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CMSC & CBIA Summit

Building a Main Street Business Ecosystem
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Building a Main Street Business Ecosystem

March 12th 2026 | Hartford, CT
In Partnership with CBIA

Strong small businesses need strong main streets. Small businesses are the backbone of Connecticut’s economy and critically important to the downtowns and main streets that give life to our communities, providing the goods and services we rely on, creating jobs, and building the unique places we love to explore.

So it made perfect sense for CMSC – the state’s premier resource for vibrant downtowns – to partner with CBIA – the state’s largest business organization – for our March Summit on how to build a thriving main street business ecosystem.

Together, we’re showcasing case studies, panel presentations, and practical resources to help our small main street businesses thrive. Because when we focus on providing both the tools small business owners need to run their businesses and the structured management of a healthy downtown, we create the types of dynamic places that support innovative entrepreneurs, build community, generate prosperity, and strengthen our state’s wellbeing.

Watch the recording on YouTube

Video courtesy of Intersect Media

Additional Resources

Stronger Streetscapes: A Blueprint for Façade Planning that Works

CT Main Street Center’s tactical handbook for best practices in designing and administering a façade improvement program for a thriving main street that enhances economic vitality.

Main Street Business Survey

Business owners and downtown practitioners are encouraged to fill out or distribute our survey! Click below for more info.

Speaker Bios & Presentations

Introductory Remarks

Event Hosts
Michelle Lapine McCabe, Executive Director, CT Main Street Center

“The work of main street vibrancy is ongoing. Oftentimes, communities will have the good fortune of a passionate champion, willing to dedicate an abundance of time and energy because the downtown is so meaningful to them. When they eventually step away, we have seen their great downtowns flounder as a result and years of progress lost. Succession planning is absolutely essential to make sure that a downtown ecosystem can continue to thrive into the future.”

Michelle brings over a decade of non-profit management experience to Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC). Her expertise in program development and strategic planning led CMSC’s expansion of its educational and technical assistance programming, member assistance offerings, and championing statewide policies that benefit Connecticut’s downtowns and Main Streets.

Michelle and the CMSC team developed an innovative new downtown management assessment tool;launched several new programs including Main Street Accelerator focused on  local  team leadership training and project implementation, and Diversity on Main, a partnership with the Black Business Alliance focused on filling storefront vacancies; engaged in regional work in partnership with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce; and identified key issues for advocating on behalf of Connecticut’s main streets. Michelle serves on the boards of Connecticut Arts Alliance, Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS) and Connecticut Preservation Action.

Chris DiPentima, President & CEO, CBIA

“It starts with collaboration over competition—promoting local partnerships, shared resources, and mentorship networks. When entrepreneurs support each other, they create resilience, circulate local wealth, and foster innovation that benefits the entire community.”

Chris DiPentima is the president and CEO of CBIA, Connecticut’s leading business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state.

The organization includes CBIA’s Foundation, CBIA’s products & services division, and two affiliates—the business consulting firm CONNSTEP and the nonprofit education and workforce ReadyCT.

DiPentima previously was division president of Leggett & Platt Aerospace, a S&P 500 companyt, leading manufacturing operations at the company’s Middletown-based Pegasus Manufacturing facility and locations in Washington, California, and France.

He joined Pegasus, then family-owned, in 2002 and was named president in 2006, where he implemented a series of strategic initiatives resulting in a doubling of employment and revenue before selling to L&P in 2016.

Prior to joining Pegasus, DiPentima spent eight years as an attorney representing corporations and individuals.

A former chair of CBIA’s board of directors, he chairs the Connecticut Manufacturers’ Collaborative (CMC), serves on the board of the Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF), and several non-profit and for-profit boards.

DiPentima has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and received his juris doctorate from Quinnipiac Law School. He lives in Durham with his wife and three daughters.

Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, City of Hartford

“When building business ecosystems in Hartford, the most important element is not necessarily profits or strategy, but instead a sense of community. Here in Hartford, we have found that success can often be predicted by how a business plans to weave into the fabric of the neighborhoods they serve.”

