EMPLOYMENT

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has promoted Sonya Armstrong and Michael Ballirano to Assistant Vice Presidents and Regional Retail Managers of the credit union's expansive branch network in eastern Connecticut. Armstrong, who has been with the credit union since 2005, had served as the Branch Officer of Charter Oak’s Dayville, Willimantic and Killingly High School branches. Ballirano, who joined Charter Oak in 2011, had served as the Branch Officer of the Mohegan Sun Branch. For more information, visit www.CharterOak.org.

INTERNSHIPS

Higher Edge, a nonprofit that guides low-income and first-generation students through enrollment, retention, and graduation from college, is seeking paid internships for its students. Higher Edge’s Success Program will be hosting four “Winter Summits”: Feb. 4, Eastern Connecticut State University; Feb. 5, UConn Storrs; Feb. 6, Three Rivers Community College, and Feb. 7, UConn Avery Point. Interested businesses should contact Luisanna Cabrera, Success Program Director, at 860-439-0034. For more information, visit www.higheredge.org.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is seeking students to intern as Administrative Assistants. Non-paying internship with mileage reimbursement. Students interested in applying should send a cover letter and resume to Kristin Hartnett at kristin@mysticchamber.org or call 860-572-9578

WORKSHOPS

“Chamber 101: Membership Benefits and Orientation” will take place Wednesday, Jan. 30, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Eastern Connecticut office, 914 Hartford Turnpike, second floor, Waterford. Complimentary coffee and tea will be provided; guests are welcome to bring their own lunches. Admission is free but an advance RSVP is requested at www.Visit ChamberECT.com/evens or (860) 701-9113.

SCORE will host workshops on:

"How to Start and Run a Successful Non-Profit Organization," Tuesday, Jan. 22, 9:30-11 a.m., Old Saybrook Town Hall, 302 Main St. Presenter is Bob Potter.

"Cost, Price and Profit," Wednesday, Jan. 23, 5:30-7 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road, Niantic. Presenter is Eric Munro.

"Effective Financial Planning," Monday, Jan. 28, 5:30–7p.m., Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Road.

"Bank Funding Your Small Business," Monday, Feb. 4, 5:30-7 p.m., Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. Sponsored by Edward Jones – Ann Pellegrini, Clinton East office.

For more information, contact Anne Driscoll at anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org.

NETWORKING

The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Montville American Job Center is holding a Micro Career Fair Jan. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 601 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Suite 1, Uncasville. Participating employers have registered on www.CTHIres. Job seekers planning to attend are required to register by visiting www.CTHires.com. Employers attending are Change Inc., Foxwoods Resort Casino, Joshua’s Limousine, Right at Home and U.S. Census Bureau. 

The Young Professionals of Eastern CT will hold their January YPsocial networking event on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Norwich Spa at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Complimentary food, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be served. Admission is free for YPECT members/subscribers, $10 for non-members. Learn more and sign up at www.YPECT.com or register with the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT by calling (860) 701-9113. YPECT's sponsors include Homestead Funding/Keith Turner and Atlantic Broadband. Additional support comes from Charter Oak Federal Credit Union.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Pfizer Update Business Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Groton Inn & Suites, 99 Gold Star Highway, Groton, sponsored by Scient Federal Credit Union. Join the Chamber as John Burkhardt, Groton Labs Site Director and Vice President, Global Drug Safety Research and Development for Pfizer, discusses Pfizer's work in Groton and beyond. Advance registration for Chamber members is $20, $25 for non-members. Prices increase by $5 for registrations after Jan. 23.  Learn more and RSVP at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113.

EVENTS

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for 2019 Mystic Restaurant Week (March 4-10) and the new 2019 Groton Restaurant Week. Go to www.mysticchamber.org to register your restaurant or to see the participating restaurants. Participants offer a lunch and dinner special for one week only.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will launch Mystic Fit & Fab expo on March 30 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Hilton Mystic. Register your business at www.mysticchamber.org. Free admission to the public.

