Kathleen Stauffer, chief executive officer of The Arc Eastern Connecticut, has been elected to Chelsea Groton Bank’s Board of Trustees. She became a corporator of the bank in April 2022.

“Kathleen has had much success leading both for-profit and non-profit organizations throughout her career,” said Anthony Joyce, president and CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank. “She leads with a ‘community first’ mindset, a perspective that Chelsea Groton values and endeavors to share in the business decisions we make.”

Stauffer worked as a journalist, photojournalist, editor, and publisher for 30 years. In 2009, Stauffer joined The Arc, and in 2010, facilitated a successful merger between The Arc and Seacorp, Inc. Nine years later, she led another merger between The Arc NLC and The Arc Quinebaug Valley, establishing The Arc Eastern Connecticut, a $24 million nonprofit organization.

Stauffer completed two terms on the Board of Directors of The Arc of the United States. In 2011, she won NCE’s Rising Star Award and in 2014 was named Executive Director of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.

People & Places

The film “Poisoned,“ based on Waterford author Jeff Benedict’s book of the same name, has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary.

Benedict, a writer who first gained local fame for “Without Reservation,” a book about the rise of the Mashantucket Pequot gaming enterprise, went on to become a bestselling author of biographies on Tiger Woods and Lebron James as well as a nonfiction book called “The Dynasty” recounting the New England Patriots’ two decades of dominance with Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

“It was a life-changing opportunity to gain the trust of Bill Marler and write the book about his journey as a lawyer fighting for food safety,” Benedict wrote in an email. “And I am grateful to TV/Film executive Ross Dinerstein and the team at Campfire Studios for treating the story so well and for choosing filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig to direct the documentary.” Benedict also cited Kristin Lazure for producing the film now available on Netflix.

The Women’s Business Development Council has appointed three new members to its Board of Directors: Trish Havey (Chief Human Resources Officer at Libertas Funding), Travis Parman (Chief Communications Officer at Philip Morris International, U.S.), and Marissa M. Weidner (EVP, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank).

Trish Havey has spent most of her career in financial services, first as a fixed-income portfolio manager at Citibank Global Asset Management, then as Chief Administrative Officer at Libertas Capital Partners, and as Director of Human Resources for Knight Capital’s fixed-income group. Havey holds an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Suffolk University in Boston.

Travis Parman joined Philip Morris International in 2023 to help bring its mission to end cigarettes to the U.S. by leveraging a smoke-free portfolio in the interest of public health. He currently serves as Chief Communications Officer and previously held the same position at AppHarvest and Nissan Motor Corporation. He holds an M.S. in communications management from Syracuse University's Newhouse School and a B.S. in communications from the University of Tennessee and has been recognized by PR Week's “40 Under 40” list.

Marissa M. Weidner oversees and executes a $6.5 billion Community Investment Strategy. She serves as Co-President on the Board of Directors for the College of Westchester’s Charitable Foundation and is on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County. Weidner is a graduate of Fordham University and earned her master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness from Manhattanville College School of Business.

Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.

UCFS Healthcare in Norwich celebrates National Health Center Week Aug. 4-10. The annual event highlights the essential role Community Health Centers play in improving public health and advancing health equity.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Norwich Health Center, 47 Town St., CorePlus Credit Union will be distributing free backpacks and school supplies. Norwich Public Utilities will be offering each child a free book while supplies last. The free event will also include children’s activities and the opportunity to leave your handprints on an inclusive and progressive art project.

Learn more about UCFS at UCFShealthcare.org.

Two local students, East Lyme High School graduate Avni Kabra and Kaylee Ng of Norwich Free Academy, have been named winners of Liberty Bank’s 2nd Annual Kindness Scholarships of $5,000 each.

The Kindness Scholarship recognizes eligible students who attend a high school in a city or town served by Liberty Bank.

Kabra will be attending Yale University in the fall to study pre-med. Kabra started “TeachingIsHelping” – a volunteer tutoring program for the STEM fields, to bridge the academic gap in Connecticut while addressing food insecurity in her community. She was recognized by the National Alzheimer’s Association for raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and developed an app that aims to help strengthen memories.

Ng will attend Quinnipiac University to pursue a dual degree program in cell and molecular biology after having dedicated more than 200 hours of volunteerism at Backus Hospital. She volunteers with the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Associations’ Summer Youth Employment Program. In high school, she was a two-year captain of the Dance Team, helping to lead the squad to nationals.