Mayor Arulampalam is a father, husband, attorney, former nonprofit executive, and is committed to strengthening our neighborhoods and building a Hartford that works for everyone.

The son of Sri Lankan refugees, Mayor Arulampalam was born in Zimbabwe. He made a home and eventually a family in Hartford soon after graduate school. Prior to being elected mayor, Mayor Arulampalam served as the CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he developed a first-in-the-nation program to train Hartford residents to become local developers and tackle blight in Hartford. The Land Bank takes on the city’s vacant and blighted properties and, with the help of Hartford developers, fixes them up to encourage investment in our neighborhoods across the city. 

Mayor Arulampalam also served in the Lamont Administration as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection where he went after a notorious Connecticut slumlord and fought for consumer rights and small businesses. Before then, he was a lawyer downtown at the firm of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. Mayor Arulampalam also served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, the House of Bread, and on the Hartford Redevelopment Authority. He earned his B.A. in International Studies from Emory University and his J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Mayor Arulampalam lives in the Frog Hollow neighborhood in a formerly vacant and blighted house with his wife and five small kids. Mayor Arulampalam’s wife, Liza, is the Senior Minister of the First Church of Christ (Center Church) in Hartford.

Presenting Sponsors
Keith Grant, VP of Operations, Hartford Healthcare

In building business ecosystems especially in healthcare one truth rises above all others: connection is the true currency of progress.

Start by designing for people, not processes.

In every partnership, every workflow, every data exchange, and every strategic decision, ask:
‘How does this make care safer, easier, more dignified, or more human?’

Because in healthcare, ecosystems aren’t just networks, they are lifelines. When we build them with empathy and clarity, a few powerful things happen:

  • Collaboration becomes natural, because everyone can see themselves in the shared mission.
  • Innovation becomes purposeful, grounded not in novelty but in solving real human needs.
  • Trust becomes the foundation, allowing organizations to move faster, share more openly, and support each other more deeply.
  • Patients and clinicians feel the difference, not in the systems we build, but in the moments of care those systems make possible.

So the tip I’d offer is this:

Build every ecosystem as if someone’s health depends on it because it does.

When we keep humanity at the center, we don’t just create better business models. We create better outcomes, stronger communities, and a future where healthcare truly works for everyone.”

Keith Grant, MSN, APRN-C, CIC is the VP of  Operations for the Hartford Region of Hartford  Healthcare. Keith migrated from Jamaica in 2001 to pursue higher education. Faced with the cost of higher education but driven by a strong call to serve, he joined the United States Air Force as a Medic — a decision that deepened his lifelong commitment to service. Now a decorated Major with over 20 years of service, Keith has held multiple roles across several deployments. He is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Infection Prevention, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology. 
Keith currently serves as the Vice President of  Operations for the Hartford region at Hartford HealthCare, where he oversees operations at Hartford Hospital — an 867-bed Level 1 trauma center — and other clinical sites across the region. Previously, he was the Senior System Director for Infection Prevention and Epidemiology at Hartford HealthCare, where he played a pivotal role in Connecticut’s COVID-19 response. Keith was the first person in the state to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series. He also served on the Governor’s Scientific Advisory Board for COVID-19 and supported pandemic preparedness planning for the Caribbean through regional collaborations. Passionate about advancing health equity, Keith has been a leading voice in addressing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities. Keith has received numerous honors, including Hartford Business Journal’s Healthcare Heroes and Power Fifty recognitions, the Consul General’s Heritage Award, the Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence, and the U.S. Air Force Humanitarian Medal and Achievement Medal.
Outside of his professional life, Keith cherishes time with his wife, Shefali, and their two children, Arianna and Aryan.

Gene Goddard, Chief Business Investment Officer, MetroHartford Alliance

“For any economic development project there are only two people that really matter: The Owner and the Zoner. If they don’t agree nothing is going to happen. Our job is to get them both on the same page and find a way to say yes.”

