Annual Gala & Awards Celebration 2024

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024

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Keynote Speaker: Carla Harris, Author and Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Impact Award Recipients: Stacey Kennedy, President, Americas Region & CEO of PMI’s U.S. Business
and Jean Swift, Chief Financial Officer, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

Patricia Billie Miller Award Recipient: Sara Sharp, Counsel, Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff LLC

Honorary Chairs: The Honorable Susan Bysiewicz, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut and
Annie Lamont, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Oak HC/FT, First Lady of Connecticut

Honorary Vice Chairs: Leander Dolphin, Managing Partner, Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
and Jeffrey Flaks, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hartford HealthCare

Women Rising Awardees

The Women Rising Award is presented annually to Women’s Business Development Council clients who show a strong commitment to WBDC and demonstrate success in their business and tenacity in pursuing their goals.

VINCENCIA ADUSEI, Owner
VASE Construction
New Haven

SOFIA BYRNES, Owner
Cottontails Childcare and Learning Center
Stamford

HOPE LEE, Owner
Lashes by Lee & Co.
New London

CHRISANN MILLER, Owner
The Ital Juicery Company®
Hartford

RACHEL PRECIOUS, Owner
Precious Oysters
Westport

GIOVANNA QUISPE, Owner
Rise & Shine Nursery & Pre-K Academy
Hartford

Contact Us

Do you have questions? Want more information? Here’s who to contact:

ARE YOU A LEGISLATOR?

Contact Alicia Kalish at:

ARE YOU AN ATTENDEE?

Contact Megan Wormser at: