CBIA BizCast

CBIA BizCast: Thomas Watson Group by Connecticut Business & Industry Association

On any given day after school, you might think kids would rather play than to keep going to class. But in a way, that’s just what’s happening at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club’s new STEM lab at their Madison Avenue community clubhouse in Bridgeport. The organization gave the CBIA BizCast team an up-close look at the space that they built in partnership with global semiconductor industry leader ASML. “We have about 50 to 75 kids, depending on the day, that are coming in regularly, to use our space,” said Wakeman Boys & Girls Club CEO Sabrina Smeltz. “When you have the opportunity to see the students in the kids in this space, they look like they're playing, but they're learning,” said ASML program manager for society and community engagement Brian Amero. “They're actively learning. They’re problem solving.” The Wakeman Boys & Girls Club first opened its doors in Southport in 1913. The organization opened its first location in Bridgeport about 15 years ago, and opened the Madison Ave. clubhouse in 2023. The facility offers programs for kids aged three up to 18, with an early learning preschool center and after school programs including sports, arts, technology, and STEM. “It's a community center, it's a partnership, and it's an awesome space,” said Smeltz. Wakeman’s relationship with ASML began a few years ago. The Netherlands-based company, which employs 3,300 people at its Wilton location, is an advanced lithography company that makes machines used to produce microchips. Amero, who started with the company in 2022, was looking to build new community partnerships. “It's not enough for us to write a check, slap our logo on something, and walk away from it,” Amero said. “We wanted a seat at the table. This entire process has been incredibly hands-on for us.” That partnership led to the creation of the STEM lab. “There's been a lot of intentionality around this,” Smeltz said. “We both went into this being transformational.” “We built in staff time and training time to be able to be successful, because ultimately, we don't want a whole bunch of stuff just sitting in a room. ”We want it to be used all the time.” Smelz said ASML helped them train their staff to run the lab, which offers everything from robotics to hydroponics, mechanics, engineering, and STEM art learning opportunities. “We're challenging our kids to learn,” she said. And it’s not just Wakeman staff that are getting hands on with the kids. ASML employees also spend a lot of time volunteering at the club. The company provides eight hours of PTO time for full-time employees to volunteer. “When the students here have the opportunity to engage with ASML employees, they see themselves reflected in our workforce,” Amero said. “And if they can do it, so can you. And I love that secondary benefit to giving back to our community." Smeltz said the skills the students are gaining in the lab go beyond learning technical skills. “Sometimes these projects don't go the way they planned,” she said. “And I think that sometimes is even the more exciting part of it, because our kids are learning in a day-to-day environment that isn't scripted, but is helping them learn how to solve the problem, deal with conflict.” “The skills that they're learning in this lab are the skills that will help elevate them to jobs and career success,” Amero added “It is absolutely magic. It's just great to see.” Related Links: Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Website: https://www.wakemanclub.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakeman-boys-girls-club/ Sabrina Smeltz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinasmeltz/ ASML Website: https://www.asml.com/en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asml/ Brian Amero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bamero/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Over the course of this past year, we’ve spoken with some exceptional leaders on the CBIA BizCast. Some are entrepreneurs, growing successful businesses. Others are changemakers, leading organizations with lasting legacies in Connecticut. These leaders have not only shared their stories, but also insights and wisdom into overcoming challenges, building successful teams. To close out 2024, we wanted to share some of those stories. This episode features insights from: Jeremy Bronen, founder and CEO, SedMed Stephen Tagliatela, managing partner, and Chris Bird, general manager, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina Jill Mayer, CEO, Bead Industries Inc. Meghan Scanlon, president and CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Stephen Moroney, market president for Connecticut and Rhode Island, TD Bank Mike Abramson, General Manager, Hartford Yard Goats Jamie Lissette, president, Popup Bagels Kevin Barros, president and CEO, The Computer Company Jenny Drescher and Ellen Feldman Ornato, co-founders, The Bolder Company Carmen Romeo, president, Fascia’s Chocolates Elona Shape, market retail leader, KeyBank Sal Marino, director of finance and operations, Charles IT Carl Zuanelli, founder and CEO, Nuovo Pasta Productions, Ltd Thank you to all of the leaders who sat down with us this year. And we want to thank you for listening and watching the BizCast. We look forward to sharing more insights, lessons, and stories of success in 2025. Connect with CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Fascia’s Chocolates president Carmen Romeo has a sweet job. “I still have a vision that until everybody has had a piece of Fascia’s Chocolates, then my job's not