Tune in to the Pulse of the Region, brought to you by the MetroHartford Alliance.
Join us each week for discussions with industry leaders, subject matter experts, and community influencers to get a deeper look at what’s happening in our own back yard. From healthcare to economic development, local entertainment to housing, we dive into issues that matter to Hartford and beyond!
Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.
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Nassau Financial Group Explores Employee Wellness
(3/5/26) This week on the MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region cast, we sit down with two employees from Nassau Financial Group: Ana Pope, Director of Investor Relations, and Michael Remieres, Fitness Center Manager. We examine how employers like Nassau Financial Group are approaching employee well-being and how a focus on wellness can assist in talent attraction and retention.
A Look at the Cannabis Industry with Shipman & Goodwin and Enlightened Foods
(2/20/26) This week on MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we sit down with Sarah Westby, Partner and Chair of Shipman & Goodwin's Cannabis Team, and Paul Travaglino, cannabis entrepreneur and advocate, founder of Enlightened Foods, and holder of a cannabis product manufacturing license.
In this episode, we explore developments in the cannabis industry and the latest regulations within Connecticut and federally. Paul from Enlightened Foods also discusses how he is working with Shipman & Goodwin to navigate the ever-changing policies around cannabis to begin manufacturing smokeless products and confections for medical and recreational use at his South Norwalk-based business.
The Link Between Mental Health and Financial Wellness with Mental Health CT and Nutmeg State FCU
(2/12/26) Explore the connection between mental health and financial wellness on this week’s Pulse of the Region Cast, featuring insights from Jacquilyn Davis, Director of Learning & Workforce Development at Mental Health Connecticut, and Brandi Byrne, Financial Education Manager at Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union.
The conversation also highlights Mental Health Connecticut’s newly released Winter Wellness Toolkit—a free digital guide designed to help individuals and families navigate the winter season. The toolkit is presented by Nutmeg State, whose financial wellness expertise is featured throughout.
SoNE HEALTH Discusses AI in Medicine
(2/5/26) This week on MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we are joined by Southern New England Healthcare (SoNE HEALTH)'s Lisa Trumble, President and CEO, George Beauregard, Chief Population Health Officer, and Renee Broadbent, Chief Operating Officer. In this episode, we discuss the use of AI in medicine and how SoNE HEALTH mindfully implements technological advancements to improve patient outcomes.
MHA’s 2026 Annual Update
(1/29/26) This week on MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we are joined by the MetroHartford Alliance's David Griggs, President and CEO, and Gene Goddard, Chief Business Investment Officer. In this episode, we discuss the MHA's plans for each of our initiatives in 2026, including a focus on hospitality in the Hartford region, as well as development of the area around PeoplesBank Arena. Tune in to hear how the MHA plans to make Hartford a more vibrant place to work, play, and live.
DoorDash Grows Community Engagement in Connecticut
(1/22/26) This week on MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we are joined by Daniela Michanie, Head of Northeast Public Engagement at DoorDash. In this episode, we explore DoorDash's community involvement and how the company is addressing food insecurity throughout the country and in the Greater Hartford region. We'll also discuss how DoorDash has recently partnered with Hands on Hartford to provide food for their Backpack Nutrition Program.
Cognizant Explores AI
(1/15/26) This week on MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we are joined by Prem Sagar Sundaram, Craig Weber, and Cary Ellexson from Cognizant. In this episode, we explore Cognizant's community investment in Hartford, as well as the key findings of their Engineering Empathy study, which looks at how AI can help insurers rethink the customer experience.
Community Outreach with Trinity Health
(1/8/26) In this episode of Pulse of the Region, we sit down with Valerie Powell-Stafford, President of Saint Francis Hospital, to explore the many ways that Saint Francis Hospital is playing an impactful role in the Hartford area, from award-winning programs within the hospital to their community outreach efforts.
Mental Health in the Workplace with Travelers Institute
(12/18/25) In this episode of Pulse of the Region, we sit down with Jessica Kearney, Vice President of the Travelers Institute, and Rich Ives, Senior Vice President of Business Insurance Claims, Travelers, to discuss the Travelers Institute and highlighting how they’re approaching mental health in the workforce.
Insights on AI with CohnReznick
(12/11/25) On this week's episode of MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we sat down with John Turgeon, Mel Walker, and Drew Illingworth of CohnReznick to discuss insights on AI, the importance of having guard rails in place when implementing AI workflows, and more.
Connecticut Airport Authority
(12/4/25) This week, we sat down with Mike Shea, Executive Director at the CT Airport Authority. We discussed the exciting renovations underway at Bradley International Airport, how new flight offerings are established, and explored how the airport works as a major driver of economic development in the region.
NextGen Summit 2025
(11/14/25 - Bonus Episode) HYPE’s NextGen Summit is taking place at Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT on November 18. We sit down with Lauren Zevetchin, Executive Director of HYPE, alongside leadership experts that will take to the stage at the upcoming summit: Peter Callahan, PCC, Engagement Manager, Leadership Greater Hartford, Kelly Kennedy Ed.D., Director of Transformative Learning, UConn School of Business, and Michael Bozzi Ed.D., Director of MBA Student Services, UConn School of Business. The group discusses what benefits NextGen attendees can look forward to when it comes to leadership and taking control of your career journey.
The North End Partnership at the Swift Factory
(11/13/25) Pulse of the Region premieres in our new home at The Swift Factory! For our first episode in the studio, we sat down with Brenda Watson, Executive Director of the North Hartford Partnership and Swift Factory, and Patrick McKenna, North Hartford Partnership’s Director of Sustainability and Real Estate. We discuss the North Hartford Partnership and the transformation of the historical Swift Factory into a vibrant community hub.