To learn more about Liberty Bank’s Kindness Scholarship, visit the Community Page at www.liberty-bank.com.

The Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., has announced that it is a 2024 Top Workplaces INDUSTRY winner.

Energage handed out the award to SCADD, which has been providing treatment services to people seeking recovery since 1966. According to a release, the accolade celebrates organizations across various industries that prioritize employees and drive people-first cultures.

Chief Executive Officer Stacey Lawton noted that SCADD was honored with the 2023 Top Workplace Culture Excellence award and was featured on TopWorkplaces.com. It has also received numerous prior awards, including an honor to Lawton for Executive Director of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and to Leticia “Tish” Henderson, Office Manager for SCADD’s Outpatient Clinic, who won the La Latina of the Year Award from the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut.

Scott Gladstone and Neil Ryan, local franchise owners, say their Wireless Zone outlets contributed 3,000 backpacks as a part of the 12th annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway initiative. The giveaway, initiated in 2013, has been successful in distributing over 1.5 million backpacks to children across the country before the commencement of each new academic year.

On July 28, more than 1,200 TCC and Wireless Zone stores nationwide were part of the event.

"Our annual event forms the cornerstone of our community giving, which is a substantial part of our organization's culture," said Sam Stamatiou, managing partner and Director of Stores.

To learn more, visit www.wirelesszone.com.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney addressed the 66 sailors — including nine from the Royal Australian Navy — graduating from the United States Navy’s Basic Enlisted Submarine School last month. Courtney joined Captain Matthew Fanning, Commander of the Submarine School, as well as Commander Chris Emonson, Assistant Naval Attaché at the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The graduating class included the first cohort of enlisted Australian sailors to graduate from the United States Navy’s Submarine School as part of the AUKUS mission. These nine sailors will follow in the footsteps of the Royal Australian Navy officers who graduated from the Submarine Officer Basic Course in April and went on to assignments in the Indo-Pacific.

Essex Savings Bank will be donating more than $56,000 to 21 local nonprofits as part of its Community Investment Program. Every year since 1995, the initiative sees the bank donate up to 10% of its net after-tax profits to 501(c)(3) organizations.

President & CEO Diane Arnold pointed out that the bank has donated about $5.8 million during the past three decades. For more information, visit www.essexsavings.com.

The Rotary Club of Old Saybrook installed new officers for the 2024-2025 year at a ceremony at the Lyme Art Association.

New officers include Nancy Morin, President; Jan Perruccio, Vice President; Kathy Callinan, Treasurer; John Aforismo, Secretary; Debra Lee and Mary Polchaninoff, Co-Sergeant-at-Arms. Inducted as new members were Sandi Dansereau, Gina Johnson, Martha Rothchild, Alex Rothchild, and Ralph Stevens.

Visit www.osrotary.org for more information.

The United and Bank Square Books will host a fireside chat at 6 p.m. Aug. 15 featuring Westerly native Dr. Resa E. Lewiss and renowned journalist Soledad O’Brien. The conversation will center around Lewiss’s co-authored book, “MicroSkills: Small Action, Big Impact” and the essential skills required for the modern economy.

The themes in “MicroSkills” resonate with O’Brien’s PowHERful Foundation, which empowers young women and girls with the resources and tools they need to access college, graduate, and pursue fulfilling careers. O’Brien also is an executive producer and host of “Matter of Fact,” a weekly newsmagazine that delves into the political and socioeconomic issues affecting America.

Lewiss is a physician, professor, author and host of the Visible Voices podcast. There are two ticketing options – $20 without buying the book and $45 to get a copy. For information, visit https://unitedtheatre.org.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce recognized Kamal Kalkhoran of Lighthouse Bakery, as part of the Community Proud series, sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union. Kalkhoran, the driving force behind the daily operations at Lighthouse Bakery in Mystic, is renowned for his welcoming smile and willingness to help.

Founded in 2004, Lighthouse Bakery the recently renovated store was established following the immigration of Kamal's parents from Iran to America. Kamal is an avid runner and started the Lighthouse Run Club, which organizes weekly runs through Mystic.

The Salvation Army has named a husband-and-wife team as two new divisional commanders for Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The Lopezes were born and raised in Puerto Rico. Major Linda B. Lopez previously served as Director of Operations for Greater Cincinnati, and Major Richard Lopez served as General Secretary for the Southwest Ohio Northeast Kentucky Division.

