Business in Brief: Feb. 19

The SI Financial Group Foundation has awarded $31,970 to 10 eastern Connecticut charitable organizations, including grants to Fairview Odd Fellows Home of Connecticut and Malta Inc., both based in Groton.

The Fairview Odd Fellows Home will use the grant to help purchase a vital signs monitor and Malta will use the grant for its transitional living program. The SI Financial Group Foundation will seek applications again in March for distribution in July. Applications are available at www.savingsinstitute.com/si-group-foundation. For information, call (860) 456-6509 or email sifigfoundation@banksi.com.

A special business breakfast hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 29, featuring a panel discussion on "The multigenerational workplace."

The program will be held at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, starting at 7:45 a.m. Organized by the chamber's business education council, the program will feature an address by Jim DeMaio, president of Learning Dynamics, who will talk about the challenges faced by workers of different generations.

A panel discussion will follow. Participants will be Jonathan Demers, Putnam Bank, representing generation Y; Dr. Nicholas Spera of the Marine Science Magnet High School, generation X; and Denny Hicks of the chamber of commerce, traditionalist generation.

The registration fee is $17 for chamber members, $25 for others. A $5 fee will be applied to walk-ins. For additional information or to register, call (860) 701-9113 or visit www.ChamberECT.com and click on chamber events.

Grace S. Jones will be honored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut as its Citizen of the Year during a gala on Friday, May 4, at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods.

Jones, president of Three Rivers Community College, will be honored for her contributions to the community. She was the unanimous choice of the chamber's selection committee. Bill Turner of AT&T was honored last year. Tickets are available by calling (860) 701-9113 or by visiting www.ChamberECT.com.

The business-education council of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is seeking businesses willing to participate in its job-shadowing program.

The one day job-shadowing experience is open to high school students in the region. Details, including an information sheet and a registration form can be obtained by calling (860) 701-9113 or by visiting www.ChamberECT.com and clicking on member opportunities and then on committees and divisions.

The Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton was awarded Food & Beverage Team of the Year at the recent Waterford Hotel Group Annual Leadership Conference and Awards Celebration.

In addition, Tara Cappiello was honored as associate of the year at the leadership and awards celebration. She serves as restaurant supervisor for Octagon, the Zagat-rated steakhouse located at the Mystic Marriott.

The three-day conference, held at the Mystic Marriott, allowed managers from each of the company's 28 properties to gather and share ideas on leadership, best practices and Waterford Hotel Group core values.

Sound Community Services in New London is a new partner charity of Cellar Angels, a Chicago-based web marketing company showcasing Napa and Sonoma wines via its members website.

Cellar Angels commits a portion of its revenues to pre-screened charities. Once a week, Cellar Angels promotes a winery and hosts a private promotion by the winery directly to the Cellar Angels member base. Cellar Angels then donates a portion of its marketing revenues toward a charity the subscriber selects upon checkout. Cellar Angels will now promote Sound Community Services as one of those charities.

Melody Barr has been named a marketing representative for Mutual Oil Co., a wholesale petroleum distributor.

She will be responsible for business development in Connecticut, western Massachusetts and New York. Barr, of Old Lyme, has 30 years of experience in the industry including retail operations, human resources and wholesale marketing.

The Harris Place Natural Health Practitioners will host an open house on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event will be on the fourth floor of the Harris Place Building, 165 State St., in New London. Sam Fritzsche of Grounded Living Nutrition & Wellness, Chelle Harper of Unity Consciousness Healing Arts, Kimberly Giunta and Emily Lerner of Emerging Wellness, and Jamie Lee of the New London Healing Arts Center will be on hand to share information about natural health offerings. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, call (860) 501-3109 or eglerner@gmail.com.

BNI Mystic will meet on Thursday to hear a presentation from Alix Stanley from Mystic River Paintworks LLC.

Stanley's presentation will provide an overview of current lead-safe regulations that affect his industry. The BNI chapter meets at the Mystic Arts Association each Thursday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. For information, visit www.BNIMystic.com.

The Connecticut Small Business Development Center at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich will host the SBDC Entrepreneur Education Workshop Series on Feb. 27 and 29 and March 5 and 7 at the New London Public Library in the Community Room.

Workshop registration is available online at www.ctsbdc.org, under "Workshops & Events." Business development adviser Marcie Boyer will facilitate each workshop and provide information and guidance to assist those seeking to launch or grow a business.

For more information on the services of the Small Business Development Center, visit www.ccsu.edu/sbdc.

Susan P. Epstein has published a new book, "Over 60 Techniques, Activities & Worksheets for Challenging Children & Adolescents," published by Premier Publishing and Media.

The workbook will guide professionals in working with children, adolescents and families across multiple settings and treatments. It includes easy-to-use worksheets, handouts, step-by-step tips and techniques to foster the working relationship required to elicit change and healing.

Epstein, a licensed clinical social worker and parent coach, helps parents with unmanageable children take control of their family life. The book can be purchased online at Amazon.com. For more information, visit Epstein's website at www.parentingpowers.com.

The Builders Association of Eastern Connecticut will hold an OSHA Respiratory Protection Training course on Wednesday, Feb. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bozrah Moose Lodge, 115 Fitchville Road, in Bozrah.

The cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members. No walk-ins allowed.

The association also will hold Lead Renovator Certification Training on Wednesday, Feb. 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the same location. The cost is $225 for members and $250 for non-members. No walk-ins allowed. Call (860) 859-3518 for information and registration. Registration and payment must be no later than Wednesday.

Susan Robotham from Randall Realtors will be the showcase presenter at the Fresh Connections Groton Chapter meeting at the Webster Bank on Long Hill Road.

The group will meet Wednesday from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. For more information about the Groton chapter, visit its website at www.freshconnectionsforwomen.org.

Press releases for this Business in Brief column, which runs each Sunday, should be sent to businessbriefs@theday.com.

Submit all items for consideration by Monday morning for publication in the following Sunday's business section. Generally, press releases should be no more than two to three paragraphs in length because of space limitations. Remember to include pertinent information, such as your company's telephone number, hours of operation and website address.

For general questions about Business in Brief submissions, call Anthony Cronin, The Day's business editor, at (860) 701-4326 or send an email to a.cronin@theday.com.