HONORS

Heidi Blais of Griswold, Director of Business Sales in Groton, received the "Top Dawg Award Business Sale" award as well as the "Employee of the Year" award at the Wireless Zone awards ceremony. Peter Genovese from Branford, an Assistant Manager at the Groton location since December 2014, received the "Top Dawg Gross Profit" award. Other winners were Tim Bouchard from Dayville, a sales associate at the North Windham location; DeVaughn Culbert from Danielson, a sales associate at the Killingly location; Nicole Picariello from Danielson, a sales associate at the Killingly location; Sarah Pepe from Ashford, a sales associate at the Killingly location; and Krista Kingsbury from Brooklyn, Assistant Manager at the North Windham location. For more information, visit www.wirelesszone.com. 

The Connecticut Construction Industry Association has awarded its Community Service and Safety awards to Connecticut Water. Connecticut Water and its employees make potable water available free of charge to private well owners when there are extended power outages in affected nearby communities. CCIA also recognized Connecticut Water with a CCIA Safety Recognition Award for the 15th consecutive year. The company serves 59 towns in Connecticut, including Colchester, Griswold, Lebanon, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Plainfield and Stonington.

The Navy Northeast portfolio of Balfour Beatty Communities, a provider of property management, development and related real estate services for the multifamily, military and student housing markets, has been recognized for providing exceptional customer service in 2018 from CEL & Associates, Inc. Naval Submarine Base New London Homes was among those recognized.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is seeking nominations for Regional Chamber Awards, which will be presented at its Annual Meeting in the spring. Visit www.ChamberECT.com  and submit nominations for the following categories: Small Business of the Year, Business of the Year, Community Revitalization Award, New Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Best Place to Work, Industry Innovator, Tourism Leader of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year. Nominations close on Feb. 8. Self-nominations are allowed.

Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers has been named to the list of the Top 10 Settlements in Connecticut in 2017 by TopVerdict. The legal website presented the local law firm with the distinction for reaching a lucrative settlement at the state or federal level. Attorney Perkins and his firm fought for a 34-year-old Brazilian woman who was paralyzed in a bicycle accident on a city street, resulting in the Town of Fairfield agreeing to a $2.1 million settlement with the family. The firm has an office in New London. For more information, visit www.800perkins.com or call 1-800-PERKINS.

GIVING

The Auto Body Association of Connecticut has presented a $10,000 donation to the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, which includes Grasso Tech in Groton. The donation will help modernize CTECS’s automotive collision repair and refinishing program. ABAC provides support to CTECS by working with collision repair instructors on the program’s curriculum, hosting department heads and teachers at ABAC membership meetings, and attending school career nights to provide students and parents with insight on industry opportunities. For more information, visit www.abaconn.com.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded a total of $3,500 to Southeastern CT Enterprise Region (seCTer) in Groton to support and implement a Comprehensive Economic Development plan designed to stimulate and support growth and prosperity in the region. The seCTer grants were among 68 awards totaling over $78,000 made by the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation in 2018. For more information, visit www.JCSBank.com. 

Local non-profit organizations are invited to apply for Pfizer Connecticut Laboratories’ 2019-2020 competitive grants. Priority will be given to programs that bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to students from elementary through high school. Additional grants will be made to programs that provide for the underserved or to support local civic and cultural institutions. Organizations can apply online at http://pfizercommunitygrants.versaic.com no later than March 31 for programs taking place July 2019 through June 2020. For more information, email PfizerConnecticutLabs@Pfizer.com.

The Westerly Community Credit Union will be awarding $4,500 in scholarships to area schools including Stonington, Westerly and Wheeler for the 2018-19 school year. The deadline is March 15. Applications are available at any Westerly Community Credit Union branch location, www.westerlyccu.com, and at the high school guidance departments.

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