Great Entrepreneurs is pleased to announce The Top 50 Business Leaders of Connecticut for 2023. Often described as the "Arsenal of the Nation," Connecticut has been at the global forefront of industrial development from the beginning. Even during its early colonization period, the state's industries held such significance that they garnered complaints from competitors in England. By the early 19th century, famed inventors Eli Whitney and Simeon North were making firearms with interchangeable parts, and thus laying the foundation for modern mass production methods. Through the years, Connecticut's industrial genius has given way to a plethora of other industries, including finance, insurance, real estate, and healthcare. The state also has a strong presence in aerospace, defense, pharmaceuticals, and technology sectors as well. Many of this year's awardees are excelling in these wide range of industries, providing opportunities and growth not only for their companies, but for the state they call home.
One of the notable recipients of this year's awards is Kathleen Silard, the President and CEO of Stamford Health. After beginning her professional career as a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit nurse, Silard is now in charge of the largest employer in the City of Stamford, contributing more than $1 billion a year to the local economy. Also recognized is Chris Patsiga, who serves as CEO of Telaid. Under Patsiga's leadership, Telaid has more than tripled its revenues. Additionally, we have David Snow, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Cedar Gate Technologies. A nationally recognized executive with 40 years of experience, Snow previously took Medco public in 2003 and grew it from $30 billion to $72 billion in revenue over a 9 year period.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Business Leaders of Connecticut for 2023.
1. Luca Savi
Chief Executive Officer and President, ITT Inc.
Luca Savi is the chief executive officer and president at ITT Inc, a diversified leading manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the transportation, industrial, and energy markets. Building on its heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver enduring solutions to the key industries that underpin our modern way of life.
Savi, who previously served as ITT's president and chief operating officer, joined the company in 2011 as president of its Motion Technologies business. Before that, Savi previously held several key leadership roles in Italy, China and the United States for Comau – which is a subsidiary of the Fiat Group. He also formerly held senior roles at Honeywell International. Savi began his career as an engineer with Royal Dutch Shell and Ferruzzi-Montedison Group. Currently, he also serves on the board of directors for MSA Safety Inc. Savi holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Polytechnic of Milan in Italy and an MBA from the London Business School.
2. John Garrison
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Terex Corporation
John L. Garrison, Jr. was elected Chairman of the Board of Terex Corporation effective August 15, 2018, having served as President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2, 2015. He assumed additional responsibilities as President, Terex Aerial Work Platforms on June 8, 2020.Previously, from 2009 to 2015, Garrison was President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron, Inc. Earlier, he was President of Textron’s industrial segment, which comprises four businesses: EZGO, Greenlee, Jacobsen and Kautex. Prior to that, he was President of E-Z-GO.
Garrison joined Textron in 2002 from Azurix Corporation, a global water company, where he was President, Chairman and CEO. He earlier served as Vice President and General Manager of Case Corporation’s North American Agricultural Group, and Vice President and General Manager of the Case Agricultural Systems Group. Garrison has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Flowserve Corporation, one of the largest global suppliers of industrial and environmental machinery, since October 2018, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Garrison earned an MBA from Harvard University, graduating with distinction and first- and second-year honors, and a BS in Engineering from the United States Military Academy, where he was on the Academic Dean’s List and top 1% in leadership ratings.
3. Dirk Bontridder
Chief Executive Officer, PerkinElmer, Inc.
Dirk Bontridder is the Chief Executive Officer of PerkinElmer, a global company specializing in life sciences, diagnostics, and applied services. With its headquarters in the United States, PerkinElmer operates in over 150 countries, providing innovative solutions and technologies to enable scientific advancements. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including genetic screening and analysis, drug discovery and development, among others.
Bontridder first joined the company in 2023. Previously, he was a CEO at Reynaers Aluminium. Before that, he served as a general manager at Nova Hesse Stevedoring. Earlier in his career, he worked with Olivetti as a software engineer. Bontridder earned an MBA from Vlerick Business School and a master's in computer science and IT from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
4. Christopher Vincze
Chairman and CEO, TRC Companies, Inc.
Since January of 2006 Christopher P. Vincze has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TRC Companies. He previously served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. In his current role, Vincze is responsible for oversight of the strategic direction of the company. He also leads the firm’s Executive Management Team. Over the past 14 years, Vincze and the TRC’s Executive Management Team have restructured and repositioned the company as a leading provider of engineering, consulting, and construction management services to the Power, Environmental, Oil & Gas, and Infrastructure markets.
Prior to joining TRC, Vincze served as Managing Director at Marsh, a $5.5 billion risk and insurance services unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies. While at Marsh, he led the firm’s Corporate Environmental Practice. In addition, Vincze participated in many MMC Capital and Corporate integration and growth programs. Before joining Marsh, he was President and COO at ATC Group Services. He graduated from Boston University School of Medicine with an MPH in epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health. He also graduated from Connecticut College with an undergraduate degree in zoology and animal biology.
5. Jean-Francois Turgeon
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Tronox
At Tronox, Jean-Francois Turgeon currently serves as co-Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Board. He previously served as the company’s EVP and COO. Turgeon joined Tronox in January 2014 to integrate the mineral sands and pigment business. In addition, he has been responsible for integrating business planning, technology, supply chain and capital investment – including mine development.
Turgeon brings decades of leadership experience in the global titanium dioxide business. He joined Tronox from the Rio Tinto Group, where he served for more than 24 years, culminating in his position as Managing Director of its iron and titanium division. Turgeon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Université Laval and a master’s degree in Hydrometallurgy from McGill University.
