CBIA released its 2024 Transform Connecticut Policy Solutions, a 12-point package of recommendations designed to unlock Connecticut’s economic potential, on Feb. 1. 

CBIA vice president of public policy Chris Davis joined senior public policy associate Ashley Zane on the CBIA BizCast to discuss the process behind the development of the policy priorities.

“We looked to identify some solutions that help leverage the state's strengths and really foster new opportunities focusing on a vibrant, robust, and equitable economy,” said Zane.

The 2024 solutions focus on expanding career pathways and making the state a more attractive and affordable place to live and work.

“We're going to be spending a lot of time at the state legislature over the next three months, as you can imagine, right up until the deadline, as things get negotiated right up to the end," Davis said.

Policy Solutions Focus on Affordability, Career Pathways

With approximately 16,000 students, 20 school sites, two aerotech sites, and 18 trade school sites, the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System is a leader in technical education in Connecticut. 

“We have almost 2000 employees working very hard to make us the premier workforce provider in the state of Connecticut,” CTECS executive director Dr. Ellen Solek told the CBIA BizCast. 

CTECS offers a Work Based Learning program, offering students an opportunity to get paid work experience while still getting high school credit. 

“Industry has been coming around in a big way to access our students in ways that have never happened before,” said CTECS educational consultant Brent McCartney.

This spring, CTECS is launching its new Career Center.

The center will have both a physical location in Middletown and an online platform. 

“It’s really going to be a game changer,” said McCartney.

CTECS Career Center: https://www.cttech.org/about/getinvolved/

CTECS Expands Trades Career Pathways

When Jill Mayer joined Bead Industries, the average age of an employee was 60 and there were little to no women in senior management. 

Today the average age of an employee is mid 30s and more than half of the management positions are filled by women. 

“Changing a culture at an organization takes a lot of patience and time, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Mayer told the CBIA BizCast.

“You don’t want to throw out the good parts of the culture that you have. You’re not scrapping the culture. You are just improving what is there.”

Mayer, the fifth generation leader of the company, will share more about her experiences and leadership advice at CBIA’s When Women Lead conference March 20. 

Event details can be found here: https://www.cbia.com/events/when-women-lead-2024

Bead Industries: https://beadindustries.com/

Bead CEO Jill Mayer Drives Culture Change

This episode of the CBIA BizCast is part one of a two-part discussion on a key issue in Connecticut and across the country— whole genome sequencing. 

In this episode Paul Pescatello, CBIA senior counsel and executive director of the Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council speaks with Dr. Tom Defay. 

Defay is a computational biologist and Deputy Head Diagnostics Strategy & Development at New Haven-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

He details how the technology is valuable to patients for early diagnosis and treatment, and a cost saver for our healthcare system.

This legislative session a bill to promote expansion of whole genome sequencing, HB 5367, An Act Concerning Medicaid Coverage of Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing for Critically Ill Patients, is before the Connecticut General Assembly.

This is important legislation and it is strongly supported by the CBIA Bioscience Growth Council.

BizCast: Benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer.

Spring is officially here, and that means the return of baseball to Hartford April 9 as the Yard Goats take on the Bowie Baysox at Dunkin’ Park.

Looking over Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, general manager Mike Abramson tells the CBIA BizCast that he’s ready for the first pitch to be thrown. 

“It’s always an exciting time of year,” he said. 

“You know, in March and April, hope springs eternal, and we are on the cusp of what I hope will be our best year ever.”

On this episode of the BizCast, Abramson shares the keys to the Yard Goats success in Hartford both on the field and in the community and discusses how Dunkin’ Park became an important piece of the city’s redevelopment.

https://www.milb.com/hartford

Play Ball with the Hartford Yard Goats

This episode of the CBIA BizCast is the second of a two-part discussion on a key issue in Connecticut and across the country—whole genome sequencing. In this episode Paul Pescatello, CBIA senior counsel and executive director of the Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council speaks with Dr. Adam Matson and Dr. Louisa Kalsner from Connecticut Children’s. 

