CBIA BizCast

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Adam von Gootkin, co-founder and CEO of Highclere Castle Spirits. Gootkin and his family have distilled spirits since the 1800s in Connecticut. Their history inspired him to first create Onyx Spirits Company and now Highclere Castle Spirits. Highclere Castle Gin is distilled in England using botanicals from the Highclere Estate, but is headquartered in Essex, Connecticut. “I wanted to liquify the spirit of the castle that set the incredibly high bar for hospitality,” said von Gootkin. The castle name gained even more fame after the popular television series Downton Abbey was filmed there. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Shawn Peterson, direct to consumer business manager at the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange. Peterson’s passion for PEZ, collecting dispensers, and writing a book on the candy’s history brought him to Connecticut for a new career. He said the company offered him the role to create and oversee the center. Peterson said the visitor center attracts many people traveling from out of state. He often hears that visitors decided to stop in because they were stuck in traffic on I-95 and saw the sign. “We had visitors from all 50 states and 50 different countries,'' said Peterson. “We’re right on the major artery of I-95 here, so millions of people pass within a mile of here everyday.” 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Shipman & Goodwin LLP’s Brenda Eckert, an employment and family immigration law attorney. Eckert participated on a panel at CBIA’s Economic Update conference last month that focused on the role immigration can play in helping address the labor shortage. She sees increasing competition for foreign workers, noting Connecticut can support immigration by improving access to affordable housing and transportation. “One of the challenges for a U.S. employer seeking to employ a foreign worker, or to tap into employing an immigrant workforce, is to create a reputation where the state or local communities within the state is not a problem for immigrants,” said Eckert. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Karraine Moody, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of North Central Connecticut. The organization recently changed its name and now serves families east of the Connecticut River. Moody says Habitat does more than build homes, teaching people how to become homeowners while investing sweat equity and learning financial literacy. The organization's goal is to create generational wealth through homeownership. “It sets the standard that homeownership is possible,” said Moody. “It sets the standard that economic stability is a critical need. “ Moody said Habitat works with the city of Hartford and the Hartford Landbank to identify neighborhoods where they can fix up blighted properties. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Jim Barger, market president of KeyBank, ahead of CBIA's April 21 Connecticut Economic Update, where he will make opening remarks. Barger said KeyBank has invested in several fintech companies to enhance the digital channels they have. Since the beginning of COVID-19, Barger said customers have become more reliant on digital banking and the bank is learning how to balance those services with the ones offered in brick and mortar branches. “What we see is more and more of the interactions are done digitally, but when our costumes have complex needs, like they need a mortgage, or how do they fund tuition, or how do they plan for retirement, that is a situation when our bricks and mortar networks still come into play,” said Barger. CBIA’s Connecticut Economic Update takes place Thursday, April 21 at the Trumbull Marriott in Shelton. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Jelan Agnew, a licensed clinical social worker and mindfulness instructor at Copper Beech Institute. Agnew began practicing mindfulness two minutes a day to help manage anxiety. She admitted it wasn’t easy at first but worked up to practicing for longer lengths of time, even completing a seven-day silent retreat. “What I love about mindfulness is there is a non-judgemental component that is not what you learned in other institutions, there is no shame or guilt,” said Agnew. “When your mind shifts off topic, good, that is what it's supposed to do. “You become mindful the moment you decide to bring it back to that anchor. Agnew will lead a mindfulness exercise at CBIA’s When Women Lead conference May 19 at the AquaTurf in Plantsville. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Melanie Hoben, director of workforce development at East Hartford-based Goodwin University. Goodwin is playing a key role leading workforce development initiatives, and is the only school in Connecticut to receive a U.S. Closing the Skills Gap Grant to upskill incumbent workers. In addition, Hoben said Goodwin uses a 44-foot trailer as a mobile lab to introduce middle and high school students to manufacturing and provide training to manufacturers throughout Connecticut. “This mobile lab, that we also take to the kids, we take to manufacturing facilities and have trained 1,600-2000 employees in the last four years,” said Hoben. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Shipman & Goodwin attorney Keegan Drenosky about the challenges employers face in navigating the labor shortage. Drenosky says most employers are noticing job applicants looking for more than high salaries, with a good work-life balance also important. She notes that many jobseekers in the manufacturing industry are looking for a company that will upskill employees and provide opportunities for growth. “I think one of the things that employees really look for is not just the bottom-line salary, but what is this company really offering in terms of what my life is going to look like?” Drenkosky said. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with CBIA's Eric Gjede about two important bills being debated this legislative session. Gjede said employers welcomed HB 5003, which directs additional federal pandemic relief funds toward paying down the state’s huge unemployment trust fund debt. “Until that debt is satisfied the business community will see higher and higher unemployment taxes each fall,” said Gjede. While Gjede said reducing unemployment debt will help Connecticut’s economy, he criticized SB 163, which drastically restricts workplace communications. Gjede said the language in the bill—which is essentially a gag order on employers— is too broad and preempts federal law. “Why would you come here and want to invest here and grow your business here if you have to worry about talking to your employees here,” said Gjede. 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 Ali Warshavsky.

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Ray Pineault, president and CEO of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment. Pineault took over as interim CEO in 2021 after four years as general manager of the casino. He is also a Mohegan tribal member. The first legal sports bet placed in Connecticut was in September at Mohegan Sun, something Pineault said his team had been waiting to see at the casino for years. “We look forward to the growth and expansion of sports wagering in Connecticut,” said Pineault. “It's an exciting time to bring gaming to Connecticut in this century and to be in the same realm as our competitors like New Jersey who have had sports betting and iGaming for years.” Mohegan recently opened its 11,000 square-foot Sportsbook in partnership with Fanduel. He said the space sold out during the Super Bowl and is looking forward to the crowds during March Madness, the biggest sports betting event of the year. 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 Ali Warshavsky.