6. Bill Barton
President and CEO, Bob's Discount Furniture
Bill Barton is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bob's Discount Furniture, one of the largest and fastest growing furniture retailers in the country, providing a wide variety of high-quality furniture, mattresses, and home accents at attractive prices. Since 2015, Bob’s Discount Furniture has more than doubled its store count, from approximately 60 locations to 135. Notably, Barton brings more than three decades of experience developing and leading high-growth businesses to his current CEO role.
Most recently, Barton spent 11 years as CEO of California Closets, the category leader in home organization solutions and a unit of FirstService Brands, which is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation. During his tenure, Barton worked with the leadership team to drive sustained growth by introducing new products and materials, opening the company’s first two U.S. manufacturing plants, launching its e-commerce platform, and creating collaborations with major lifestyle brands including Marquee Brands and Martha Stewart. Barton earned an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and an undergraduate degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix.
7. Anthony Guzzi
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, EMCOR Group, Inc.
Anthony Guzzi is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EMCOR Group, a Fortune 500 leader in mechanical and electrical construction, industrial and energy infrastructure, and building services for a diverse range of businesses and government. With 2022 revenues at $11.1 billion, the company boasts a workforce of more than 33,000 employees. In addition to his EMCOR duties, Guzzi is passionate about giving back to veterans and their families. He helped found the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, which provides educational opportunities to the children and spouses of soldiers.
Prior to joining EMCOR, Guzzi was President of the North American Distribution and Aftermarket Division of Carrier Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of commercial and residential HVAC and refrigeration systems and equipment, Previously, Guzzi served as an engagement manager with McKinsey & Company. He is also Lead Director of Hubbell Incorporated. Notably, Guzzi is Ranger qualified and served in the U.S. Army as a Light Infantry Captain from 1986 to 1991. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science with highest distinction from The United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986. Guzzi later earned his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard.
8. Rod Little
President and Chief Executive Officer, Edgewell Personal Care
Rod Little is President and Chief Executive Officer of Edgewell Personal Care. As CEO, Little is leading Edgewell’s journey of transformation as it becomes a more agile and modern consumer products company. Before being named CEO in 2019, he served as CFO, where he led the company’s finance organization, oversaw the IT organization, and collaborated with senior and functional leadership. Under Little’s CEO stewardship, Edgewell has recently shown growth in numbers, with its 2023 Q2 earnings reporting an organic net sales increase of 11.3% – marking its 8th consecutive quarter of organic net sales growth. The company has also been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies in 2023 and by USA Today as one of America’s Climate Leaders in 2023.
Little has more than 20 years of global experience in consumer goods organizations, significant public company experience, and a strong track record of driving results. Prior to Edgewell, Little served as CFO with HSN. Earlier in his career, Little was EVP and CFO of Elizabeth Arden. Before that, he spent 16 years at Procter & Gamble, gaining a broad, global perspective and valuable consumer insights across a wide product portfolio. Little served in the U.S. Air Force for five years. He earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BS in Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Rod Little Milestones
As CEO, Rod is leading Edgewell’s journey of transformation as it becomes a more agile and modern consumer products company. Rod has focused on strengthening the value-proposition of the company’s core brands, investing in innovation and technology, reshaping the company’s management team, and refining the strategic direction of the company. In addition to reshaping the business, he unveiled a cultural transformation in 2020. This new culture effectively re-launched Edgewell as a purpose-led, people-first company that infuses joy in all its innovation and operations.
9. Nick Stanage
Chairman, CEO and President, Hexcel Corporation
Nick Stanage became Hexcel Corporation’s director and Chief Executive Officer in August 2013, later adding Chairman of the Board to his titles in January 2014. Notably, he has served as their President since November 2009. He also was the COO from May 2012 until assuming his current CEO position. Prior to joining Hexcel, from 2005-2009 Stanage was President of the Heavy Vehicle Products group (including both Commercial Vehicle Products and Off Highway Products) at Dana Holding Corporation. From 1986 to 2005, Stanage held positions of increasing responsibility in engineering, operations and marketing with Honeywell Inc.
On top of his current CEO duties, Stanage also serves on the board of directors of TriMas Corporation; as well as on the compensation, and corporate governance and nominating committees of TriMas. Stanage graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business with an MBA and from Western Michigan University with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
10. Ben Pajak
Chief Executive Officer, HealthPlanOne
Ben Pajak is the Chief Executive Officer of HealthPlanOne, a leading Medicare and health insurance sales and marketing organization. The company’s mission is to “decomplexify” Medicare for customers across the country to match each person with the optimal plan, with a focus on the long term, to support better health and deliver peace of mind. Since 2006, HealthPlanOne’s highly experienced agents, uniquely personal service, diverse solutions, and proprietary analytics have made the company one of the highest performing lead generation, member acquisition and retention teams in the industry. With six locations across the country, the company serves consumers in every state. It also operates ClearMatchMedicare.com to educate consumers and allow them to shop and enroll for Medicare plans online.
Pajak has been with HealthPlanOne since 2022. Before that, he spent a decade leading Willis Towers Watson’s individual marketplace efforts – in both the employer and direct-to-consumer spaces. An experienced and widely respected healthcare insurance executive, he has been integral in the acquisition and leadership of several companies in the fast-growing senior healthcare segment. Pajak received a BA and an MBA from the University of Hartford.