Gene Goddard, CEcD, EDFP is the Chief Business Investment Officer for the MetroHartford Alliance.
Based in Hartford, Connecticut, the MetroHartford Alliance (MHA) is a private sector-led, investor-based economic development partnership. MHA focuses on driving growth, retention, and recruitment across key sectors, including Insurance/Financial Services, Aerospace/Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Broadcast Media, Health, IT, Logistics and Hospitality.

Gene Goddard has over 35 years of experience across local, regional, and state organizations. Throughout his career, he has coordinated projects resulting in over $10 billion in investments for both small businesses and major corporations. At the Alliance, Gene oversees business investment and research, managing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), business attraction and retention, and out-of-state marketing.

Before joining MHA, Gene led the national Housing and Economic Development practice at Springsted (now BakerTilly) and served as Director of Business Investment for GREATER MSP. He holds a Master’s degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato and specialized certifications from IEDC, NDC, and FINRA (Series 50).

Recognized as one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America in 2017, Gene also received a Lifetime Achievement award for his contributions in Minnesota. Outside of his professional work, he is an avid landscape photographer and woodworker through The Minnehaha Craftsman.

Panel Discussion

Strengthening Main Street Ecosystems: Policy to Practice
Jack Benjamin, Economic Development Director, City of Hartford

“Take a chance on neighborhoods and buildings that are undervalued and historically disinvested. Localities and economic development professionals will support those with a vision and a plan to bring vibrancy to overlooked places.”

Jack Benjamin is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Hartford. A lifelong lover of cities, Jack’s career focus has been on the revitalization and redevelopment of urban places. He began his career at a start-up civic technology company in Boston, helping to launch the company’s online platform. Jack’s first foray into municipal government was as the Assistant Planner for the western Massachusetts City of Chicopee where he wrote grants, managed brownfields projects, and organized city events. Transferring his grant writing skills to academia, Jack then worked as the Director of Grants for American International College in Springfield, bringing in over $20m in grant funding over the course of 3 years. Jack then moved to Connecticut and took the position of Director of Planning & Development for the City of New Britain, where he oversaw a transformational redevelopment of the city’s downtown core. He began his role as Economic Development Director for Hartford in September of 2025 and is bullish on Hartford’s future.

Anne Benowitz, VP of Economic Development & Workforce Initiatives, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce

“One of the most important aspect of building any business ecosystem, is building trust; being consistent in follow through and helping businesses understand the resources available to support them, and how to access those resources.”

Anne serves as the Vice President, Economic Development and Workforce Initiatives for the Greater New Haven Chamber. In her role she is responsible for the Chamber’s business retention and expansion efforts and the development of talent pipelines through the Regional Sector Partnerships here in the New Haven area. Anne’s role is focused on making connections between the business community and the resources needed to retain and expand the businesses here in Connecticut.

Anne brings a tremendous breath of experience, spanning over 30 years, in business development, marketing, administration and entrepreneurship. Anne’s has held positions in HR for Exxon in Stamford, in New York City, working for a sports marketing company, where she managed a column in the Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine, called “Sports Business,” and earned her paralegal degree, working for a major credit corporation in Connecticut. Ultimately, Anne moved into business development with Northwestern Mutual in Fairfield County, which eventually, brought her to New Haven to pursue work in the executive benefit marketplace, where her clients were among the Fortune 500. She became the Special Projects Coordinator to the Dean at the Yale School of Management, managing operations for the Advisory Board, speakers, and other school operations and later, ultimately, running her own marketing and business development firm for ten years, prior to joining the Chamber’s business development team.  

Anne has served on several boards and presently is serving as Communications Chair for the State’s economic development association, CEDAS. Anne is a trained mezzo soprano; a member of an award-winning Sweet Adelines International chorus; has competed around the country in international singing competitions, in both quartets and chorus. Anne lives in North Haven with her husband & daughter.

