The business advisory nonprofit SCORE will host a free webinar from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, on Zoom titled “The One Page Business Plan: An Introduction to the Business Model Canvas.”

Innovation coach Nick Himo will present a comprehensive introduction to the Business Model Canvas – a strategic management tool that's revolutionized business planning. Intended for aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners alike, this session aims to empower all professionals with a visual framework to better conceptualize, iterate, and validate their business models.

For questions on how to register, email Anne Driscoll at anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org.

People & Places

Mitchell College is now enrolling for the Professional Studies degree completion program designed for students who have started — but not completed — either a two-year or four-year degree.

This accelerated online program offers two options: Business and Health and Human Services. Students can enroll throughout the year, with both full-time and part-time options. Spring I classes begin Jan. 16.

“The Professional Studies program is ideal for anyone looking to complete a degree they have already started, knowing that might give them an edge in advancing their career,” said Catherine “Cathy” Hurd, vice president of enrollment management, in a release.

To find out more, visit https://mitchell.edu/academic-programs/professional-studies/.

UCFS Healthcare has announced the addition of Dr. Nnennaya Duke as a primary care physician at its health centers in Plainfield and Griswold. She is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Duke brings more than a decade of experience as a primary care physician specializing in family medicine with experience in pain management, substance abuse treatment, and medication management for gender transitioning. The physician comes from a family of medical professionals from Nigeria and has an extensive background working with underprivileged and underserved populations.

UCFS President and CEO Jennifer Granger noted that Dr. Duke would help the organization expand its reach of patient care.

Dr. Duke received her her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology of Osteopathic Medicine and completed the Harlem Residency in Family Medicine (focusing on “family-centered care to underserved, medically complex patients) at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

Patients can schedule an appointment by calling the UCFS Plainfield Health Center at 120-122 Plainfield Road, Moosup (860-822-4938), or UCFS' Griswold Health Center at 226 East Main St. (860-376-7040).

The Connecticut Department of Housing is announcing the release of $45.8 million in funding to various programs that assist those in need of emergency shelter and services. This is in addition to the previously announced $5 million for cold weather shelters.

DOH is allocating $6.4 million for the state’s newly created regional hubs, including New London and Willimantic. It is also spending $3.2 million for shelter diversion, $3 million for the Coordinated Access Network, $16.9 million for emergency shelter operations, $5 million for security deposits, $10.3 million for Rapid Rehousing Services, and $976,000 for Permanent Supportive Housing.

The Connecticut Office of State Broadband , within the Office of Consumer Counsel, is supporting the Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service, while urging the FCC to embrace states’ authority to enforce local consumer protections.

The idea would be to:

– Provide states with the authority to require affordability programs and low-income service tiers for customers;

– Maintain state utility commission authority to ensure that updates to infrastructure in the public streets and highways are performed safely and efficiently;

– Allow for increased data privacy and security for all consumers by ensuring providers are cooperative with state cybersecurity and network resiliency efforts;

– Establish clear, straightforward rules to prevent providers from engaging in practices harmful to consumers, competition and public safety, and subsequently, penalties enforced by state regulators for failure to meet these standards;

– Allow states to continue to do their own broadband mapping, which is used for many localized purposes other than those of federal broadband maps; and

According to the consumer counsel office, “Without clear state directives and authority, many utility commissions declined to process consumer complaints on telecommunications, cable and internet service (non-rate) issues.”

Stakeholder comments are solicited through Jan. 17. A final decision in this proceeding is expected to be issued by the FCC later next year.

Access Health CT has announced it will host seven enrollment fairs in January, including one in Groton, to help Connecticut residents shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period.

Open Enrollment runs through Jan. 15. Customers who enroll between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 will have coverage starting Feb. 1.

Connecticut residents who are interested in attending the events can book an appointment online at AccessHealthCT.com/enrollment-events. Walk-in appointments are welcome.

The local enrollment fair will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Road.

In addition to enrollment fairs, AHCT offers in-person help at enrollment locations and Navigators that host sessions during regular business hours throughout the week. A list of these locations is available at AccessHealthCT.com/Enrollment-Events.

For online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Live chat is available by clicking the “Live Chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative. Residents may also contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325.

Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.

The Connecticut Airport Authority has announced a new partnership with Sky Harbour Group Corporation, which has a national footprint and expertise in the development of hangar campuses.

The partnership involves a long-term lease on eight acres of land, which is currently unused on Bradley International Airport property. Sky Harbour will invest $30 million to build a multi-hangar campus and associated services.

Sky Harbour Group Corporation (www.skyharbour.group) is an aviation infrastructure company developing the first nationwide network of home basing campuses for business aircraft. The company develops, leases and manages general aviation hangars across the United States.

Construction of the new hangar complex is expected to begin in 2025.

Education & Training

One in five employers say that when it comes to job interviews, recent college graduates are unprepared, according to a survey conducted this month by survey platform Pollfish and commissioned by Intelligent.com. In total 800 U.S. managers, directors and executives who are involved in hiring were surveyed..

The biggest offense, according to 53% of employers, is that recent college graduates struggle with eye contact during interviews. Additionally, half of employers say they ask for unreasonable compensation, and 47% say they’ve had candidates show up to their interviews dressed inappropriately.

Twenty-one percent of employers have had a candidate refuse to turn on their camera for a virtual interview, while 19% say they’ve even had a recent college graduate bring a parent with them to their interview.

Sixty-three percent of employers who’ve worked with recent college graduates say they frequently can’t handle their workload. Additionally, 61% say they are frequently late to work, 59% say they often miss deadlines and assignments, and 53% say they are frequently late to meetings.

Other top complaints include lacking professionalism (57%), not responding well to feedback (55%), and having poor communication skills (52%).

Still, according to Diane M. Gayeski, professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College, employers who want to keep their younger hires may have to shift their own expectations and training protocols

“Gen Z hires need a lot of mentoring,” Gayeski says. “They may need very specific guidance about what to wear, how to write an appropriate business email, or how to speak up in a meeting.”

“These individuals value training and connections with fellow employees. They really want to do a good job and be valued. They also care very much about the values of an organization and its leaders, so if companies want to attract the top talent, they should be prepared to talk about more than just the job and making money.”

Health & Wellness

The average Connecticut smoker could save $3,322 annually by quitting the smoking habit, according to a new study.

The findings, from Yocan Vaporizer, calculated the cost of a year’s supply of cigarettes in each state, based on the current cost of a 20-pack and the typical consumption rate - which is 14 cigarettes daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the New Year approaches, many people will debate stopping smoking as their resolution, as they want to make a positive change. But some will also consider quitting the unhealthy habit for financial reasons, as stopping will significantly reduce their daily expenses.

Get in The Buzz by emailing releases to businessbriefs@theday.com. Business editor Lee Howard compiles briefs on a weekly basis. Go online to access links to each of the websites and emails mentioned.