CBIA BizCast

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Gov. Ned Lamont about a number of issues, including his goal of doubling the amount of manufacturers in Connecticut over the next 10 years. Lamont has been touring the state during manufacturing month, visiting both small and large companies. One of the major issues they are facing is finding skilled workers. Lamont is exploring offering tax credits to Connecticut businesses who hire a graduate from a college in the state and over time, forgive the employee’s student loans. “It gives young people an incentive to stay in Connecticut, it gives Connecticut employers an incentive to hire here Connecticut and to your question it's a tax cut for small business,” he 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 Gordo Hui and Michael Roy of Hartford Steam Boiler about the new Internet of Things lab the company is sponsoring at the University of Hartford. Hisham Alnajjar, the school’s dean of engineering, technology, and architecture, joins the conversation to explain the doors the lab will open for students. The IoT lab opened in August inside the university's new advanced engineering building. Roy said the lab gives students practical learning experiences related to sensors, connectivity, and data analysis. “This opportunity allows us to expose a whole new generation of engineers to opportunities in engineering beyond what they may have come in with preconceived notions of working designing cars,” said Roy, vice president of engineering at HSB. 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 Lisa Miksis of Respond Systems in Branford and Christine Cumming of A Place Called Hope in Killingworth. Cummings has used Respond Systems’ cool laser therapy to help rehabilitate birds at her rescue center for years. Miksis said Respond Systems has manufactured laser therapy for animals for the past 38 years. The non-invasive lasers promote cell regeneration and heals skin tissue and are used by veterinarians, rehabilitation facilities and zoos. Respond Systems offered lasers for Cummings to try. “It's like a magic wand,” said Cummings. “It really is. We used it on this bird and it probably reduced the recovery time we were used to seeing by half.” Miksis said when animal clinics were closed during the pandemic, they received even more requests for their products that pet parents could use at home. Respond Systems’ lasers were used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the equine barn. 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 Eversource Energy CEO Joe Nolan ahead of CBIA’s annual Connecticut Economy Conference. Nolan took over as CEO in May of 2021 and will be the keynote speaker at the Sept. 30 event. Nolan said the company is adapting to more severe weather events in New England due to climate change. He said the energy company continues to work to provide more renewable energy options in Connecticut, including an offshore wind energy partnership with Danish company Ørsted. “The port of New London really is going to be the epicenter of wind and Connecticut is very much at the center of that,” he said. “That port will provide a significant number of opportunities for people in the renewable space to begin to develop that.” 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 has some special guests put president and CEO Chris DiPentima in the hot seat to celebrate the podcast’s 100th episode. As DiPentima begins his second year as president,Compass MSP CEO Ari Santiago and the state’s first chief manufacturing officer Colin Cooper want to know what he’s hearing from manufacturers and what needs to be done to strengthen the industry's workforce. Fox 61 news anchor Jennifer Bernstein has some questions for DiPentima about how new national mandates will affect the state’s businesses. Former CBIA board chair and Murtha Cullina LLP managing partner Jennifer DelMonico wants to know DiPentima’s hidden talent. Can you guess? 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 Rob Lia, President of Wheelhouse Group in Stamford. Brent Montgomery, known for creating a reality TV empire, is the founder of Wheelhouse. He promoted his long-time counsel, Lia, to president in 2019. Wheelhouse Group has offices in New York and Los Angeles as well. Lia said the tax credits offered by the state to media companies was the incentive they needed to bring the business to Stamford rather than Queens, New York. “Fairfield County is filled with incredible talent and most of it goes into New York City everyday,” Lia said. Lia oversees The Village, which is the building that includes Wheelhouse’s Stamford production offices, Cisco Brewery and The Wheel restaurant. He said the goal was to create a collaborative space where creative minds can meet. 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 Tom Romagnoli, Downes Construction’s assistant director of operations, about the company's partnership with Lynn Ricci and Jeff Lawton from New Britain’s Hospital of Special Care. Ricci, the hospital’s CEO, approached Downes in 2019 to build and renovate a partial hospital unit for kids with autism spectrum disorder. The unite provides an intensive day program for those not able to participate in other treatments or school programs safely. It’s unique and one of 11 in the country. Romagnoli said they ordered their supplies before the pandemic hit and were able to finish the project on time despite supply chain challenges COVID-19 caused. They implemented daily health checks for onsite workers and thorough contact tracing. “As people were driving to work there were billboards and things telling people to stay home,” said Romagnoli. “First and foremost we needed to make sure our workforce felt safe and comfortable coming to work.” 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 West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and economic development director Kristen Gorski about their efforts to keep the town’s business districts thriving during the pandemic. Cantor said her team was very proactive during the height of the pandemic, including purchasing and installing jersey barriers to create outdoor spaces for restaurants. “We were one of the first communities in the state to expand outdoor dining and that was a real quick expansion,” Cantor said. Gorski said communication between the town’s 4,000-plus employers was key to letting businesses know what state and federal relief dollars were available. “What we did was very fast and furious to try and update our businesses through those email communications in live time,” Gorski said. “As many people will remember, it was information coming out quickly and it was important to get it to the businesses so they had the best chance to be successful as possible.” Hear more from Cantor and other lawmakers at CBIA’s The Connecticut Economy conference September 30. 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.

Funding Alzheimer’s Treatment by Connecticut Business & Industry Association

CBIA BizCast host Ali Warshavsky speaks with Bob Hersh, Grant Thornton’s national managing principal of the manufacturing industry and practice leader for the Metro New York and New England areas. Grant Thornton is hosting an Aug. 26 conference on how the industry is adapting to working through and beyond the pandemic. Hersh says COVID-19 disruptions hit manufacturers extremely hard, with most unable to shut down as they were making essential products. He noted that the pandemic created significant supply chain issues, although advances in e-manufacturing could resolve those. “I have a couple clients that are dealing with 3D printing in the industrial space, CNC, a lot of things where the design is driven electronically,” he said. Hersh added that digital technologies provide companies with a blueprint to generate inventory and relieve supply chain bottlenecks. 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.