done,” Romeo told the CBIA BizCast. But Romeo wasn’t always in the chocolate business. As an engineer, Romeo spent the first part of his career working for different manufacturing companies in different parts of the country. In 1995, he met his wife Louise, the daughter of John and Helen Fascia, the founders of Fascia’s Chocolates. “When you marry into the family, you learn quickly about the business,” Romeo said. Fascia’s has been part of the Waterbury community for 60 years, ever since John Fascia started the business in his basement when Helen was pregnant with Louise. “He just wanted to make a little extra money,” Romeo said. “He would go to New York and buy nuts—literally, big bags of nuts—and re-bag them and sell them to his coworkers. “And somebody finally said, ‘You should put chocolate with those.’” Fourteen years later, the business outgrew the basement and moved into its first retail store, even though John Fascia was still working full-time as an electronic technician. “When they finally went all in in 1985 it was a risk, but they had enough of a following that they were able to stay and grow,” Romeo said. Things changed in 2008, when the Fascias were notified that their lease was ending. “They’re forced to move without a retirement plan,” Romeo said. “And that was really when it was a little bit of crisis mode.” At the same time, the company Romeo was working for was moving and he didn’t want to move with it. “So I convinced my wife that we should be in the chocolate business,” he said. Romeo said it wasn’t always easy, but they were able to slowly rebuild. That rebuilding process began with the product itself, still made the old fashioned way. “The product is as pure as it’s ever been, and as long as I’m around, we’ll stay that way,” he said. Romeo’s main goal early on was getting the company more well known. Romeo said they began doing events, like chocolate lessons teaching people about making truffles or pairing classes. “We then focused on, not only making and selling chocolate, but what we call experiencing your chocolate,” Romeo said. He said that helped them buy the building they are in today, setting themselves up for future growth. Romeo said the company has evolved to focus on retail, tourism, and an expanding wholesale market. You can now find the company’s chocolates in 135 locations—and counting. The company also offers custom orders for businesses, including using company logos to create molded chocolates for branded boxes. “It comes down to the product itself,” Romeo said. “If I can get it into people’s mouths, it usually does the job.” Romeo said that it’s not always easy to do business in Connecticut, but he’s motivated to keep it going as a testament to his in-laws and the legacy they created. “I want to be able to live on the business,” he said. “I want to be able to say it was successful. “But the legacy from my in laws—it’s the family name, and I don’t ever forget that. It’s the family name.” And Romeo said he hopes that legacy will continue with the next generation. His son has joined the family business as wholesale manager. In the end, Romeo said the goal is to keep creating memories for their customers. “When a mother comes in with her daughter and says, ‘I had Fascia’s at my wedding as a favor, now my daughter is going to have it as a favor,’ there’s nothing more gratifying than that,” he said. “That’s the legacy that we want to continue.” Related Links Fascia’s Chocolates Website: https://faschoc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fascia's-chocolate's/ Carmen Romeo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenromeo/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

“Our number one market is Connecticut. We’re all in on Connecticut,” Saybrook Point Resort and Marina managing partner Stephen Tagliatela told the CBIA BizCast. The BizCast sat down with Taglietala and general manager Chris Bird at the resort overlooking the mouth of the Connecticut River. “We’re part of the community. We’re all open doors,” Tagliatela said. Those doors have been open since 1980 when Tagliatela’s family bought the former Terra Mar property, once a popular destination for Frank Sinatra and other members of the Rat Pack. Since then, the resort has grown to include not only the marina and guest rooms, but also restaurants, a full service spa, pools, and gymnasiums that are open to the community. “I think what makes it so special is the history, and 100% is the team,” said Bird, who joined the resort in 2022. “We hear it constantly, how genuine the team is. And you know, it’s one thing to have and talk about being a family property or family business, and it’s another that that is your value—run it like a business and have those family values.” Bird and Tagliatela said the team is indispensable to the resort’s success. “What’s really important for us is we have to take care of our customers,” Tagliatela said. “But in order for us to take care of our customers, we have to take care of our employees.” Bird said that when they look to bring on new employees, they “hire for personality and train for skill.” “We are very good about finding people who are gracious, are upfront, are very guest forward.” The company also partners with organizations like Lumibility, which helps people with differing abilities transition into the workforce. They’ve also worked with reentry programs, helping train formerly incarcerated individuals with skills to enter the workforce. “We just feel so strongly that we have to be the flagship, the steward of this area,” Bird said. “And so whenever it comes time for somebody who we can partner with we can help—we’re quick to do