Dr. Matson is a neonatologist and lead researcher for Genomic Sequencing in the neonatal and pediatric population at the hospital. And Dr. Kalsner is the division head for Genetics.

Doctors Mtson and Kalsner highlight the importance of whole genome sequencing in both research and clinical settings. 

They also discuss the technology’s future and its value to patients, caregivers, and families.

Please click here for part one of our discussion on whole genome sequencing with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Dr. Tom Defay: https://www.cbia.com/news/issues-policies/cbia-bizcast-whole-genome-sequencing

Benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing Part Two

KeyBank market retail leader Elona Shape credits her mother for giving her a passion for helping women in business.

“She's one of those women that continues to inspire me today, but really instilled the value of what women in business or women in leadership bring to the table,” Shape told the CBIA BizCast. 

Shape is co-chair of KeyBank’s Key4Women for Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“It’s a program that really helps our women entrepreneurs motivate, empower and advocate around the things that can help their businesses thrive,” she said.

She said it’s important that women in business get the support and guidance they need. 

“As women probably more than our male counterparts, you don’t typically go into a bank and say, ‘Hey, I need some advice, I’m starting this new business, this is my vision, this is my business plan, I really need your help,’” Shape said. 

KeyBank and Key4Women sponsored When Women Lead, CBIA’s annual women’s leadership summit March 20. 

“I love the work that we’ve done,” Shape said. “I think it’s really critical to keep building that up—to help elevate women-owned businesses is going to be critical.”

More information:
KeyBank's Key4Women: https://www.key.com/small-business/services/key4women/overview.html

KeyBank Empowers Women

Like many people Adam Goldberg started to bake during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Goldberg specifically baked bagels, selling them to friends out the back window of his kitchen in Westport. 

That hobby turned into an idea that became PopUp Bagels.

“Fast forward two or three years, he opened a store in Westport, opened another store in Greenwich, and then in the city, and it's really just exploded,” PopUp Bagels CFO Jamie Lissette told the CBIA BizCast.

PopUp has achieved success quickly, thanks in part to social media. 

“It's just really organic, because people love the product. So it makes it really super easy.”

Lissette discussed the company's Connecticut roots and plans for growth. 

“We only have five stores,” he said. “In the next six months, we’ll add almost seven stores.”

“We love Connecticut,” Lissette said, adding "We've got this great runway to really become nationwide with the concept.”

PopUp Bagels website: https://www.popupbagels.com/

Early Success for Connecticut Bagel Business

Reporter Mark Pazniokas of the CTMirror asks Gov. Ned Lamont whether he plans to sign or veto a bill to use taxpayer money to establish a striking workers assistance fund that would be used to support striking private sector employees.

CT Gov. Ned Lamont on striking workers assistance fund

Jeremy Bronen didn’t set out to be known as “the toilet entrepreneur.” 

But four years after founding SedMed, that’s exactly what transpired. 

“Essentially, we make toilet lifts to help older adults, people with disabilities get on and off the toilet,” Bronen told the CBIA BizCast.

The concept behind the SedMed toilet lift is simple. 

It mounts to any toilet and helps slowly lowers users down and locks for safety. When they are ready to get up, it lifts 80% of their body weight.

“The problem was so big and I knew that a solution could solve this problem.”

“I said, ‘I can make a great company and help people.’ And you know, what better career is there than doing those two things?” he said.

SedMed website: https://www.sed-med.com/

The Toilet Entrepreneur

A podcast for the business-minded in Connecticut. Interviews consist of business and community leaders who are shaping the future of Connecticut’s economy. The CBIA BizCast provides new content every other week, introduces members of the business community, and tells stories about how businesses are innovating and growing in Connecticut!

BizCast provides new content every other week, introduces members of CBIA staff, and tells stories about how businesses are innovating and growing in Connecticut!

Early Success for Connecticut Bagel Business

CBIA BizCast

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