Rep Lucy Dathan, CT State Representative, District 142

“Strong Main Street businesses are the backbone of thriving communities. When we invest in local entrepreneurs and create an ecosystem that supports their growth, we’re not just strengthening individual storefronts, we’re building resilient local economies, creating jobs, and preserving the character that makes our communities unique. I am encouraged by this effort and look forward to our collaboration and the meaningful outcomes that will come from this summit.”

Lucy Dathan is the State Representative for the 142nd District in New Canaan/Norwalk serving her constituents since 2019. She was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri and went to an all-girls school from grade school through high school. She then went to Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California where she majored in Accounting and Business.

She values her education as it greatly contributed to her success and professional career, which has spanned close to 30 years, working within finance and across many commercial and non-profit sectors all over the world.

During her tenure, Dathan has served as Vice Chair of the legislature’s Appropriations and Insurance & Real Estate Committees, and as a member of the Human Services Committee.

For the legislative term in 2025-2026, Lucy has been appointed House Chair of the new Government Oversight Committee. Additionally, she will continue to serve on the Appropriations Committee and the Human Services Committees.

Lucy began her career as an auditor in a Big 4 firm in San Jose, California where she focused on venture capital firms and ventured backed technology startup companies. There she qualified as a Certified Public Accountant. She moved to Poland and worked with the financial sector as the country was opening to western markets. She then went to London and worked over 10 years broadening her experience in investment banking, raising finance and as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in two Venture backed firms. In London, she also worked for the London Stock Exchange in the legal department where she managed the intellectual capital of the firm.

Since moving back to the United States 19 years ago, she has continued to work part-time while raising a family as a CFO in various technology companies, building finance functions from the ground up, creating budgets and strategic forecasts, overseeing funding rounds, and mergers & acquisitions activities.

She moved with her husband and three children aged 22, 20 and 18 to the Town of New Canaan in February 2015 from Palo Alto, California, where she had lived for 9 years. Lucy continues to help technology startups on a part time basis as a contract finance executive.

Moderated by: Chris Davis, VP of Public Policy, CBIA

“In Connecticut, one point I always emphasize about building strong business ecosystems is the power of intentional collaboration. Our state’s size is actually a strategic advantage—it forces government, employers, educators, and nonprofits to work closely together. The ecosystems that succeed here are the ones where partners stay aligned on shared outcomes, communicate regularly, and think beyond their individual organizations.”

Chris Davis is VP of Public Policy, leading CBIA’s advocacy team of in-house and contract lobbyists at the state Capitol.

He oversees the planning and execution of public policy strategy and initiatives to strengthen CBIA’s mission to boost Connecticut’s economic competitiveness and growth while providing opportunities for all residents.

Davis previously represented the General Assembly’s 57th House District (East Windsor and Ellington) for five terms from 2011 to 2021, serving as assistant leader and ranking member of the key Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

Known for his willingness to work collaboratively in a bipartisan manner to achieve meaningful policy reforms throughout his tenure in the legislature, Davis was one of the architects of the 2017 bipartisan fiscal reforms that led to the state’s current fiscal strength.

Prior to CBIA, Davis served as manager of public affairs for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, overseeing the quasi-public agency’s government affairs and public relations activities.

Davis earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Connecticut, and has previously served as an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Bridgeport.

Case Study Speakers

Building a Business While Building a Community
Chris Allen, Founder & CEO, Gas Burgers

“The best way to achieve success is to surround yourself with great people and empower them to go do what you’ve hired them to do, unencumbered.”

Chris Allen Sr. is an entrepreneur, operator, and business builder with a track record of creating and scaling companies across healthcare technology, hospitality, logistics, and consumer products. He is the founder and CEO of multiple ventures, including iCleanse, a UV-C disinfection and digital engagement platform deployed in healthcare systems, airports, and consumer environments, and Gas Burgers, a modern hospitality concept rooted in place-making, nostalgia, and shared experience.

