—the Doctor served this community and became a vital part of it. Along with his practice, he served as the local parochial schools’ team physician, and this was a job that he did for no pay. He worked with these schools for the love of his profession, the students, and the community.
There are people in this community across all generations that Felix cared for, and if he was not your doctor, he was probably the doctor of a friend or co-worker. One of the most enduring memories I will have of Felix is his willingness to treat all types of patients, including those who were unable to pay for their care. Many times, he brought his practice to his patients. Felix was widely known for making house calls at all hours of the day throughout his career, something that is not as common now. He was truly from the old school and was great at what he did.
His outstanding work was made evident through his numerous awards, which included the Hometown Hero Award in 1986, the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen Award in 1989, and a Super Hero of Medicine distinction by the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians in 1991, amongst others. His greatest award for him, I am sure, is the love of his dear wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a great man and will be missed by the entire community.
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Re-Entry Program and Connecticut Business Day |
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Monday, 22 February 2010 |
Today, our Advanced Re-Entry Modern Office Job Training program kicks off at 3:15 p.m. at Middlesex Community College with the Advanced Excel course. We are very proud to once again be able to offer this program once again to our Middlesex County residents.
This is a 15-week program and is designed to assist those who strive to get back into the workforce. Advanced Re-Entry is free of charge and available to anyone with basic keyboarding and typing skills who needs and wants training in modern office technology.
Re-Entry is just one of the Chamber’s many Workforce Development programs that will once again be offered this year. Our Cook-Chef Training Program, funded through the Customized Job Training division of the State Labor Department, will be starting sometime in March.
In addition, the Chamber has continued to implement successful workforce development programs. Working closely with the Workforce Alliance, Inc., the State Department of Labor, and the Office for Workforce Competitiveness, we have addressed the growing need of servicing dislocated workers. Along with programs funded by Workforce Alliance, the Chamber has continued to successfully work with the City of Middletown through the Community Development Block Grant to service clients throughout Middletown
Since 1986, the Chamber’s Re-Entry program has been able to provide training and job counseling to more than 1,650 people and has assisted in placing more than 1,425 of them in unsubsidized employment. This program is truly a terrific opportunity for those seeking to upgrade and expand their skills and increase their marketability with such classes as Business Communications, Advanced Word Processing, Advanced Excel, Microsoft Access and PowerPoint.
The quality of these courses is top-notch as they are taught by the professional staff of Middlesex Community College and other certified teachers. Courses are held at both the college and the Chamber offices. I would like to praise the outstanding role that Anita Vallee, a professor at Middlesex Community College, has played in her position as Outreach and Job Placement Coordinator for the Re-Entry program ever since it was established 20 years ago.
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Monday, 15 February 2010 |
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Last week, our community was reminded of how fragile life really is. My thoughts and prayers go out to the five people who lost their lives in the explosion at the Kleen Energy plant, their families, and the dozens of others who were injured in the disaster. I truly believe that the entire community—businesses, government, and citizens—is firmly behind all of those who fell victim in the blast.
In a time of emergency, though, I think we were so fortunate to have such great firefighters, EMTs, and police officers who arrived quickly on the scene and came to the aid of those in need. South Farms Fire Chief Ed Badamo, Health Department Director Sal Nesci, Mayor Giuliano, Deputy Fire Marshall Al Santostefano, Middletown Emergency Management Director George Dunn and all of the emergency management team should all be thanked for their outstanding leadership during this ordeal. They did a great job of keeping order in an otherwise tumultuous situation. Also, I am very impressed as to how the scores of nationwide media were managed.
I think it is safe to say that Middletown made a reputation for itself as a community that comes together during times of crisis and need. The leadership of the Kleen Energy facility should also be recognized. It has taken a very proactive approach since the incident and there is no doubt the plant will be rebuilt and finally be able to realize its potential as a great part of this community.
On a lighter note, Middletown drew some other media attention on Friday, February 12 when former supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks gave a couple a special treat with a dream wedding, held at the Falcons Pavilion on Crystal Lake on Prout Hill Road. The couple was chosen last Tuesday in New York at the Tyra Banks Show, and the wedding was planned by famed event planner David Tutera, who is responsible for countless high-level events.
A member business from Middlesex County, Pavilion Catering, was selected by Tutera to provide food for the event. Pavilion Catering is an outstanding business, and is no rookie in the wedding business. The business is a 2010 Bride’s Choice Award winner and has many successful weddings on its resume. Pavilion Catering is also the exclusive caterer at the Pavilion on Crystal Lake, the Barns at Wesleyan Hills in Middletown, as well as Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield.
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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
A big thanks, first off, to the entire staff of the Saybrook at Haddam assisted living retirement community for hosting a great Business After Work event last week on Thursday. It is great that this organization, led by Executive Director Kathy Ryan, has taken such an active position within the Chamber and the community at large. Also, Dave Downey, the Community Relations director at the Saybrook at Haddam, should be recognized because he has really been a driving force behind the business’ proactive approach, and has been a pleasure to work with thus far.
We had a great turnout at this Business After Work, with easily over 200 Chamber members who attended. Everyone was really impressed with the first rate facility and first rate hors d’oeuvres, which were catered by the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station’s catering service.
That same evening, I went to the Metro Chambers Leadership Dinner in New Haven with Middlesex Chamber Chairman Anthony Assante, former Chair Ken MacCormac, Liberty Bank President Chandler Howard. The 2010 state budget was one of the key topics of discussion. Going forward, it is clear that the leadership of each Metro Chamber feels that it is absolutely necessary for the governor and state legislature to support legislation that fosters long-term economic growth for our state.
This issue of legislation was very evident last week, as not only was it a focus at the Metro Chamber dinner, but it was also an issue that the Chamber addressed last Tuesday with State Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams at the Inn at Middletown. The Senator met with the Chamber’s Legislative Committee and Board of Directors for an overall legislative update.
Senator Williams provided Chamber members with a preview of the 2010 Legislative Session, which began on Wednesday February 3. He said that his top two priorities for the session are preserving jobs and balancing the state’s budget. The Senator also talked about how the state government needs to become smarter, smaller, and more efficient in the future, and that the Governor and the General Assembly need to work together to stabilize the state budget. As Senator Williams said, there will be some difficult decisions in the future, and I am confident that our leadership will be able to make those decisions.
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