Alliance Member Growth in the News

Find out what's going on with your fellow members!

If you have any announcements you would like listed in our member news section, please email jfoye@metrohartford.com.

Pita Communications LLC has acquired Vrroomedia LLC in an effort to provide clients with a comprehensive suite of interactive, online, streaming video and broadcasting products and services. Vrroomedia will continue to operate as a separate business entity, developing dynamic, engaging and educational online experiences and products that leverage the power of online streaming video broadcasting for the Web. Paul Pita, principal of Pita Communications and now chief executive officer of Vroommedia is enthusiastic about the merge of the two companies, saying, “At Pita, we are always looking for ways to innovate our business to meet the needs of our clients. Technology powered by human connections will enable us to take our clients to the next level both online and offline.” Paul Pita and partner Kim Pita, the company’s chief executives, will bring their superior leadership and management skills having run a highly successful integrated marketing agency for over 20 years; and Vroommedia’s original investors James Morrissey and Doug Rubinstein will continue to remain involved in the company’s evolution and growth.

Carrie Draghi Photography has been selected as 2007 Wedding Photography Studio (Winner, Top Pick, Pick) for The Knot Best of Weddings Magazine. The magazine is a by-brides-for-brides guide to the top wedding sites, photographers, florists, and more in over 40 key cities across the United States. The Knot conducted a massive, first-of-its-kind survey of 25,000 recent brides and grooms to gather detailed feedback on every wedding business that couples hired for their wedding celebration. The company was one of seven wedding photographers nominated in Connecticut.

RTK Environmental Group was featured in the New York Times on Sunday, May 20th. The feature story, “What’s Furry and Thirsty and Loves the Dark?” was on indoor air quality and mold. The article can be found on the web at NYTimes.com, keyword “RTK Environmental Mold.”

Attorney David M.S. Shaiken of Reid and Riege, P.C., has been named co-chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut. He has also been elected as a member of the Association’s board.

Richard M. Fil, an environmental lawyer of Robinson & Cole LLP, recently co-moderated a teleconference on Nanotechnology and Environmental Governance. The teleconference was part of the Nanotechnology Quick Teleconference Series by the Environment, Energy and Resources Section of the American Bar Association. The teleconference explored environmental governance mechanisms that may be needed to manage the environmental issues associated with nanotechnology, including voluntary programs, information disclosure, public involvement, labeling requirements, liability, and corporate social responsibility.

Eric Watt Wiechmann, a partner in the Hartford office of McCarter & English, LLP, has been elected Deputy Managing Partner of the 400-lawyer, eight-office firm. Wiechmann, who was elected by the firm’s Executive Committee, will succeed Managing Partner Lois M. Van Deusen when she retires this coming October. Mr. Wiechmann’s nationwide practice focuses on sophisticated civil litigation, including toxic tort, antitrust and professional liability cases. In addition, Mr. Wiechmann has been a member of the firm’s Executive and Compensation Committees, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Defense counsel and was President of its Foundation. Also noted is the addition of Litigator Ann McClure as a partner of the McCarter & English LLP Hartford office. McClure practices commercial litigation, including contract, environmental, product liability, toxic tort, insurance coverage class action litigation, as well as other types complex business cases. She has successfully represented many diverse manufacturing companies in resolving their business disputes, and has extensive experience in mediation and negotiation of favorable resolutions of disputes among commercial entities. Ms. McClure most recently spent nine years as senior counsel at Mestek, Inc., a mid-cap Westfield, MA-based manufacturing company, after having been in private practice for more than twenty years.

Haggett Longobardi, one of the largest regional accounting firms in New England, combined practices with J.H. Cohn LLP, the largest independent accounting and consulting firm in the Northeast. As of June 1, the Connecticut office of the firm will operate as Haggett Longobardi, A Division of J.H. Cohn, LLP. Haggett Longobardi was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Connecticut by the Hartford Business Journal last year, and has earned a reputation as a leader in the market though its commitment to exceeding client expectations, understanding their objectives and by hiring the best and the brightest staff to serve its clients. The addition of firm’s 85-member team is key to deepening J.H. Cohn’s expertise and strengthening its brand dominance throughout the Northeast.

Barnaby W. Horton, CFM, CRPC, a financial advisor in Merrill Lynch’s Hartford office, was named one of the nation’s top retirement plan advisors in the Spring 2007 edition of PLANSPONSOR magazine. Barnaby was noted for his remarkable commitment to client satisfaction and high percentage of plan participation. “We are proud and honored that Barnaby is part of the Merrill Lynch team,” said Jill Packard, Managing Director of the Hartford Complex. “This recognition is so well deserved and a testament to Merrill Lynch’s commitment to hire the best advisors who not only serve the needs of their clients, but are also responsible citizens of the local community.”

During Rensselaer’s 50th Commencement Exercises in Hartford, four of the 246 Rensselaer graduates were recognized with special awards. The annual Outstanding Student Awards were presented by the Hartford Chapter of the Rensselaer Alumni Association to students based on nominations submitted by faculty members. Nominated students were those who had distinguished themselves from their peers through superior academic achievement, demonstration of leadership skills, and contributions to Rensselaer. The Outstanding Student Award from the Lally School of Management and Technology was presented to Patrick J. Courtney. The Outstanding Student Award winner for the Department of Engineering and Science was Joseph C. Nold. Also recognized were two students for their work at the 23rd Annual Rensselaer at Hartford Computer Science Seminar Conference: Dan Nguen received the “Most Original Paper” award and Paul Swiatocha won the award for “Most Outstanding Presentation.”