Chris is known for taking ideas from concept to execution, assembling strong teams, navigating regulatory and operational complexity, and bringing products to market that solve real-world problems. His work spans early-stage innovation, capital formation, strategic partnerships, and disciplined go-to-market execution, with a leadership style grounded in accountability, transparency, and long-term thinking.

Beyond his operating roles, Chris is active in business advocacy and economic development, serving in advisory and board capacities and working closely with founders, investors, and community leaders. He believes enduring businesses are built by investing in people, culture, and trust—not just growth metrics. 

Curating Communities with Intentional Outreach
Gioia Zack, SVP of Economic Development Services, Goman & York

“Thoughtful connections build communities.  Intentional collaboration strengthens them.”

Gioia Zack is the current Senior Vice President of  Economic Development Services at Goman & York. Gioia is an accomplished economic development and real estate professional with more than two decades of experience across the banking and commercial real estate sectors. She specializes in identifying stakeholder needs and building strategic connections that support organizational goals and community outcomes.
Most recently, she served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Wethersfield, Connecticut, where she achieved measurable results, including new business growth, the revitalization of underutilized properties, and enhanced community visibility through strengthened social media and tourism initiatives. Her work reflects a strong commitment to sustainable economic growth and community engagement. Gioia contributes her expertise to municipal client projects, including master planning and economic development initiatives, and helps communities advance strategic priorities with informed, data-driven insights.
She is a Connecticut-licensed Real Estate Broker.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Gioia demonstrates strong community leadership through her service on nonprofit boards in various executive capacities. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Corporation for Independent Living (CIL) LAB Board of Directors. Her nonprofit involvement reflects her commitment to giving back
and creating positive community impact.

  • Board Member, CT Economic Development Association (CEDAS) – since 2022
  • Immediate Past Chair, Corporation for Independent Living (CIL) Board of Directors – since 2019
  • Board Vice Chair & Treasurer, Community Innovation Lab (LAB) Board – since 2019
  • Governance Committee Chair, Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) – 2016-2021
  • Vice Chair, Wethersfield Economic Development & Improvement Commission (EDIC) – 2013-2021
  • Commercial and Investment Real Estate Certification (CIREC) (2019)
  • Graduate of New England Economic Development Course (IEDC accredited) (2021)
  • Certified Connecticut Municipal Officer, CT Municipal Leadership Program (2023)
  • CT Age Well Collaborative – Age Well Academy program – Certificate of Participation (2023)

A lifelong Greater Hartford resident, Gioia is fluent in Italian and conversant in Spanish, enabling her to effectively support diverse communities. When not working, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with family.

EDUCATION
Trinity College – Hartford, CT – Bachelor of Arts – Political Science Major, Formal Organizations Minor
UHART/Hartford College for Women – West Hartford, CT – Associate of Arts

The story of BUILD Hartford at UConn: BUILDing Businesses through Contemporary Communications
Rory McGloin, Associate Director of Entrepreneurial Communication & Research Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI), UConn School of Business

“Effective communication is at the heart of all great relationships.”

Rory McGloin, Ph.D. is an award-winning business communication professor at the University of Connecticut. Rory’s career in higher education spans 17+ years, including engagements with over 10,000 learners to date and 35 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to this, Rory serves as the Associate Director of Entrepreneurial Communication & Research with the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI). Rory’s current research is focused on the process of training and development, examining the influence of individual identities and values on perceptions of a program’s impact.

Rory is also interested in developing the business communication skills of entrepreneurs and executives and conducts research that examines how mindsets and motivations influence program participants. He works closely with graduate students who are interested in organizational communication, professional development, and entrepreneurship. He also continues to share his passion with students in the classroom as he leads courses on professional and business communication for UConn’s top-ranked MBA and Executive MBA programs.

