PROMOTIONS

Shipman & Goodwin LLP has announced that 10 attorneys from four offices have been elevated to partner and one has been promoted to counsel. In Washington, D.C., those promoted to partner are Alison P. Baker, Katherine M. Hance, Joshua P. Mayer, Myles Morrison, Miranda H. Turner and Abigail W. Williams. In Hartford, those promoted to partner are Julia R. Camarco and Michael Chase. Danielle McGrath Braun was promoted to counsel. In New Haven, Gregory P. Muccilli was elevated to partner. In Stamford, Kelly A. Trahan was promoted to partner.

Shipman & Goodwin employs more than 175 attorneys in offices throughout Connecticut and in New York and Washington, D.C. The Old Lyme office is at 5-1 Davis Road East. For more information, visit shipmangoodwin.com.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Suisman Shapiro has added municipal attorneys Robert A. Avena and Nicholas F. Kepple to its roster and opened a satellite office at 20 South Anguilla Road in Pawcatuck. Avena and Kepple will servce as directors of Suisman Shapiro's municipal law department and practice also in the areas of real estate, estate planning, business organization, land use and administrative law. Avena has served as a Waterford town attorney for the past 19 years. Kepple was admitted to practice law in 1989 following his service as selectman and first selectman of the Town of Stonington. Kepple has served for over eight years as the Judge of Probate for the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Probate District which encompasses Groton, Ledyard, Stonington and North Stonington. Suisman Shapiro is located at 2 Union Plaza.

The real estate agency Signature Properties of New England in December acquired The Partner Network offices in Norwich and Danielson. This brings Signature Properties from 13 realtors in its Uncasville office to more than 40 agents across the three locations, and extends its coverage area farther north in Connecticut. Signature Properties broker/owner Melissa Giangrasso said The Partner Network was looking to be acquired by a non-corporate brokerage, and described the acquisition as a natural fit due to the shared values of trust, integrity, education and commitment.

WORKSHOPS

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT with presenters Suisman Shapiro will offer two Sexual Harassment Prevention Training sessions in January. These sessions meet new requirements around the Time's Up Act for companies with three or more employees to provide two hours of training, or to provide training for anyone in a supervisory role. Visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113 to register for one of two sessions on Thursday, Jan. 16, 8:30-10:30 a.m. or Wednesday, Jan. 29, 3-5 p.m.

SCORE will host:

"Using Paid Advertising on Facebook," Wednesday, Jan. 15, 5:30-7 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road, Niantic.

“Small Business Retirement Plan Options,” Tuesday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. Sponsored by Grove Street Financial.

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

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Business Breakfast and Mini-Expo on The Business of Cannabis on Jan. 30, 7:30-10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, Norwich. Speakers are Michelle Seagull, commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protections, and Kay Doyle, commissioner of the Cannabis Control Commission of Massachusetts. Cost is $25 for Chamber members, $35 for nonmembers before Jan. 28, with an additional $5 after. For more information or to register, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Women's Business Development Council will host:

"Log In: Instagram 101," Terri Piekara, Instructor, Monday, Jan. 13, 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m., WBDC, 300 State St., Ste. 419, New London.

"Business Counseling Day," Sherry Konwerski, Coach, by appointment only, WBDC, 300 State St. Ste. 419, New London.

“WBDC Connections: Appy Hour,” WBDC Team Members, Thursday, Jan. 23, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Dev’s on State, New London.

"Marketing Counseling Day," Anne DiFrancesco, Coach, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. by appointment only, WBDC, 300 State St., Ste. 419, New London.

"Scale Up: Utilizing Financing Tools to Grow Your Business," Beth Scarborough, Instructor, Part 1 - Jan. 29, Part 2 - Feb. 5, 6-8 p.m., Chelsea Groton Bank, Groton.

Programs are free. Register at www.ctwbdc.org or contact Susan Hackett at (860) 574-9246 for an appointment.

NETWORKING

The Southeastern CT Women’s Network is sponsoring their monthly luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 11:30 a.m. at Langley’s Restaurant of Great Neck Country Club, 28 Lamphere Road, Waterford. Featured speaker Steve Porcaro will share tips and best practices on networking, growing your business, building your team, and transitioning to a new career. The public is welcome. Reservations are required by midnight on Sunday, January 12 at www.sectwomensnetwork.org/events. The cost is $25 if pre-registered, or $30 at the door. Cash or check only.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Business Luncheon featuring U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney on Jan. 22, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Mystic Marriott, Groton. Cost to attend is $30 for Chamber members, $40 for nonmembers before Jan. 17, with an additional $5 after. For more information or to register, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

HONORS

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has been named the Best Credit Union in the Commercial Record’s annual statewide survey. Charter Oak was honored in December as part of the Commercial Record’s 12th annual “CR’s Best” readers’ poll. Charter Oak also won Best Credit Union in Connecticut in 2016 and 2017. During 2019, Charter Oak also was named Best Credit Union in several other contests. For more information, visit www.CharterOak.org, or call 860-446-8085 or 800-962-3237.  

GIVING

Local non-profit organizations are invited to apply for Pfizer Connecticut Laboratories 2020/2021 competitive grants. Applications from organizations serving communities in southeastern Connecticut, the greater New Haven area, and southern Rhode Island will be considered. 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. Grants will range from $1,000 and will not exceed $5,000. The Connecticut Laboratories community grants program does not fund access to healthcare or special events such as fundraising dinners, charity sporting events, galas and award ceremonies, or capital improvements. Organizations can apply online at http://pfizercommunitygrants.versaic.com no later than March 31 for programs taking place July 2020 through June 2021. For more information, email PfizerConnecticutLabs@Pfizer.com.

The Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors Affiliate Committee’s annual Spirit of Pink event to benefit the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation was held at Lake of Isles in North Stonington. Over a hundred Realtors, affiliates and their clients raised $10,000 for the foundation.

Anne Ogden, this year's honorary chair of the foundation's annual fundraising walk, was the honored speaker alongside Nicole Crimm from Navy Federal Credit Union and Chris Albanese of the Law Office of Chris Albanese, who emceed the event. Sponsoring the event were Law Office of Chris Albanese, Coastal Home Inspection, CATIC, CorePlus Federal Credit Union, Eastern CT Savings Bank, Green Home Solutions, Homestead Funding Corp., Steve & Marylee MacLaren, Edwin R. Muenzner CPA, LLC, Navy Federal Credit Union, Norcom Mortgage, PrimeLending, Residential Mortgage Services, Inc., Tiger Home & Building Inspections, Valerie Ann Votto, LLC and Zukowski Gallagher Properties, LLC.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT welcomes its newest members: Burns & McDonnell; Whaling City Ford; Whaling City Lincoln; and Whaling City Mazda. Visit www.ChamberECT.com to discover a full Chamber member directory.

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