January 2020
In what seems like a lifetime ago and a completely different world, MetroHartford Alliance (MHA) kicked off the year with in-person events like Get Hired (Connecticut’s largest insurance and financial services career fair, BTW) from our initiative Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services (CT IFS) + V.P. Susan Winkler. We also hosted the CT Department of Economic and Community Development Leadership: Working to Help Connecticut Compete in the Global Economy event with V.P. Becky Nolan.
On the organizational front, we welcomed new staff members Margot Early (MHA Director of Strategic Events), Shannon Mumley (Director of Small Business Development and Strategy for the Hartford Chamber of Commerce), and Sneja Jayaraj in research.
Attendees at the Get Hired event held at the Marriott Hartford, January 2020
Pulse of the Region began the year with a show about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion interviewing Amy Stern, Managing Director, Research and Strategy, BI Worldwide, and Jay Williams, President, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to discuss how diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for business success and discuss measuring them, as well as asking how they fit into an organization’s overall culture and employee value proposition in order to uncover aspects of diversity and inclusion that we weren’t yet talking about. Pulse of the Region is sponsored by Oak Hill.
The Hartford Chamber of Commerce celebrated Three Kings Day with our Executive Director, Julio Concepcion participating in the parade.
Julio Concepcion on the far-right during Three Kings Celebration 2020
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February
For Black History Month, we highlighted ChangeInc’s CEO Derrick C. Gibbs, Artwurks Unlimited’s Judah Makonnen, Owner and Senior Designer, Sanford Cloud, Jr., Chairman and CEO of The Cloud Company, as well as ActUp Theater, Inc. by sharing their interviews with MHA Content Manager and Innovation Destination Hartford website coordinator, Nan Price.
ActUp Theater, Inc. explores social justice
David Robinson, Executive Vice President, and General Counsel, The Hartford Financial Services Group was elected to chair the MHA Board of Directors;
There was a lot of hockey in Hartford during this month, and folks were gearing up for the Yard Goat‘s opening day.
Wolf Pack ad February, 2020
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March
Women’s History Month began with a great interview by MHA Content Manager Nan Price and Veo Veo Owner and Creative Director, Constanza Segovia.
Constanza Segovia, Owner Veo Veo
After holding Breakfast with the Mayor, our last in-person event, we announced the suspension of events until April 17. In this second week of March, no one knew that within the week there would be 96 positive cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut and Governor Lamont would order malls closed, allow Medicaid to conduct telehealth, and suspend the standardized testing requirements in schools.
By the 20th, Governor Lamont would order non-essential businesses closed.
MHA staff and its initiatives began working remotely, without being sure how long the office would remain closed, a situation thousands of other non-essential workers in Connecticut found themselves in. Suddenly, Zoom staff meetings and Teams video calls were the new normal as we all figured out how to work from home (in whichever corner of the house wasn’t being used), go to school from home, and how much bandwidth simultaneous zoom calls really take.
MHA pivoted quickly to virtual events, and immediately began helping businesses navigate the new economic reality of lockdown with webinars such as: MHA COVID 19 business response web conference; Economic Injury Disaster Loan Best Practices; Information on Labor Issues and SMB Programs; State and Private Finance Programs; and a CARES Act Webinar.
We also created a COVID-19 tool kit, and a dedicated website Prepared Hartford to answer questions, provide information, and share webinars about COVID-19. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving opened a COVID-19 response fund.
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April
In April, Pulse of the Region addressed the new normal as Kate Baumann, Chief Investor Relations Officer interviewed David W. Glidden, President and CEO of Liberty Bank to discuss the important role of banks during the pandemic and the support they can provide. Paula S. Gilberto, President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, was also a guest and talked about United Way’s work to help the community during the crisis.
MHA networking opportunities like Coffee + Conversation brought people together virtually to keep their connections, an incredibly important part of coping with the impact of the coronavirus.
We held a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Application Walk-Through; Hartford Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar Adapt and Overcome: Best Practices from Businesses During COVID-19, and Foodshare begins food distribution at Rentschler Field, which has continued through the pandemic.
The Yard Goats announced the postponement of their opening day.
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May
ReOpen Connecticut Phase 1 began May 20th, as announced by Governor Lamont.
Economic Development week here in Hartford was led by a push from Chamber E.D., Julio Concepcion to let people know the stories of resilience in Hartford and share the news about what was happening in Hartford into the summer’s ReOpen plans.
We held events including a marketing webinar, MHA Coffee Chat, Business Reopening Tips and Strategy, and Supporting Employees with Better Health and Wellness Models Post COVID 19.
In Hartford, as in many other communities, restaurants set up tables outside for outdoor dining.
Tables outside of The Russian Lady in Hartford
Hearts for Healthcare workers began popping up everywhere as everyone tried to thank the frontline workers for their bravery.
Communities celebrated the #UnsungHeroes – teachers, volunteers, donors, and everyone who helped communities and families make it through the initial weeks of COVID-19 lockdown in Connecticut.