Additionally, Rory is passionate about applying his work to create and deliver professional communication training and development solutions for organizations and their teams. He specializes in helping organizations identify their core values and works to align an organization’s vision with specific tactics and strategies that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their team communication. He is also a certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile Practitioner, and is known for his engaging and dynamic approach to helping individuals maximize their unique skills and characteristics.

Panel Discussion

It’s All Connected: Downtown Reverberations
Elizabeth Donius, Executive Director, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance

“More is more. Existing businesses are often concerned if a restaurant or retail outlet is coming to town. They worry there are not enough customers to go around. But in our experience, each new coffee shop, restaurant and vintage shop brought new customers to Westville, and often new customers to existing businesses. They added to the perception that the village itself is a destination.”

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Donius is the Executive Director of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA), a role she has held since July 2016. Her work focuses on the economic and cultural revitalization of New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the IFP Chicago, a member-advocacy organization for filmmakers across the Midwest, managed the Community Programming for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and has produced several independent films.  

Sean Murray, Cultural District Commissioner, City of New London

“The quote I commonly point to regarding business ecosystems is ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ Main streets thrive when businesses intentionally share audiences, whether through joint promos, shared email lists, collaborative events, or even just recommendations. Building confidence in your main street does more for your business than building walls around it.”

Sean Murray is a hospitality operator, talent buyer and community-focused event producer based in New London. He currently manages events and marketing for The Social Bar & Kitchen and serves as General Manager for The Oasis Pub.

In addition to his venue work, Sean previously served as Marketing Manager for New London Main Street, where he focused on strengthening downtown’s reputation through small business collaboration and district-wide promotion.

As an event producer with the New London Music Festivals organization, Sean co-produced the popular I Am Festival, created a local music awards show and contributed to the Downtown Live concert series. He also partnered with the City of New London to help conceptualize the inaugural Celebrate New London event—an initiative focused on boosting foot traffic, civic pride, and collaboration with the small business community.

Sean approaches downtown development the same way he approaches the venues he operates: as a vehicle to connect businesses, artists, nonprofits and local government to create shared momentum rather than isolated success. His work centers on turning shared interests into community, storefronts into cultural anchors and collaboration into long-term economic resilience.

Jackie Valentine, Marketplace Consultant & Owner, Words on Wood

“Design your ecosystems where businesses amplify each other. When one succeeds, the entire community grows stronger.”

Jackie Valentine is the owner and operator of the Wallingford Marketplace at Words on Wood, a vibrant small-business collective rooted in creativity and community located in Wallingford, Connecticut. With a background in entrepreneurship, retail curation, and event building, Jackie is passionate about creating opportunities for local makers, artisans and small businesses to grow together. Through thoughtful programming, intentional partnerships, and hands-on leadership, she has transformed her business into the Wallingford Marketplace at Words on Wood;  a welcoming destination that supports small business success while strengthening the local economy. 

Her newest venture, Vision to Viability Consulting,  provides support for property owners, developers, town government and economic development officials and downtown organizations seeking growth. Her services include consultation on location, physical set up of space, POS selection, vendor selection, contracts and leases, events, website and social media, launch development and support for those wishing to transform downtown spaces into retail destinations. 

Moderated by: Michelle Lapine McCabe, Executive Director, CT Main Street Center

“The work of main street vibrancy is ongoing. Oftentimes, communities will have the good fortune of a passionate champion, willing to dedicate an abundance of time and energy because the downtown is so meaningful to them. When they eventually step away, we have seen their great downtowns flounder as a result and years of progress lost. Succession planning is absolutely essential to make sure that a downtown ecosystem can continue to thrive into the future.”

Michelle brings over a decade of non-profit management experience to Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC). Her expertise in program development and strategic planning led CMSC’s expansion of its educational and technical assistance programming, member assistance offerings, and championing statewide policies that benefit Connecticut’s downtowns and Main Streets.