Major Linda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Education from Nazarene Bible College and a Masters’ Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Global Business from Regent University. Major Richard is a veteran, having served honorably in the U.S. Navy as an Operations Specialist.

The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation announced today the disbursement of 24 grants to non-profits across Connecticut and Rhode Island. Totaling over $212,000, the investments will support thousands of youths that are seeking summer learning opportunities and will also help families gain access to social services assistance and job training.

Among the local organizations receiving support were The Salvation Army in Norwich for a food pantry; Safe Futures, Inc. to provide services for homeless women; Furniture Bank of CT, for families in financial need.

Southeastern CT Robotics participated last month in the renowned Zero Robotics competition, a national challenge that fosters innovation and collaboration among young minds in robotics and space science.

Team coach Fini McGlinchey expressed enthusiasm about the team's participation, stating, "This competition not only enhances their coding skills but also promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking."

The SECTR team watched the winning program run July 31 from the Regional Innovation Center in New London. For information, visit https://southeasternctrobotics.com/ or go to the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sect.rfbpage.

Grey Sail and New England Brewing Co. were honored Aug. 1 by Mystic-based Work Vessels for Vets for their outstanding efforts to support America's injured veterans.

The companies partnered to brew Work Vessel Double IPA, the proceeds of which ($15,000) were donated to the nonprofit. Work Vessels for Vets awards equipment to America's injured veterans who are starting a business following military service. For information, visit https://workvesselsforveterans.org/.

The Jonnycake Center of Westerly and Wood River Health have announced that they are partnering for a back-to-school fair on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westerly Armory at 41 Railroad Ave. The event is sponsored in part by Rhode Island Energy and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

Local organizations have come together for a third year to provide children with backpacks, school supplies, and educational items to ensure the school year starts strongly for all. Musical entertainment will be provided by WBLQ AM 1230, and there will also be games, face painting and craft tables.

For questions, call (401) 377-8069 and select Option 1, or email socialservices@jonnycake.org.

Mitchell College was awarded a $396,960 grant for Mitchell Woods: Accessibility in Action by the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program through the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The project will expand accessibility of Mitchell Woods to a broad range of users, including college students, seniors, preschool and school-age children, hearing- and sight-impaired individuals, and the greater community.

Improvements will include universally accessible trails, multiple respite areas with benches, interpretive signage, and wayfinding improvements for people with visual and sensory impairments. When complete, Mitchell Woods will offer one mile of fully accessible recreational trails in the heart of New London. The project is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete.

Several community organizations, including the New London Senior Center, the LEARN Regional Educational Service Center, and the South East CT Community Center of the Blind, participated in a needs assessment for the project. Mitchell Woods is a 26-acre public park on Montauk Avenue that includes wooded trails and a pond, in addition to a basketball court, two Little League fields, and the Children’s Learning Center at Mitchell College.

Chamber News

At the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, Miranda Creative will lead a series of workshops in August to help with digital marketing and social media.

The FriYay! Office Hours at the Regional Innovation Center are held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, including Aug. 16, 23 and 30. For information, visit Chamberect.com/events.

Also at the innovation center, Chelsea Groton Bank hosts its Banker in Residence: Open Office Hours from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 13 and 27. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome, but if you'd like to book a convenient time email Jennifer Willingham at innovation@chamberect.com.

The regional chamber also hosts Business After Hours at Hard Rock Cafe Foxwoods on Wednesday Aug. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. For tickets, visit Chamberect.com/events.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting at Encanto Scoop @ the Docks, 150 Chelsea Harbor Drive, on Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 4 to 5 p.m.

This is the new brick-and-mortar location of the Mi Encanto food truck with its Latin-inspired cuisine, including their new Bubble Waffle Ice Cream.

State News

The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) announced that its annual scholarship program will distribute $459,000 in financial assistance to 156 Connecticut students, many of them being the first in their family to attend college, for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Maximum awards are $3,000 for a full-time student and $1,500 for a part-time student enrolled at a degree granting institution. The awardees represent 65 Connecticut towns and cities and 25 Connecticut colleges and universities. CHESLA’s scholarship program has disbursed $11.4 million, impacting 5,927 students since its inception in 2015.

For information, visit https://chesla.org/undergraduate-scholarship/.

The Buzz is a weekly roundup of business news compiled by Business Editor Lee Howard. To get in The Buzz, email businessbriefs@theday.com. To easily access urls cited in print, go to www.theday.com and type “The Buzz” into the search bar.