it.” Another of the family and business values is to ensure that they help preserve the local environment. “We want to be good stewards of this environment, because it’s so special,” said Tagliatela. The property was the state’s first certified clean marina, green hotel, and Energy Star hotel. “We have this outstanding natural resource here that is so beautiful and has remained beautiful over the course of time,” Tagliatela said. Tagliatela and Bird also stressed the importance of being part of the broader tourism community. Tagliatela started the Connecticut Tourism Coalition seven years ago. The organization brings partners together from around the state to advocate for the industry and the importance of tourism marketing. “It’s not just in my mind that you’re marketing a guest room,” he said. “You’re marketing a future resident. “Because so many people that come and visit us here, they move into our own neighborhoods. “We really try to bring home the revenue, demonstrate that the revenue is so much greater when they just put a little bit of advertising into the program.” Looking ahead, Bird and Tagliatela said they have some exciting initiatives on the horizon including personalized butler service. “We’re seeing more and more of the luxury guests wanting more luxury experiences, more curated experiences, and so we’re really excited to launch that next year,” Bird said. “When you have a team that knows that they can consistently do everything and to make it world class, they make it world class.” Related Links: Saybrook Point Resort and Marina Website: https://www.saybrook.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saybrook-point-inn-&-spa/ Stephen Tagliatela LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-tagliatela-ab7056b9/ Chris Bird LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bird-5764a815/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

“If you like what you do and you like who you do it with, you don't run away from happiness,” TD Bank’s Steve Moroney told the CBIA BizCast. Moroney has spent his entire 20-plus year career with the bank, including running the bank’s Westchester and Fairfield markets before being named market president for Connecticut and Rhode Island. “I've always liked the culture,” he said. “I love the brand, I love the people.” While he’s called Connecticut home since 2008, Moroney felt like he was starting over when he made the shift to New England. “The colleagues now that I have to lead, don't know who I am,” he said. “My peers that I need to get things done and be successful do not know who I am." Moroney said it was important for him to spend a lot of time getting to know his new team. “It's important for them to know that I'm someone that they want to follow,” he said. “So trying to be an empathetic leader, listening to them, finding out what's working, finding out what's not working.” As he’s built relationships with businesses, Moroney said he’s gained a new appreciation for manufacturing in Connecticut, and the industry’s impact on the state economy. “It's just a lot of fun as a banker to work with people and work with businesses that create things and build things,” he said. Moroney said it's particularly rewarding to be able to help small and mid-sized businesses achieve their goals. “You feel like you’re making more of an impact,” he said. “That piece of equipment that you're helping this company buy is really going to allow them to bring their business from good to great." Moroney said that many manufacturers in the state face similar challenges for their businesses' success. “I would say their concerns are all the same, which is mostly finding top talent, insurance costs, and energy costs." “I think our legislators and our local politicians in the state are going to be motivated to try to fix that for our manufacturers, because they see what a big part of GDP manufacturing is," Moroney said. Moroney also pointed to the shifting landscape surrounding interest rates as an important factor for manufacturers. He said when interest rates started spiking in 2022, manufacturers took a close look at their margins and profits. “I think a lot of manufacturers and other businesses started saying, ‘Maybe we're not going to invest in that piece of equipment, maybe we're not going to make that acquisition, maybe we're going to wait,’” he said. As rates come down, Moroney said many manufacturers will be able to take advantage of the lower cost of capital. Moroney said that as interest rates fall, TD Bank advises companies to be strategic about their opportunities to grow. “You want to make sure that you have the right talent for your growth,” he said. “The leadership table that you have might have allowed you to be successful, to grow from this point, it may not be the right leadership table to get you to the next point.” He said the second thing to consider is making sure companies are growing for the right reasons. “Sometimes chasing this new business that I don't have expertise in, I may not have the talent, I may not have the machinery, or I'm going to have to invest so much in machinery—if you don't execute, it could really hurt your business," he said. “So I think responsible growth and making sure you have the right talent is the key to the game. Related Links: TD Bank Website: https://www.td.com/us/en/personal-banking LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/td/ Steve Moroney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-moroney-3576094/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