As the country was gearing up for summer, on Memorial Day Weekend George Floyd died during his arrest, and Connecticut, the Nation, and the world mourn his loss, as well as the loss of other Black people who have died in similar circumstances. After the mourning came protests, the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, and our changing culture broke through the news of COVID-19 to take front-page space in newspapers throughout the world.
A mural of George Floyd
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June
MHA issues a statement in response to George Floyd’s death, and Juneteenth becomes more prominent than it has ever been.
Anticipating that we might open our offices in June, we created a video showing office safety measures.
The Census is in full swing by this stage in the year, as we partnered with the City of Hartford and CT Census Counts to help local communities participate in the Census.
MHA continues to hold virtual programs such as the Payment Protection Program Forgiveness and Financial planning webinar, The Hartford Chamber Holds a webinar with guidelines about the Reopen plan, and our virtual networking enjoys Break the Ice and MHA Coffee Chats.
As the world tried to adjust to the unprecedented changes COVID-19 brought and the disturbing loss of life, mother nature carried on as normal, with Elizabeth Park in Hartford blooming that seemed more beautiful than years past.
By this time in the year, the class of 2020 is holding graduation car parades, and here in Hartford, Pratt Street Patio promotes a pedestrian-only Pratt Street to encourage folks to come downtown, as well as Friday concerts.
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July
This was MHA’s most challenging month as an organization, as we mourned the passing of Oz Griebel, former CEO of MHA and Connecticut booster.
Former MetroHartford Alliance President and CEO Oz Griebel with Chief Operating Officer Julie Daly Meehan (Photo courtesy Allegra Anderson Photography)
We held virtual events, including Chamber Conversations, and an Alliance Meet & Mingle, as well as socially distanced outdoor activities like Picnic in the Park.
Actuarial Boot Camp went virtual, and pivoted itself to talk about how the role of an actuary intersects with data science and what the new roles of actuaries might be post-pandemic.
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August
We kicked August off with Kickstart Our Hart a joint venture of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce and HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) which brought together our community to brainstorm solutions to the challenges faced by Hartford businesses during COVID-19 through group collaboration and friendly competition.
Break the Ice Luncheon was virtual this month, providing MHA members an opportunity to see familiar faces, connect with new members, and have a relaxed, informal virtual experience.
As everyone began transitioning from summer to what the start of the new school year might look like, the month ended with a natural disaster as August storm Isaias hit Connecticut hard, causing many to lose power.
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September
This was a special month as MHA celebrated Innovation Destination Hartford‘s 5th Anniversary Week! Each day a different panel met with Nan Price to discuss different topics, starting with Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, Healthcare, Lifestyle, and Insurance and InsurTech.
Hispanic Heritage Month began September 15th with a profile of Maria Sanchez from the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, and Tony Ramos local entrepreneur.
The Chamber launches LOVE Hartford a community clean up event. #adoptyourblock
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October
This is the month we were working toward all year as we hosted not only Senator Blumenthal’s Economic Recovery Roundtable …
… and a Break The Ice Luncheon and our preeminent event, the (virtual) Insurance Capital Summit October 22-23. With a theme of Insurance Now – panels included Innovation in Stressful Times, Building Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation in Insurance.
National Manufacturing month we highlighted on Pulse of the Region why Connecticut is so competitive for attracting and expanding manufacturing; Toronto FC soccer came to Rentschler Field, and Hartford Athletic wrapped up their season. Outdoor dining adapts to cooler weather with Bring Your Own Blanket and outside heaters.
The MHA team volunteered at Rentschler Field, East Hartford for Foodshare’s distribution of food to the 2,000+ people who came through in their cars.
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November
Pulse of the Region shows this month highlighted Community Giving, by interviewing Junior Achievement of South West NewEngland President Jeremy Race, seedership Co-Founder Jennifer Smithberger, and Lincoln Financial Group AVP of Corporate Giving Marlene Ferreira.
MHA celebrated Veterans Day by highlighting our very own Veteran, Jevon Gibb.
And, before the Thanksgiving weekend, we held a Meet & Mingle, sponsored by Berkins Blend Cafe.
Over the course of the year, Raina Giddings led the kickoff of the MHA Racial Equity and Economic Development Committee.
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December
MHA hosted the Capitol Hill Report with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy and the New England Council before launching into holiday events.
The Chamber hosted Home for the Holidays, a small business pop-up holiday market on Pratt Street.
Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE)s Tons of Toys organized by Kim Bishop and Mia Sinatro collected over 2,000 toys for kids.
We also put together an MHA Gift Guide to help support local small businesses.
Finally, MHA held the last event of the year, the 2020 Annual Meeting, highlighting all of our accomplishments in an unprecedented year.
MHA is thinking about those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost jobs, businesses, and a sense of normalcy. We are grateful to all those who have donated time or money to help those struggling this winter. Grateful to all the frontline healthcare workers who have cared for thousands of patients sick with COVID-19 or other chronic illnesses.
As the sun sets on 2020, we welcome 2021 with open arms! Happy New Year from all of us at MetroHartford Alliance