Chamber to hold veterans member breakfast

MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will hold its 17th annual Support the Troops and Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 5. Retired Army Colonel, and chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, Kevin Brown “Red Eagle” will serve as keynote speaker.

The Member Breakfast Meeting, sponsored by Middlesex Hospital, will be held at the Red Lion Hotel Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, with networking beginning at 7 a.m., breakfast buffet opens at 7:30 a.m. and the meeting program, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Cost is $22. Advance registration is required; register online: www.middlesexchamber.com.

Two awards will be presented at the event, the William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award, and the AT&T Veteran Support Business of the Year Award.

The William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award is presented annually to a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, in recognition of his or her distinguished service to the citizens of Connecticut and selfless commitment to public service. This year’s recipient is Morton “Morty” Pear of Middletown.

The AT&T Veteran Support Business of the Year Award is presented annually to a business that supports active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families through employment, philanthropy, spousal support, and other means. This year’s recipient is Liberty Bank. For more information, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com.

Kevin Brown “Red Eagle” was elected Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe in October 2013. As Chairman, Brown is responsible for maintaining the sovereignty that the Mohegan Tribe fought hundreds of years for, overseeing its numerous business entities and ensuring the wellbeing of its more than 2,100 Tribal citizens.

In his role, Brown also serves as Chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) Management Board which oversees numerous gaming entities across the country including Mohegan Sun; Mohegan Sun Pocono; Resorts Casino Hotel; Paragon Casino Resort; ilani Resort and two professional sports teams. Under his leadership, the Mohegan Tribe has made monumental steps forward in its business growth, and expanded its footprint worldwide. In 2015 MTGA was awarded a license to develop and build a first-of-its-kind integrated resort – the Inspire Project, a joint venture with Korean business partners – at Incheon International Airport in South Korea. In 2016 they reached an agreement to redevelop a blighted brownfield near the Mohegan Reservation into a multi-million dollar non-gaming tourist destination, creating hundreds of jobs and driving economic growth in southeastern Connecticut. Brown is the Chairman of the Board for the Inspire Project, and also oversees the Tribe’s non-gaming diversification entity, Mohegan Holding Company, LLC.

A native of Montville, Brown served in the United States Army for 25 years, retiring as a Colonel in 2011 and deploying 5 times in service to our country. He served as a Platoon Leader with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Company Commander in the 1st Cavalry Division in Kuwait during Operation Southern Watch & Intrinsic Action; Battalion Executive Officer in Thailand during Operation Cobra Gold; Battalion Commander in the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Deputy Brigade Commander for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Kirkuk Iraq, and commanded the Garrison at Fort Riley Kansas. His numerous citations and awards during his military career include the prestigious Legion of Merit, 3 Bronze Stars Combat Infantryman’s Badge (2nd Award), Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and Ranger tab.

Brown is a Doctoral Candidate in Security Studies from Kansas State University, and also earned a Master of Arts in Public Diplomacy from Norwich University, a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Brown has a strong dedication to making the community a better place. Locally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and Channel 3 Kids Camp, and is the Chairman of the American Heart Association Southeastern Connecticut Heart Walk; at the national level Brown serves on the Board of Directors for the forthcoming National Native American Veterans Memorial at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

As Chairman, Brown has been awarded the National Indian Gaming Association’s prestigious John Kieffer Sovereignty Award for his efforts in advancing the lives of Mohegan people and other Indian tribes by promoting economic selfsufficiency in innovative and untraditional means; both the Military Community Support Award and the Board of Directors Special Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and the Annual Outstanding Leadership Award from the Boy Scouts of America.