When you think of the Department of Consumer Protection, product recalls and scam warnings may come to mind. But the state agency also covers enforcement and compliance for a wide breadth of industries and businesses, including gaming, liquor, and cannabis. The agency is also responsible for occupational licensing for many regulated trades and industries from accounting and architecture to contracting and electrical. “It's amazing to see how many areas that the agency actually does cover, and really the good work that we do every day,” said DCP commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. Cafferelli joined the BizCast to discuss how the agency works with the business community. Gov. Ned Lamont appointed Cafferelli commissioner in 2023. He previously worked as legal counsel for the Connecticut Senate Republican Office and as a drug control attorney for DCP from 2017 to 2019. “When I first started, the governor had a few marching orders,” he said. “One was ‘do no harm.’” “The other was, 'see what we can do about making one of the biggest regulatory agencies a little more business friendly.'” To do that, Cafferelli said they try to connect with industry groups and trade organizations to understand their challenges. “What I really believe is that there's a dialog that has to occur, because we don't have all the right answers,” he said. “Oftentimes we'll say, ‘we hadn't looked at it that way.’ “And then maybe there is something we could do, not always, but it's worth the conversation, and I think that that's what we've encouraged.” Cafferelli said there has been a “huge push” to increase efficiency at DCP. A big part of that is improving the online licensing process. DCP’s website has features to guide people through the application process, making it more streamlined and easier to understand. “We want to help people get to yes,” he said. “And that's really what the mission is. We want to get people licensed. We want to tell them how to stay in compliance, and we want to just let them do their business.” Cafferelli said the agency also works hand-in-hand with the Department of Labor and Department of Economic and Community Development in an effort to make sure people and businesses have a seamless experience. He cited DOL’s apprenticeship program as an example. Because the agencies are now on the same computer system, when people complete their apprenticeship, DCP is automatically triggered to begin the licensing process. Cafferelli said the effort has made the agency more efficient and increased their turnaround time for licensing. And he said the agency plans to continue on this trajectory. “It’s not time for a victory lap,” he said. “It’s time to keep improving on what we’ve done.” Related Links: Department of Consumer Protection Website: https://portal.ct.gov/dcp?language=en_US LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ctdcp/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

Like its labs—tucked away at the far end of a Branford research park—ViiV Healthcare’s accomplishments may not be well known. But the company is an authentic Connecticut success, with a story that needs to be told. ViiV and its cutting-edge R&D to treat and someday to cure HIV because the company has had such a profound impact on so many lives. ViiV head of drug discovery Dr. Umesh Hanumegowda joined the CBIA BizCast for a conversation with CBIA Bioscience Growth Council executive director Paul Pescatello. Few of us realize that in the wake of the chaos and tragedy of the 1980s AIDS epidemic, some of the most consequential research into HIV—the virus that causes AIDS—occurred in Connecticut. Connecticut scientists were among the first to identify and find effective treatments for HIV. HIV is so devastating because it is, first, a virus and therefore almost indescribably small—one human cell is 100 to 1000 times larger than a virus. And viruses are wily and zombie-like, inserting themselves into a host’s cells and then taking over the cell’s protein synthesis pathways to replicate. HIV is uniquely threatening because it destroys the immune system, the very mechanism our bodies use to fight infection. “It’s a tough virus, a challenging virus,” Hanumegowda described. “It’s a sneaky virus, because it knows how to integrate, mutate and hide.” Yale University research produced some of the first effective HIV medications. Building on the work of Yale scientists, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Wallingford labs became a center for the development of the first antiretro-viral treatments. In many ways the intellectual heir to the rich Connecticut history of HIV R&D is ViiV. Founded in 2009, ViiV is in the forefront of HIV research. The company was the first to introduce the second generation HIV integrase inhibitor, now the backbone of HIV treatment. ViiV’s HIV treatments suppress HIV to undetectable levels, dramatically improving the lives of HIV patients but also preventing transmission to others. ViiV is also a leader in pre-exposure medications to prevent HIV infection. ViiV’s pre-exposure medications stop HIV from taking hold of a cell. They act as a catalyst to help the body produce antibodies which block the enzyme needed by the virus to replicate and spread throughout the body. Hanumegowda chose to make HIV and ViiV the focus of his career. ViiV has a “state of the art research lab right here in Connecticut,” he said. “And HIV is challenging, and I like a tough challenge.” Another factor in Hanumegowda’s professional choices was the fact that “HIV disproportionately affects particular communities.” “There is a socio-economic aspect to the disease,” he said. “There is a deep stigma associated with HIV, and I feel this is a population I can help.” Will there be a cure for HIV? Hanumegowda