11. John Selldorff
President & CEO, Legrand, North America
John Selldorff has nearly 30 years of leadership experience building global brands and guiding top-tier companies. As president and CEO of Legrand in North America, his vision and expertise in the electrical products and mechanical building systems industries has driven notable growth and opportunity. Legrand, North & Central America, one of Legrand S.A’s largest subsidiaries, is the global specialist in products and systems for electrical and digital building infrastructures. Selldorff joined Legrand in 2002 as the President and CEO across North America.
In addition to his current CEO duties, Selldorff serves on the Executive Committee for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) as the Immediate-Past Chairman. He is also a member of the Council on Competitiveness, a national forum of CEOs, University Presidents, and Labor Leaders committed to advancing U.S. economic prosperity. Prior to his time at Legrand, Selldorff was President of Honeywell’s Automation & Control Solutions Service in the Automation and Controls Solutions Group. Before that, he had an extended period with General Electric. Selldorff received his MBA from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and his BA from Colgate University.
12. Jason Guyot
President and Chief Executive Officer, Foxwoods Resort Casino
Jason Guyot is the President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Guyot began working at Foxwoods in 2003 shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Mitchell College. During the start of his career at Foxwoods, he held several roles within Human Resources and traveled internationally for several years overseeing recruitment programs abroad for the resort casino. He was promoted to Director of Employment & Diversity in 2005, and in 2007 transitioned into property operations as Director of Operations and Shared Services during the MGM Grand at Foxwoods expansion. In this position, he played a key role in the opening of the property; its ongoing success led him to grow within the company, securing positions as General Manager, Executive Director of Hotel Operations and Vice President of Hotel Operations for the Foxwoods hotel collection.
His continued commitment to quality and service led him to be promoted to VP of Resort Operations and Development in 2014, where he led the property master planning efforts while also overseeing property operations. Guyot was then promoted to Senior Vice President of Resort Operations in 2018 and led Foxwoods operations, as well as property development efforts.
Guyot has been instrumental in evolving Foxwoods Resort Casino into a fully integrated resort destination, adding amenities such as Tanger Outlet Mall at Foxwoods, the High Flyer Zipline, Sugar Factory, Monza World Class Karting, Top Golf Swing Suite and much more. Guyot is a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the first Tribal Member to lead the organization. He is very involved with the local community and sits on several boards, including Special Olympics CT, CT Restaurant Association and the CT Tourism Council representing Casino and Gaming.
13. Vincent Capece Jr.
President & CEO, Middlesex Health
Vincent Capece Jr. is the President & CEO of Middlesex Health, a healthcare system that provides a wide range of medical services to the community. Founded in 1996, the system comprises Middlesex Hospital, a 213-bed acute care hospital, and various outpatient clinics and facilities. Middlesex Health offers comprehensive healthcare services, including emergency care, surgery, maternity care, cancer treatment, cardiology, orthopedics, and more.
The organization is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and is recognized for its medical advancements and innovative practices. Middlesex Health actively engages in community outreach and education programs, striving to promote wellness and improve the overall health of the population it serves. Capece earned an MBA and an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut.
Middlesex Health Milestone
We are consistently named one of America's top 100 hospitals by Healthgrades. We also consistently earn an "A" from the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, and we are proud to be a top workplace in Connecticut.
14. Kathleen Silard
President and CEO, Stamford Health
After beginning her professional career as a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit nurse, Kathleen Silard is now the President and CEO of Stamford Health, an independent, non-profit health system providing expert, compassionate care whose vision is to be the most trusted healthcare partner for the communities they serve. With more than 3,800 employees, Stamford Health is the largest employer in the City of Stamford, contributing more than $1 billion a year to the local economy.
Under Silard’s leadership, Stamford Health has been recognized by numerous organizations for patient experience and satisfaction, quality, and safety – including U.S. News & World Report. Silard’s dedication to the community goes beyond her role with Stamford Health. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for various state and local organizations including AdvanceCT, Connecticut Governor’s Workforce Council, and Greater New York Hospital Association. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Hospital Association.
15. Robert Burton
CEO, Cenveo
Since 2018 Rob Burton has been Chief Executive Officer of Cenveo. Burton, who was previously the company’s President, also serves on its Board of Directors. Cenveo offers cutting-edge technology and superior service to empower its customers to expand their reach, maximize ROI, and disrupt the status quo. Burton has been a member of the Cenveo Executive Committee since he joined the company in 2005. Burton has over 20 years of business experience as an Investor Relations, M&A and financial professional. Before Cenveo, he was President of Corporate Operations.
He was also President of Burton Capital Management, LLC – and was the primary investment officer before he joined Cenveo. Earlier, Burton also served as the SVP of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for Moore Wallace Incorporated. Before that, he served in the same role for Moore Corporation. From 1996 through 1999, he held various management positions at World Color Press, Inc., including VP of Investor Relations. Burton earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Greenwich Athletic Foundation, where he currently serves as President.
16. Greg Barats
President and CEO, HSB - Hartford Steam Boiler
Greg Barats is President and Chief Executive Officer of HSB Group, parent company of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. He assumed responsibility for this position in 2011. He also serves on the Munich Global Specialty Insurance Executive Board and on the boards of various HSB affiliated corporations. As part of his Munich leadership role, he serves as chair of relayr, a global Industrial IoT technology company, that was acquired by HSB in 2018. Additionally, Barats heads up Munich Re’s Global IoT business, which targets commercial and industrial markets with new technology, risk solutions and business models. On top of that, since 2002 Barats has served as chair for HSB Solomon Associates.
