CBIA BizCast

CBIA’s BizCast talks with David Gottlieb, co-owner with his brother Joseph Gottlieb of Goosetown Communications, the integrated solutions company they founded in 1990. The Gottlieb brothers are also first responders, and bring that experience to their work with a range of clients throughout the Northeast. “Connecticut has been an absolute great place to do business,” Gottlieb says. “We want customers that are going to grow with us and I have to say, we definitely found that here in Connecticut.” Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik.

CBIA’s BizCast talks with Cela Sinay-Bernie, managing partner of Connecticut-based Citrine Power, a developer and investor in renewable power plants. While the woman-owned company operates mostly in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, they also have a presence in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. “Collectively our team has developed, financed, and built more than 60 projects and $200 million of financing,” Sinay-Bernie tells CBIA Energy Connections director of operations Tom Guerra. Sinay-Bernie also touches on the impact of legislation from the latest state legislative session and the growth hurdles that companies like hers face in Connecticut.

CBIA’s BizCast talks with Rhonda Tobin, the first female managing partner at Connecticut-based law firm Robinson+Cole. The conversation centers around the firm’s 175th anniversary celebrations, which included discussions of their core values of collaboration, civility, and inclusion, and addressing equity issues. Tobin, who has spent her entire 30-year career at Robinson+Cole, said that the support of the professional staff and team of lawyers surrounding her contributed to the seamless transition. “Collaboration is the bedrock of what we do,” she said. “It’s how we’ve always worked across geographies and what has gotten us through these last 15 months especially.” Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik.

Wren built a special buffer that enables them to collect the saliva while protecting the COVID RNA sample from any degradation. This is especially important for detecting low viral loads. The lab’s work with the federal Food and Drug Administration indicates the test is highly accurate and will likely detect all known mutants including the Delta or Indian mutation, Kidd said. The test has a 24-hour turnaround time and Wren Labs has the capacity to run thousands of tests each day. CBIA members can get a special discount on rapid COVID testing from Wren Laboratories here: https://wrencovidtesting.com/cbia

Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick joins CBIA's BizCast to share how the town came together to navigate the pandemic and the innovative strategies her team is employing to support businesses and the recovery. "We're very fortunate that our community has worked well together for decades," Hoydick says. "We knew our strengths from prior tragedies and we deployed those during the pandemic." The first 90 days were the most difficult for the town, but they were able to keep manufacturing and construction operating, two critical elements of the local economy. "For us, it was about getting the correct information out to the public," Hoydick said. "You would hear so many things on so many different mediums--and you didn't know what to believe. "We wanted to help calm people down, even if it was a little bit." Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik (katie.krajcik@cbia.com).

CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima talks with CliftonLarsonAllen managing principal Joe Kask and the accounting firm's chief practice officer for the Northeast, James Watson, about key takeaways from the acquisition of blumshapiro. Kask, the former CEO of blumshapiro, says many opportunities were created because of the January, 2021 merger—opportunities not just for employees, but for clients and communities. “This firm accepted all of our employees as one of their own,” said Kask. “We share the same values, the same culture and the same commitments.” Nationally, CLA has provided $1.1 million to community organizations focusing on education, employment, and entrepreneurship since the acquisition. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik (katie.krajcik@cbia.com).

McCarter & English LLP's Moy Ogilvie, Bigelow Tea's Cindi Bigelow, Otis Elevator Co's Robin Fiala, InCord's Meredith Shay, and Medtronic's Valerie Finarty shared stories and insights on leadership and navigating the pandemic at CBIA's May 26 When Women Lead conference. Patience, empathy, and listening skills are what helped these Connecticut business leaders guide their companies through the coronavirus pandemic. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik (katie.krajcik@cbia.com).

CBIA’s BizCast talks with Leander Dolphin, Kent Nevins, and James Ruggeri, the new three partner leadership team at Hartford-based law firm Shipman & Goodwin. The co-managing partners share the background behind the decision to expand the leadership model following the retirement of former managing partner Alan Lieberman at the end of 2020. “The thing that was important to the partnership was to have diversity, in every different way," says Dolphin. "Geographic diversity, diversity of ideas, and even diversity in the practice groups from which the three of us come.” The attorneys also share the ways they balance their practice responsibilities with their leadership roles, noting the importance of open lines of communication and their supporting staff. Dolphin, who is one of the featured speakers at CBIA's May 26 When Women Lead conference, also discusses the importance of diversity, saying “we understand we need to reflect our community." Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik.

Cigna's Wendy Sherry by Connecticut Business & Industry Association

To kick off Small Business Appreciation Week, CBIA’s BizCast chats with Stefan Bothe, co-founder and CEO of Flexi International Software in Shelton. “Every time I got fired it led to something better,” says the German-born Bothe, who helped found Flexi International 30 years ago, leveraging innovation to successfully navigate market changes, and over the last year, the pandemic. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Katie Krajcik.