is confident there will be. The cure could take the form of a vaccine, or “a combination of medicines and strategies.” One such strategy is the Initiative to End HIV by 2030. Among other measures, the initiative is about using testing and identifying barriers to treatment to combat HIV. Its goals are simple: diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond. It is a public-private partnership, built on collaboration with federal and state public health agencies and the business community. CBIA has signed on, pledging to make its employees and members more aware of how to prevent and treat HIV. As to ViiV, the company plans to stay focused. Hanumegowda emphasized that ViiV has “demonstrated that staying focused will fetch us the right results.” “So, we are in it till HIV and AIDS aren’t,” he said. Related Links: ViiV Healthcare Website: https://viivhealthcare.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viiv-healthcare/ U.S. Business Action to End HIV: https://www.healthaction.org/endhiv CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/ Paul Pescatello on X: https://twitter.com/CTBio

Sal Marino, Director of Finance and Operations at Charles IT, shares insights on the company’s impressive growth from $4 million to nearly $30 million in revenue since he joined in 2017. He highlights their unique approach as a service company focusing on small to midsize clients, ensuring cybersecurity compliance. Sal discusses innovative employee training programs, the power of transparency in building trust, and the strategic pivots post-COVID in navigating cybersecurity challenges. His leadership experience emphasizes the importance of adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

“Leaning into how we can fundamentally transform lives and make them better, has been something I've been personally passionate about,” CliftonLarsonAllen’s strategic pursuits leader for manufacturing Jennifer Clement said about why she loves working with manufacturers. Clement and CLA New England Manufacturing Growth Network Leader Stephen Fuller joined the CBIA BizCast to highlight the company’s work in this major industry sector. With 130 offices nationwide, including three in Connecticut, CLA provides accounting, tax, outsourcing, and assurance services for a variety of industries including manufacturing. “I explored different industries and just clung to manufacturing, probably because it was just cool,” Fuller said. “Seeing a tangible thing created, and seeing those things created in Connecticut just made it more special to me.” Fuller said that as a Connecticut native, he’s passionate about seeing manufacturers in the state succeed. “This evolving industry within Connecticut has been there for a number of years, and that just means a lot,” he said. Fuller and Clement also shared their excitement with CLA's support of the Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut challenge. Starting with 16 things made by Connecticut manufacturers, companies will compete head-to-head with residents voting on their favorite products in each round. The CBIA Foundation is leading the initiative in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing and CONNSTEP. “What a great way to promote what we do in Connecticut, not only for ourselves, but for the rest of the nation,” Fuller said. “I mean, there's some really, really cool stuff that we do.” Clement, who is based in CLA’s Milwaukee office, said Wisconsin has had a similar competition for the past eight years. “It is a frenzy each year,” she said. “So far over the eight-year span, we've had over a million people voting for these products. Clement said manufacturers across the country and in Connecticut are all dealing with challenges including softening demand, labor, and inventory. She said they work with businesses to help shore up their bottom line. “We're seeing a renewed effort and emphasis on profitability,” she said. “And what can we do in the short term to look at our cost structure.” Fuller said there are a number of state programs available to help manufacturers with job retention and growth, training, and tax incentives surrounding R&D and capital investments. “I think it's more about educating the manufacturers about what is out there," he said. Fuller noted that when it comes to growing the manufacturing workforce, it’s not just about recruiting, but also retaining workers. “There's this generational mind shift of what is important to this newer class of workers,” he said. “I think that's extremely important for manufacturers and companies across Connecticut to understand what makes them tick, and to work with them to develop programs that retain them.” Clement and Fuller said that many manufacturers are also looking to new technologies like AI to improve things like efficiency and predictive capabilities as well as attracting and retaining workers. “We've got to think about how we now transform the lives of especially the younger workforce,” Clement said. “Manufacturing is seeing the same thing.” “What we're starting to see is the understanding that it's time. It’s time for that shift, and to have that investment in the future," Fuller addeed. Clement noted that their remarks are not intended to be legal, financial advice, or accounting advice. Related Links: CliftonLarsenAllen Website: https://www.claconnect.com/en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cliftonlarsonallen/ Stephen Fuller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenfullercpa/ Jennifer Clement on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-clement-1553b81/ CBIA Website: www.cbia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/