During his time with HSB, Barats took on the role of EVP of HSB Engineering Services. He also holds seven U.S. business-method patents. Earlier, he co-founded two-companies, Applied Earth Technology and Applied Environmental Technology. He began his career as a research scientist for the United States Geological Survey. Barats holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and an MBA from Southern Oregon University. He has served on the Hartford HealthCare Board of Directors since 2019.
17. Frédéric-Charles Petit
Chief Executive and Founder, Toluna
In 2000 Frédéric-Charles Petit founded Toluna with the goal of helping businesses make clearer decisions by bringing brands and people together via a streamlined research platform and the world’s largest social voting community. Over the last two decades, Toluna has acquired several companies. It has grown from a startup headquartered in Paris, to a global company of more than 1,400 staff in 25 offices on five continents.
Petit got his start in 1998 as an associate at gide loyrette. From there, he went on to Allen & Overy. Petit graduated from the New York University School of Law with an LLM CJ in comparative jurisprudence.
18. Kara Raiguel
President and CEO, Gen Re
Kara Raiguel is the President and CEO of Gen Re, a leading property/casualty and life/health reinsurance company. They are owned by General Re Corporation, a reinsurance holding company for global reinsurance and related operations; and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Gen Re delivers Treaty and Facultative reinsurance solutions to companies in all segments of the insurance industry.
Their direct business model ensures their clients have direct access to decision makers, and underwriting, actuarial and claims experts, who understand and support their business objectives. Raiguel has 30 years of experience. Before joining Gen Re, she was an assistant VP at ACE. Before that, she served as an actuary at CIGNA. Raiguel graduated from Ursinus College with an undergraduate degree in math.
19. Steve Horowitz
Chief Executive Officer, CareCentrix
Steven M. Horowitz occupies the position of Chief Executive Officer at CareCentrix, which partners with providers and payers in the transition to value-based care with home health management solutions and services that support improved outcomes and efficient care delivery.
Horowitz joined the company as SVP, Controller. From there, he became the CFO, where he directed all of CareCentrix’s financial activities, including financial planning, accounting and financial reporting.
In addition to his current CEO duties, Horowitz is also on the board of SCWorx Corp.; is a member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and is a member of Wall Street Journal Cfo Network. Previously, Horowitz served as Controller of Catamaran PBM of Illinois, Inc.; Controller of The Fantastic Co. AG; Vice President-Business Planning at Medco Health Solutions; and Chief Financial Officer for Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center. He received an MBA from Adelphi University and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University.
20. Mark Masselli
Founder, President, and CEO, Community Health Center
Mark Masselli is president, CEO, and founder of Community Health Center, Connecticut’s leading provider of medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare for the underserved and special populations. Founded in 1972, CHC cares for approximately 150,000 patients at more than 200 sites, including the state’s largest School-Based Health Care network serving thousands of students at all grade levels. Notably, Masselli led CHC’s pandemic response. When Connecticut schools closed in March 2020, he headed the swift and successful transition to telehealth of all school-based services.
On top of that, Masselli serves as board chair of the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement. He also serves on the board of the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium. Furthermore, he is Vice President of the Goodspeed Opera House Board of Trustees. He received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Wesleyan University in 2009 for his work in the healthcare field.
21. Tobias Reiss-Schmidt
President & Chief Executive Officer, Timex Group
Tobias Reiss-Schmidt is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Timex Group. In this role, he is responsible for the functions of marketing, product, manufacturing, sales, finance and administration for the Group’s globally recognized brands, which include: Timex, Guess, Gc, Versace, Versus, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Nautica. During his tenure, Reiss-Schmidt has implemented narrowly focused brand teams and initiated the development of segmented product and marketing strategies. Additionally, he is increasing the focus on leveraging the Group’s strong watchmaking know-how and manufacturing infrastructure and on driving product innovation and speed to market.
Reiss-Schmidt began his career in International Marketing at Beiersdorf Group in his home country of Germany. Afterwards, he joined Boston Consulting Group, where he was a member of the Consumer & Retail practice; and focused his work on the fashion and sporting goods industries. Prior to joining Timex Group in 2015, Reiss-Schmidt held the position of President & CEO of The Rockport Company. Schmidt received an MBA from INSEAD. He is also a graduate of the University of Applied Sciences Muenster (Germany).
22. Tim Boylan
CEO and Founder, OP360 (OfficePartners360)
Tim Boylan is the CEO and Founder of OP360 (OfficePartners360), founded in 2006 by experienced business entrepreneurs on a relationships-first philosophy. Bolstered by their first-hand experience, they set forth with one goal in mind: to be a trusted global workforce partner and position the business as a one-stop, full-service outsourcing company that delivers streamlined solutions for brands and businesses all while reducing costs, improving service levels and growing top-line performance.
Thanks to the combination of incredible people, innovative technology and progressive thought leadership, OP360 continually raises the bar of world-class customer experience and is a fast-growing global workforce solutions provider for both medium-sized and large Fortune 500 companies. Boylan, who began his career in 2006, has 17 years of experience. He graduated from Trinity College-Hartford with an undergraduate degree in political science.
OP360 Milestones
Garnered a remarkable collection of 10 prestigious awards, including 6 esteemed Stevie® Awards. Most recently, we were honored with a gold award for Contact Center of the Year (Business Service Industries) at the 2023 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service.
Secured the top spot on Outsource Accelerator's prestigious list of the Top 30 BPO Companies in the USA, reaffirming our unrivaled commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
Maintained an outstanding average employee satisfaction rating of 94%, a testament to our unwavering dedication to fostering a positive work environment. Notably, our Employee Referral Program has played a pivotal role, contributing to 50% of our exceptional growth.
23. Shawn Nelson
Founder & CEO, Lovesac
Shawn Nelson founded Lovesac in 1998. Currently he serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Board of Directors. As CEO, Nelson is the lead designer of the company's patented products. He spearheads sourcing, creative, design, public relations, investor relations and culture. In 2005, Nelson won Richard Branson's "The Rebel Billionaire" on Fox and continues to participate in ongoing TV appearances.
Previously, Nelson was a training department manager at Professional Way. Nelson earned a master's in strategic design and business from The New School and an undergraduate degree in Chinese from the University of Utah. He is fluent in Mandarin.
24. Craig Landau
President & CEO, Purdue Pharma L.P.
Craig Landau is the President and CEO of Purdue Pharma, roles he’s held since June 2017. His pharmaceutical roots are deep, going back to 1997, when he first entered the industry. Two years later, he joined Purdue Pharma L.P. During his 14 years with the organization, he served as Purdue Pharma’s chief medical officer and VP of R&D Innovation, Clinical and Medical Affairs. During his tenure, he has been responsible for a number of successful health policy initiatives, including Butrans, reformulated OxyContin, Targiniq ER, and Hysingla ER. In 2013, Landau was appointed president and CEO of Purdue Pharma (Canada).
Landau earned his Bachelor of Science in physiology and anatomy from Cornell University and his MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He also completed his anesthesiology residency at Yale University, with specialty training in chronic pain management, obstetric and peripheral vascular anesthesia. Notably, Landau is also a U.S. Army Veteran, having concluded a distinguished 14-year career in 2005.
25. Stew Leonard Jr.
CEO, Stew Leonard's Farm Fresh Food
Stew Leonard Jr. is President and CEO of Stew Leonard’s, a unique family-owned farm fresh food retailer recognized as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for 10 consecutive years. With over 2,500 employees, the company has been dubbed “The Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by The New York Times for its in-store entertainment. It was also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having “the greatest sales per unit area of any single food store in the United States”.
Leonard took over as president and CEO in 1991. From there, he grew the company from one retail food store in Norwalk, Connecticut to seven stores across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey – as well as eight family owned wine stores. Stew Leonard’s welcomes over 20 million visitors a year and has annual sales exceeding $500 million. Leonard graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in accounting. He later earned his MBA from UCLA in 1982. He lives in Westport, Connecticut with his wife Kim and their four daughters.
26. Thomas Hook
President & Chief Executive Officer, Barnes
Thomas J. Hook is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 13 different companies. Presently, Hook holds the position of President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Barnes Group, Inc.; President for Barnes Industrial Group, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer for Electrochem Solutions, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer of Lake Region Manufacturing, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer at SaniSure of California, Inc.; and President of Micro Power Electronics, Inc. Hook is also Chairman at Highmark Western & Northeastern New York, Inc. and on the board of 9 other companies.
In the past Hook was Chief Executive Officer & Director at Q Holding Co., President & Chief Executive Officer of Integer Holdings Corp. and President & Chief Executive & Operating Officer at Greatbatch Ltd. (a subsidiary of Integer Holdings Corp.), President of CTI Solutions, Inc., President-CTI Solutions Group at CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc., General Manager-Functional & Molecular Imaging at GE Medical Systems, Inc. and General Manager-Functional & Molecular Imaging at GE Medical Systems Ceská Republika sro. He received an undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University, a graduate degree from State University of New York at Buffalo and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
27. David Snow
Chairman & CEO, Cedar Gate Technologies
David Snow is a nationally recognized healthcare executive with 40 years of experience leading Fortune 50 companies, health plans, hospitals and several innovative healthcare start-ups. He has been featured in numerous articles and is a frequently sought after public speaker. Snow was acknowledged as one of America’s Best CEO’s by Institutional Investor in 2008, and in 2010, he was named #27 on the Harvard Business Review list of “Best Performing CEOs in the World.” Additionally, Snow was recognized as the regional E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 along with being a national finalist, and was also named a regional finalist as the Cedar Gate CEO in 2021.
Snow is currently the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cedar Gate Technologies, a provider of technology-powered end-to-end solutions designed to enable customer success in value-based care, encompassing enterprise data management, analytics, population health, bundles and capitation payment technologies, along with other managed and services. Prior to Cedar Gate Technologies, Snow was the Chairman & CEO of Medco Health Solutions, a Fortune 34 company. Snow took Medco public in 2003 and grew it from $30 billion to $72 billion in revenue over a 9 year period. Before Medco, Snow holds a bachelor’s from Bates College, and a master’s in Healthcare Administration from the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.
28. Dennis LeStrange
Chief Executive Officer, BlueCrest
Dennis LeStrange joined BlueCrest as Chief Executive Officer in June, 2019. With over 20 years of senior executive management experience in the mail equipment and services industry, his expertise and results in product development, leveraging technology, software assets and organization transformation is particularly valued as BlueCrest continues its transformative journey. Prior to his appointment as CEO of BlueCrest, LeStrange led Neopost’s Small and Mid-Sized Equipment ("SME") Division that manufactures physical mail hardware and develops software for digital business communications management segments.