Michelle and the CMSC team developed an innovative new downtown management assessment tool;launched several new programs including Main Street Accelerator focused on  local  team leadership training and project implementation, and Diversity on Main, a partnership with the Black Business Alliance focused on filling storefront vacancies; engaged in regional work in partnership with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce; and identified key issues for advocating on behalf of Connecticut’s main streets. Michelle serves on the boards of Connecticut Arts Alliance, Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS) and Connecticut Preservation Action.


With thanks to our Sponsors & Exhibitors!

Main Street Partners
Main Street Advocates
Main Street Supporters
EXHIBITORS
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

108 Leigus Rd. Wallingford, CT 06492
www.anthem.com

Contact:
John Hargrove, Community Outreach Manager
860.593.9000
john.hargrove@anthem.com

Black Business Alliance

1201 Boston Post Rd. #1092
Milford, CT 06460
www.bbusinessalliance.org

Contact
Marjorie McAllister, Outreach Specialist
877.459.0002
mmcallister@bbusinessalliance.org

Brightr

41 University Drive, Suite 400
Newtown, PA 18940
www.brightrhq.com

Contact:
Matt Mason, Founder/CEO
Matt@brightrtravel.com
267.481.3177

Community Economic Development Fund

965 E. Main St. Meriden, CT, 06450
www.CEDF.com

Contact:
Fred Welk, Director of Business Development
f.welk@CEDF.com
860.918.5878

Colliers Engineering & Design

280 E Broad Street, Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14604
www.colliersengineering.com

Contact:
Kimberly Baptiste, Planning Discipline Leader
kimberly.baptiste@collierseng.com
585.498.7770

CT Department of Economic & Community Development

Office of Small Business
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 5
Hartford, CT 06103
portal.ct.gov/DECD
DECD.businessCTHelp@ct.gov
860.500.2333

Connecticut Green Bank

75 Charter Oak Ave, Suite 1 – 103
Hartford, CT 06106
www.ctgreenbank.com

Contact:
Rudy Sturk, Marketing Director
Rudy.sturk@ctgreenbank.com
860.259.1154

CEDAS

545 Long Wharf Drive, 8th Floor
New Haven, CT 06511
wwww.cedas.org

Contact:
Kevin Bielmeier, President
info@cedas.org
860.806.9555

CT Small Business Development Center

222 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, CT 06108
www.ctsbdc.uconn.edu
ctsbdc@uconn.edu
877.723.2828

Express Strategies

557 Prospect Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06105
www.express-strategies.com

Contact:
Bernard Kavaler, Managing Principal
Bernard@express-strategies.com
860.729.3021

Hartford Healthcare

100 Pearl St. Hartford, CT 06106
www.hhc247.org

Contact:
William LaBruna, Business Development Manager
William.LaBruna@hhchealth.org
860.560.3536

MetroHartford Alliance

185 Asylum St., Ste. 111
Hartford, CT 06103
www.metrohartford.com
info@metrohartford.com
860-372-8787

Energize CT & United Illuminating

Small Business Energy Advantage Program (SBEA)
60 Marsh Hill Rd
Orange, CT 06477
www.energizect.com/energy-assessments/small-business.com

Contact:
Richard Rosa, Energy Specialist
rrosa@uinet.com
203.745.9255

MyCTSavings

Office of the State Comptroller
165 Capital Ave
Hartford, CT 06106
www.myctsavings.com

Contact:
Lisa Kidder, Strategic Communications Mgr
Lisa.Kidder@ct.gov
267.481.3177

Utile

115 Kingston St.
Boston, MA 02111
www.utiledesign.com

Contact:
Pete Robie, Associate & Senior Planner
robie@utiledesign.com
617.216.5790

Women’s Business Development Council CT

190 Trumbull Street
Hartford, CT 06103
www.ctwbdc.org

Contact:
Concilia Ndlovu, Program Manager
cndlovu@ctwbdc.org
203.401.8782


Connecticut Main Street Center

P.O. Box 270
Hartford, CT 06141
860.280.2337

© Connecticut Main Street Center 
P.O. Box 270, Hartford, CT 06141 | 860.280.2337