Young professionals named ‘Leaders Under 40’

NW Chamber honors young professionals from Litchfield

TORRINGTON — The Northwest Connecticut Chamber’s Young Professionals Organization recently announced that 40 individuals have been selected for the first edition of Litchfield County’s Leaders Under 40. Nominations of remarkable young people living and working in the northwest corner who are making a difference in their company, school, or community were received throughout the month of March. Over 100 nominations were received.

Awardees were selected by a panel of local leaders who evaluated each nominee using the following criteria: career or educational achievement todate, commitment to excellence in their industry, leadership within their organization, involvement in the community, leadership in community organizations, and potential impact to the community’s future.

The following individuals were selected for the honor:

Katie Adkins, Plymouth Meats; Christian Allyn, Town of North Canaan; Peter Callahan, Fresh Perspectives/Copper Beech Institute; Jamie Cantoni, Cornwall Historical Society/Western Connecticut State University; Andrew Deacon, Torrington Public Schools; Jennifer Donovan, Red Barn Consulting; Ruth Dwyer Nadeau, Ackerly Brown LLP; Sarah Dziedzic, Union Savings Bank; Danielle Eichman, Papermoon Dance & Performing Arts; Renee Giroux, Earth’s Palate Farm & Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities; Jessica Gueniat, Torrington Library; Johanna IdrovoSarmiento, Northwestern CT Community College; Lauren Johnson, Catalyst Counseling of Connecticut; Jordan Kaine, RN, BSN, Visiting Nurse Services of CT; Phillip Koenig, Wamogo Regional High School; Vince Laliberte, Pursue the Clues; Meghan Lyon, Hoekenga & Machado, LLC /UConn School of Law; Alain Malcolm, Altek Electronics, Inc.; Katherine Mancarella, North Meadow Farm; Mathew Montgomery, Northwest CT YMCA; Katrin Moskowitz, Community Health & Wellness Center; state Rep. Brian Ohler, R-64; Kimberly Petzel, Torrington Public Schools; Isabella Pinto, Northwestern CT Community College; Olivia Pinto, Northwestern CT Community College; Zachary Ritchie, Prime Time House, Inc.; Lisselot Rodriguez, Central CT State University; Michael Shea, OD, Blondin Shea Eye Care; Robert Simon, Torrington Police Department; John Simoncelli, Greenwoods Counseling Referrals, Inc.; James Steck, Ebersol, McCormick, Reis & Steck, LLC; Michael Sweeney, Torrington Savings Bank; Carrie Taylor, Brooks, Todd & McNeil Insurance; Jessica Tessman, Central Connecticut State University; Jill Veras-Corey, Torrington Library; Julie Vincent, Susquehanna University; Anthony Vultaggio Jr., Torrington Ford Lincoln; Timothy Waldron, City of Torrington; Michael Whittaker, ESPN; and Crystal Wiggins, Northwestern CT Community College.

These individuals will be honored in a magazine publication in late July and at an awards dinner on July 26. The evening’s emcee will be Natasha Lekwa, host of Influencer Marketing and social media editor at Forbes.

“Congratulations to these exceptional young people, who are contributing their time and talents to our region and making it a better place for all of us to live and work. These outstanding individuals, and all of the 100 plus nominees, prove that the future of this region is in great hands,” said JoAnn Ryan, president and CEO of the Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce.

The Northwest Chamber created the Young Professionals Organization to support and expand the population of young professionals in the region through networking, community involvement and professional development. The Young Professionals Organization is sponsored by the marketing communications agency Conquest.

The ultimate goal is to make northwestern Connecticut an inviting and attractive place in which young professionals can live and work, Ryan said. The chamber recognizes that businesses, state and local governments, civic organizations and the community at large rely on young people to succeed their predecessors in leadership roles, and that without leaders to fill vacancies or offer fresh ideas, the region will struggle to remain competitive, she said.

The Young Professionals Organization helps men and women in their 20s and 30s develop a peer network and plant roots in the community. This is accomplished through social networking events at local businesses, providing professional development seminars, community service opportunities, and other activities.

For more information on the Chamber’s Young Professionals Organization, visit nwctchamberofcommerce.org, call the Chamber at 860-482-6586 or email Lauren Zordan at lauren@nwctchamberofcommerce.org.