In addition, LeStrange served as Neopost’s President and Chief Executive Officer for Neopost USA and Chief Operating Officer of Neopost North America. LeStrange’s prior roles include executive positions with IKON North America, A-Copy and Savin Corporation. LeStrange has a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from SUNY Empire State College, and he is chairman emeritus of the Advisory Board at Pennsylvania State University Great Valley—School of Graduate Professional Studies.
29. Ian Walsh
President and Chief Executive Officer, Kaman Aerospace Corporation
Ian K. Walsh serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Kaman Aerospace Corporation. Walsh has served as Kaman’s President and Chief Executive Officer since joining the Company on September 8, 2020. Prior to this role, Walsh served as Chief Operating Officer at REV Group. Prior to joining REV Group, Walsh worked at Textron, Inc., where he most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TRU Simulation and Training.
Walsh’s career with Textron began in 1999 at Bell Helicopter. Notably, Walsh is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and achieved the prestigious International Shingo Silver Medallion for Operational Excellence for his work at Lycoming Engines. Prior to joining Textron, he served as an officer and naval aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s from Hamilton College, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard, and an MBA from Harvard.
30. Paul Mountford
Chief Executive Officer, Protegrity
Paul Mountford joined Protegrity in 2021 as Chief Executive Officer. He brings more than 30 years of experience in global software and technology innovation to the data security sector. Most recently, Mountford served as the COO at Pure Storage, one of the fastest-growing cloud data storage enterprises today. He’s also held several senior executive positions at Cisco Systems, including heading their Worldwide Channels, Emerging markets, and Global Enterprise business.
Following that, he was CEO of Riverbed Technology and Sentillian. He has also served in advisory and non-executive directorships with public and privately held companies. When not leading global data security efforts, Mountford can be found playing golf, playing the guitar, or watching Premiership soccer.
31. Michele Trogni
Chief Executive Officer & Chair, Zinnia
Michele Trogni is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zinnia, an insurance technology company that is transforming how life and annuity products are designed, distributed, and serviced, end-to-end. As a global business leader in banking and financial services, Trogni is a recognized technology innovator and agent of change. She is currently a member of the Deutsche Bank Supervisory board where she advises on technology, innovation, and risk.
Prior to joining Eldridge, Trogni was Executive Vice President of Consolidated Markets and Solutions for IHS Markit, where she led a portfolio of businesses that deliver data insights, analytics, and technology solutions to financial markets, engineering, and technology companies. Trogni spent the majority of her career at UBS, where among other roles, she served as the firm’s Group CIO and Head of Operations. Trogni graduated from Northumbria University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and business and management.
32. Thomas Ryan
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, ICR
Tom Ryan co-Founded ICR in 1998. Over the ensuing years, he and his senior team have built the company into one of the largest independent strategic communications consultancies in the world by combining senior-level capital markets experience and deep sector knowledge with traditional corporate communications expertise. Besides working with clients in a variety of sectors, Ryan is responsible for all aspects of ICR’s growth, execution and business strategy.
Prior to ICR, Ryan served as a Managing Director in the equity research department of BT Alex. Brown (Deutsche Bank) where he was a Wall Street Journal ranked analyst. He has extensive domestic and international business relationships and has been quoted or featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the International Herald Tribune, CNNfn, CNBC, and Bloomberg Television. Ryan serves on the Board of Directors of the Chad Jacobs Memorial Foundation and The John Patrick Flanagan Memorial Foundation. He is on the Board of Governors of Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT; and is a member of the Owen Graduate School of Management Alumni Board at Vanderbilt University.
33. Vlad Coric
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Biohaven
In his over seven years as CEO of Biohaven, Coric's leadership has translated into dramatic growth for the company, from its initial pre-money valuation of about $6M to the sale of the company for $13 billion in total considerations. Among numerous milestones, Coric also spearheaded the acquisition of Biohaven by Pfizer in May 2022 for approximately $13 billion in total consideration. Furthermore, Coric has led the expansion of Biohaven to international markets, including the formation of subsidiaries in Ireland and Asia-Pacific.
Prior to Biohaven, Coric spent more than 20 years in drug discovery and clinical development at Yale School of Medicine and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Since July 2001, Coric has also continued to serve as an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Additionally, he has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed publications. Coric earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He was also an honors scholar in neurobiology and physiology at the University of Connecticut, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree.
34. Henry Siemon
President & CEO, Siemon
Henry Siemon began his professional career 19 years ago. Today he is the President & CEO of Siemon. Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the design and manufacture of high-quality, high-performance IT infrastructure solutions and services for Data Centers, LANs and Intelligent Buildings. Headquartered in Connecticut, with global sales, technical and logistics expertise spanning over 100 countries, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper and optical fiber cabling systems, cabinets, racks, cable management, data center power and cooling systems and Intelligent Infrastructure Management solutions.
Siemon first got his start in 2004 as a branch manager at College Works Painting. From there, he went on to KCIC, LLC, before eventually rising to supply chain program manager at Apple, his most recent position prior to joining Siemon. Siemon graduated from MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA, from the University of Richmond with an undergraduate degree in international business, management and Spanish, and from Babson College in entrepreneurship.
35. Mike Maiolo
Chief Executive Officer, Rizing
Mike Maiolo is Chief Executive Officer of Rizing. He leads the development and implementation of the company’s global strategic plans and focuses on maximizing revenues and profitability. Rizing, a Wipro Company, is a global award-winning SAP partner who moves clients along their digital journeys with strategy, implementation, and ongoing support for SAP SuccessFactors HCM, SAP Enterprise Asset Management, and SAP Retail, Fashion and Consumer Industries.
