EMPLOYMENT

Michael Bartolotta and Tim Dyl have been promoted by Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank. Bartolotta has been promoted to SVP, Chief Information Officer. He joined Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank in 2005, and most recently held the title of SVP, Information Systems Officer. Dyl has been promoted to SVP, Chief Financial Officer at the Bank. He joined Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank in 2016, and most recently held the position as VP, Controller. For more information, visit www.atbankeasternct.com.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC has hired Financial Advisors Chase Bradley, Senior Vice President/Investments, and Anthony “Chip” Jessuck Jr., Vice President/Investments, at its Mystic branch. Bradley is accompanied by Patty Grady, Senior Registered Private Client Associate. Bradley, Jessuck, and Grady were all formerly affiliated with Wells Fargo. Bradley lives in East Lyme, Jessuck in Waterford and Grady in Ledyard. For more information visit www.janney.com.

Joe Stoy has been promoted to Network Manager for the Westerly Community Credit Union. He has been with WCCU for two years and previously held the position of IT Analyst. He lives in Groton. For more information, visit www.westerlyccu.com or call 401-596-7000.

Gary Rogers will serve as a Membership Investment Manager for the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT, working alongside existing staff to recruit and retain members for the business and community organization. Previously, he worked for 20 years as Marketing Director at UST Inc., in Greenwich, as well as Vice President of Marketing at Pucuda Leading Edge Safety Systems of Madison. Rogers is a Board Trustee for High Hopes Therapeutic Riding of Old Lyme. He can be contacted at GRogers@ChamberECT.com.

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.

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.ChamberECT.com/events or (860) 701-9113.

SCORE will host workshops on:

"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.

“Networking to Meet New Customers” - Part 1 of a 3-Part Series on Finding Relevant Prospects to Develop Business with the Right Customers, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5:30–7 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road, Niantic. Presenter is Jim Jackson of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center. 

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

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will be holding standing workshops for those in the local community 10-11 a.m. on the second Monday of each month to discuss membership, marketing, and events with the staff. The workshops will be at the the Chamber office, 62 Greenmanville Road, Mystic.

NETWORKING

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Business After Hours networking event will take place Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the La Grua Center, 32 Water St., Stonington. Advance admission is $15 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members until Feb. 4. Prices increase by $5 after. All admission includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and door prize entry. Guests who bring a product or gift certificate to contribute to the evening’s door prize drawing will receive a free Business After Hours pass. Learn more at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113.

Westerly Hospital will hold an employment open house Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1-6 pm in the Henry J. Nardone Conference Center, 25 Wells St. The following departments with openings will be represented: diagnostic imaging, environmental services, food/nutrition services, laboratory, nursing services patient access, public safety and rehabilitation services. Interested candidates should bring a copy of their resume. Onsite interviews will be available. To view all current openings, visit www.westerlyhospital.org.

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. 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.

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.

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., the bank holding company for The Washington Trust Company, will hold its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the Westerly Library, 44 Broad St. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on Feb. 27, 2019 are entitled to attend and vote.

RIBBON CUTTING

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce welcomes Rug Décor LLC to the Mystic business community with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Feb. 8, 5:30-8 p.m. Rug Décor LLC is located at 21 East Main St. Owner Davoud Rad sells, buys, trades, cleans, restores and appraises handmade rugs from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India and China. The Mystic shop also sells art and décor. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rad can be contacted at rugdecorbydavoud@gmail.com or 860-245-5639.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Dutch Point Credit Union on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 9-10 a.m. at 241 Main St., Niantic. Admission is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested by Feb. 1 by calling (860) 257-5219 or EMumford@DutchPoint.org. Learn more at www.ChamberECT.com/events.

HONORS

Chelsea Groton Bank has once again been awarded a 5-Star rating for financial strength and stability from BauerFinancial, Inc. Earning and maintaining this top rating for 99 consecutive quarters makes its one of the Top 10 percent of banks in the nation. For more information, visit www.chelseagroton.com or www.bauerfinancial.com.

GIVING

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union’s Matching Gifts Program’s donations during 2018 reached nearly $400,000, and the combined donations from the credit union and its members were able to assist 345 charities and non-profit groups. During Charter Oak's 2018 Matching Gifts “$100,000 in 100 Days” Program, the credit union’s Board of Directors authorized the matching of up to $200,000 of donations because of the volume of donations being received. Charter Oak received over 1,000 donations from its members that it matched. As a result, Charter Oak matched $194,525 in donations from its members. The combined donations from Charter Oak and its members totaled $389,050 at the conclusion of the 2018 Matching Gifts initiative. Since 2016, when Charter Oak introduced its Matching Gifts program, nearly $790,000 has been donated.

Simon Youth Community Scholarships are awarded in every community that is home to a Simon Mall, Mills, or Premium Outlet center, including Clinton Crossing in Clinton and Crystal Mall in Waterford. Students may apply until Feb. 20 at www.syf.org/scholarships. Scholarship recipients are eligible for a one-time $1,500 scholarship, which may be applied to tuition at an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. Students who will be graduating high school in 2019 and live in the community surrounding a Simon Mall or Simon Premium Outlet center in New England are eligible. 

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded a total of $6,700 to support the projects of five area social service agencies. Announcement of the grants was made today by Kevin Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank. Griswold PRIDE was awarded $2,000 to sustain medication collection efforts and to support a mobile collection event and Thames Valley Council for Community Action was granted $1,200 to provide winter boots for children from low-income families. In Putnam, Interfaith Human Services received a $1,500 grant and the ARC of Quinebaug Valley and South Woodstock's Northeast Placement Services will receive $1,000 grants.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation encourages the region’s non-profit community to apply for a Foundation grant, available from www.ChamberECT.com/foundation until Friday, Feb. 8. The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation is to promote initiatives that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities for children and families in the Chamber service area. Contact the Foundation at Info@ChamberECT.com or (860) 701-9113. Send your business news to businessbriefs@theday.com.