Norwalk Chamber March 2015 Report

The Greater Norwalk Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors
2014 – 2015
Chairman’s Message
J. Michael Sutton, Chairman
Benefit Planning Services,
LLC
Lissette Andino
EverSource
Harry Carey
AT&T
Karen Condron
Sharp Performance USA
Michael M. Devine
Earth Energy Alliance
Heidi DeWyngaert
Bankwell
Irene Dixon
Hilton Garden Inn
Jerry Effren
The Greyrock Companies
Clay Fowler
Spinnaker Real Estate
Partners, LLC
Marc J. Grenier
Law Offices of
DePanfilis & Vallerie, LLC
Donald R. Gustafson
Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
James Haynes
Norwalk Hospital
Kathryn Hebert
City of Norwalk
Douglas Hempstead
Stew Leonard’s
Glen Leblanc
Fairfield County Bank
David Levinson
Norwalk Community
College
Michael McNeill
Dolce Norwalk Center
Edward J. Musante, Jr.
Greater Norwalk Chamber
of Commerce
Randy Napoletano
Norwalk Bank & Trust
Peter M. Nolin
Carmody Torrance Sandak
& Hennessey, LLP
Kristin Okesson
Connoisseur Media CT
Joseph K. Passero
Klaff’s, Inc.
Terri Polley
Financial Accounting
Foundation
C. Eric Rains
Eric Rains Landscape
Architecture, LLC
Danielle Robinson
Diageo
Luciano V. Sclafani
Gus Sclafani Corp.
Stanley M. Seligson
Stanley M. Seligson
Properties
Douglas Smith
People’s United Bank
Richard Tavella
Rick’s Main Roofing
Chet Valiante
The Hour Publishing Co.
Ruthann Walsh
Pepperidge Farm, Inc.
Steven Warren
Albert D. Phelps, Inc.
Frank N. Zullo
Tierney Zullo Flaherty
& Murphy
On April 1 st my two-year term as chairman will end and I can honestly say that it
has gone by much faster than expected. It truly has been a pleasure to serve as
chairman and the people that I have worked with at the Chamber do an absolutely
wonderful job of running programs and events to benefit all of our members.
I think that it is really an exciting time to either work or live in Norwalk. Several projects
have been completed during the past two years and more have been approved. I am hopeful
that the General Growth Partners retail project will get approval to move ahead so that we
won’t miss out on the opportunity to have a mixed-use development that will not only create
more jobs in Norwalk, but will also add significantly to the tax base of the city. I am also
hopeful that we will be able to get charter revision through so that a Norwalk mayor will have
a four-year term rather than just two. Under our current charter, a newly elected mayor barely
gets their feet on the ground and soon they have to begin running for re-election. Moreover,
many cities of our size and import have four-year terms for mayor or chief elected official.
Looking at the bigger picture, the economy has seen improvement in Connecticut; however
we are still lagging behind the national numbers in some key areas. Unemployment was at
6.4 percent in December 2014, a full percentage point lower than December 2013 — an improvement,
but the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.6 percent. To date, we have recovered 80 percent of jobs lost during the
recession, while the U.S. number is over 120 percent. Proposals being considered by the 2015 General Assembly for more
expansive paid sick leave, paid family medical leave, and a state-run retirement plan do not send the message that Connecticut is
business-friendly. We are still ranked at, or near, the bottom of most polls as one of the least friendly business environments, and
our General Assembly must begin to take notice and realize that we cannot continue down this path.
In closing, I would like to thank Ed Musante, Brian Griffin, Deb Cocchia, and Connie Taylor for all the wonderful work that
they do, but also for making my job very easy. It’s truly been a pleasure to work with them over the past two years. And to all of
our members, thank you for your support. It is your participation and involvement that makes us who we are — an organization
that not serves and enhances the local business community, but also benefits the community at large.
Cordially,
J. Michael Sutton
Chairman
GREATER NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
101 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06852-0668
203.866.2521 | Fax: 203.852.0583
www.norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
info@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
Editor:
Carolyn Ripp/Snyder Group cripp@snydergroupinc.com
Design: Judie Szuets • Production: The Hour Newspapers
The Chamber Report, published quarterly, welcomes information about your company and your comments.
Contact the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce at the phone number above.
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The Chamber eport, at
info@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
Chamber Staff:
Edward J. Musante, Jr., President emusante@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
Brian Griffin, Vice President bgriffin@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
Deb Cocchia, Administrative Assistant dcocchia@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
Connie Taylor, Bookkeeper ctaylor@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com
2 THE CHAMBER REPORT l March 2015