By Nan Price, Content Manager, MetroHartford Alliance
Jesse Imse is a Marketing Communications and Public Relations Strategist and Public Information Officer for the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services and one of six members of the HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) Executive Committee.
WHY HARTFORD?
JESSE IMSE: After attending Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, I returned home to the Greater Hartford Region to obtain my master’s degree from the University of Hartford. Returning to the Capital Region was a no-brainer for me. The current and potential opportunities for young professionals here are endless.
HOW HAVE YOU BECOME A PART OF HARTFORD?
JESSE: I currently serve as a Marketing Communications and Brand Management Consultant within Fortune 500, AECOM’s Design and Consulting Services group. Within my role, I help lead all things marketing communications and brand management for my team’s main client, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). I provide innovative strategies to promote CTDOT brands CTrides, CTrail Hartford Line, CTrail Shore Line East, and CTfastrak. I’m also an Adjunct Professor within the School of Communication at the University of Hartford.
In addition to my roles at AECOM and University of Hartford, I serve on the Executive Board for HYPE. As one of America’s largest young professionals networks, HYPE’s mission is to help young professionals become better engaged in community life, expand professional and social opportunities, and become ambassadors for the Hartford Region. In the process, we endeavor to position the Hartford Region as an attractive area for diverse young professionals and entrepreneurs to live, work, and play.
HOW HAS HARTFORD BECOME A PART OF WHO YOU ARE?
JESSE: Hartford has and always will be part of who I am. In my professional and personal endeavors, I make it incumbent upon myself to showcase the opportunities Hartford has to offer and advance innovative solutions to any problems our region faces.
WHAT MAKES HARTFORD UNIQUE?
JESSE: Hartford is a convergence of diverse cultures and rich history, which creates a breeding ground for world-class music and arts, food cuisines, and a varied set of activities each season. The Hartford Region’s location also plays a role in our uniqueness. Being able to take advantage of hiking, beaches, and major cities within a one-day trip is unparalleled.
HOW DO YOU “TELL THE STORY” OF HARTFORD?
JESSE: When I hear, “Hartford Has It!” people ask, “What does Hartford have?” I like to say, “Harford has it all!”
Hartford can and should be celebrated as a city and region that is the triple threat of cultural diversity, rich history, and ideal location.