Prior to his current role, Maiolo was the CEO of Vesta, a Rizing company – which is now Rizing’s EAM division. Maiolo has over 20 years of experience with manufacturing companies and enterprise asset management consulting services. Before joining Vesta, he was with Spinnaker Venture Partners, where he focused on helping early stage technology companies develop their business strategies and bring products to market. Maiolo has served in a variety of general management positions in the forest products industry. He has a BA from Bucknell University.
36. Meghan West
President and CEO, Mastercam
Meghan West is the President and CEO of Mastercam. Founded in 1983, Mastercam is the most widely used software in the CAD/CAM industry. The company was built on the concept of providing an inexpensive PC-based CAM system at a time when most other systems were expensive CAD-oriented products. They are one of the first companies to introduce CAD/CAM software designed for both the machinist and the engineer. West has 14 years of experience.
West began her career in 2009. She earned her BS in business from Bentley College and an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University. She grew up around CAD/CAM, gaining valuable job experience inside and outside of the manufacturing industry, before officially joining CNC Software in 2009. Five years later, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers named West one of the “30 Under 30 Future Leaders of Manufacturing.” In 2015, she was named President of CNC Software.
37. Christopher Killoy
President & CEO, Ruger Firearms
Christopher Killoy is the President and CEO of Ruger Firearms, having previously served as the company’s COO and VP Sales and Marketing. Killoy originally joined Ruger in 2003 as the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing. Notably, Sturm, Ruger & Co. is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers almost 700 variations of more than 40 product lines.
Prior to joining Ruger, Killoy was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and a member of the Board of Directors of Velocity Outdoor, a subsidiary of Compass Diversified Holdings. Killoy is a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and subsequently served in a variety of Armor and Infantry assignments in the U.S. Army.
38. Steven Culmone
CEO and President, Ashcroft Inc.
Steve Culmone was appointed President and CEO of Ashcroft in 2011 after establishing a 20 year track record of leadership roles within the company. Since 1990, he has served in a variety of management positions for Ashcroft, becoming an executive board member in 2000 as Senior Vice President of Global Operations. Culmone's industry knowledge, expertise, and personal commitment to standards of care and excellence have positioned Ashcroft to continuously exceed customer expectations.
In 1983, Culmone began his career at C. Cowles, where he served seven years as Quality Manager and Vice President of Operations. Culmone earned his MBA from Quinnipiac University, his bachelor's in Business Management from Fairfield University, and holds a Six Sigma Black Belt. His affiliations include Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Manufacture CT, CBIA and Vistage. Notably, Culmone is an avid sports fan, having followed, coached, and played in numerous sports through the years.
39. Carolyn Stanworth
President and CEO, BL Companies
Carolyn Stanworth is the President and CEO of BL Companies, a 100% employee-owned company providing multidisciplinary architectural, engineering, environmental, and land surveying services to clients throughout the US. BL is consistently listed among the Top 500 Design in the US by Engineering News-Record and has nearly 300 employee-owners across Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas.
Notably, Stanworth has 24 years of experience. She graduated from the University of New Haven with an MBA and from Southern Connecticut State University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
40. Jason Few
President and CEO, FuelCell Energy
Jason Few is President and CEO of FuelCell Energy, a global leader in fuel cell technology focused on distributed power, hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon capture. FuelCell Energy’s purpose is to enable a world empowered by clean energy. For more than 30 years, Few has been a business leader, entrepreneur, and technology leader across various industries, often all at once. He has worked at the intersection of transformation across technology and energy for Global Fortune 500, small/mid-cap, and privately-held energy, technology, and telecommunications firms. This includes NRG/Reliant, Continuum Energy, Motorola, and Sustayn Analytics.
Few is renowned for his decisive stance on high-stakes projects, including Reliant Energy, where he engineered a billion-dollar turnaround, transforming it into a multi-brand, multi-product consumer services company. Today he is a member of The Business Council, serves on the Boards of FuelCell Energy and Enbridge Inc. He is also a member of the Hydrogen Council. Few has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Systems in Business from Ohio University and an MBA from Northwestern University.
41. Brian Quinn
Chief Executive Officer, OdysseyRe
Brian Quinn is the Chief Executive Officer of OdysseyRe, a globally diversified underwriter of property and casualty reinsurance products. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, its operations include a global network of 14 branch and representative offices across five regions: North America, Latin America, EMEA, AsiaPacific and London. OdysseyRe is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and A (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s.
OdysseyRe is the reinsurance arm of Odyssey Group Holdings, Inc., a leading global provider of reinsurance and specialty insurance. Odyssey Group is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Quinn first joined the company in 2000 as executive vice president. He graduated from St. Lawrence University.
42. William Lee
Chairman, President & CEO, The Lee Company
As Chairman, President, and CEO of The Lee Company, William Lee is responsible for executive oversight of all financial matters, operations, engineering, management, and production. He has worked at The Lee Company full-time for 26 years and during summers back in the 70s. Before joining the company, he spent ten years in commercial lending and worked as a business consultant for five years. After that, he joined The Lee Company working on corporate development and strategic planning, before assuming leadership of the Plug and Solenoid Valve Group. In 2005, he became CFO and Treasurer, before moving into his current roles as President and CEO in 2010.
Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Connecticut College, an MBA from the University of New Haven, and attended the Stonier School of Banking. He has been an active member of many not-for-profit boards and was recognized as the Greater New Haven YMCA Man of the Year in 1990. He was also inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2017. Professional associations include serving on the Board of Directors for the University of New Haven Center for Family Business and the Guilford Savings Bank.
43. Gregory Smith
Chairman & CEO, Maplewood Senior Living
Gregory D. Smith was a true visionary and industry leader, credited with transforming the future of senior living. Smith founded Maplewood Senior Living and Inspīr out of a personal passion to change the promise and potential of our later years and served as President & CEO until his passing in 2023. With a background in real estate development and hospitality, Smith set out to assemble a team with strong senior living expertise to help fulfill his vision. That vision began to become a reality in 2006 with the opening of Maplewood at Danbury. In the decades since, Maplewood has influenced the entire senior living industry, earning the company a reputation as a leading innovator in the field.
A native of Massachusetts, Smith studied marketing and finance at Bentley University. He cared deeply about helping others and was committed to supporting his local community and funding advancements in care. Smith served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Ability Beyond, was a long-standing member of the board of directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York City Chapter, and was a loyal donor supporting many projects and campaigns across Nuvance Health – including the establishment of the Andrew Cruz Endowed Chair in Palliative Care in memory of his cousin, among other civic and philanthropic efforts. Smith graduated from Bentley University.
44. John Houston
President and CEO, Arvinas
John Houston serves as Chairperson, CEO, and President at Arvinas. With over 30 years of experience, he previously worked as the SVP of Specialty Discovery at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). He spent more than 18 years at BMS in roles of increasing responsibility and had accountability for all Discovery Biology disease teams, as well as various Discovery technology departments. Houston was a member of the BMS R&D Executive Leadership team and chaired the Target Portfolio Committee, which had governance oversight in the discovery space. With his teams and research colleagues, he progressed over 200 compounds into early development, several of which advanced into late-stage clinical trials and toward commercialization.
Prior to joining BMS, Smith worked at Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development in the UK, where he served as head of the Lead Discovery Unit. Houston currently serves on the boards of directors of NextCure, Inc., Oerth Bio, Cybrexa Therapeutics and BioCT. Houston obtained his B.Sc. degree in Medical Microbiology from Glasgow University; and obtained his Ph.D. in Microbial Biochemistry from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He also completed his post-doctoral studies on an MRC grant at Glasgow University.
45. Tom Orkisz
President, Chairman & CEO, Inline Plastics
Tom Orkisz is the President, Chairman, and CEO of Inline Plastics, a leading manufacturer of innovative, high-quality, crystal-clear food packaging containers. The company transformed the marketplace with their Safe-T-Fresh® line, a tamper-resistant and tamper-evident product that utilizes their patented tear-strip technology, providing retailers and consumers with greater product protection. They continue to design and manufacture packaging solutions that keep food products safe, fresh and enhance shelf merchandising.
The company also offers the most complete line of automated equipment to close, lock and label their containers. Headquartered in Shelton, CT, Inline Plastics celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2018. Orkisz has 32 years of experience, having began his career in 1991. He graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Business.
46. Chris Patsiga
Chief Executive Officer, Telaid Industries, Inc.
Chris Patsiga serves as CEO of Telaid, a trusted technology integrator for more than 35 years. With more than two decades of experience at Telaid, including roles in product management, marketing, account management and operations, Patsiga began his career by focusing on fully understanding the customer experience. He was quickly promoted to COO. In this role, he engineered processes to ensure successful, repeatable deployments for Telaid’s Fortune 500 multi-site clients.
Under his leadership, Telaid has more than tripled its revenues, grown its client base and vastly expanded its service offerings. Patsiga has spearheaded development and
integration of Telaid offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta Bentonville, Arkansas and Madison, Wisconsin. Patsiga earned a bachelor’s in Marketing from Bentley University. A cycling enthusiast and supporter of community enrichment organizations in the local Connecticut area, Patsiga’s passion for success and continuous improvement drives him to provide vision that is leading Telaid toward revenue growth and zero defect deployments for its clients.
47. Kevin Grigg
President & Chief Executive Officer, Fuss & O'Neill
When Kevin Grigg joined Fuss & O’Neill as Chief Operating Officer in 2012, he brought with him a fresh perspective on how to manage the company. Grigg has many years of experience running regional operations of national and multinational firms, and while he liked this kind of work, he wanted to be involved in a firm where he could really get to know people and have a positive impact on the company as a whole. Grigg was named President and CEO on July 1, 2018. Over the past few years, Grigg has worked closely with senior leaders, project managers, and corporate services to help ensure healthy and sustainable profitability and cash-flow.
Taking a closer look at the way Fuss & O’Neill historically operated, he has been integral in improving management practices, setting goals, and developing processes that will allow the company to meet those goals. Grigg is also reconfiguring Fuss & O’Neill’s business development program to help the company position itself more effectively externally, understanding that building client relationships is essential to long term success. Grigg earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
48. Jim Czapiga
President & CEO, CATIC
Jim Czapiga received his Bachelor of science in finance, cum laude, from the University of Connecticut. While attending law school, he worked for a high-volume residential law firm in East Hartford, CT, where he was a title searcher for three years. He graduated from Western New England College School of Law and started work for a national title insurance underwriter in 1995.
Many years later, in October 2015, Czapiga was named President and Chief Executive Officer of CATIC. A 20-year veteran of the title industry, Czapiga has held many positions and has experience in claims administration, underwriting, sales, and operations management. A past President of the Connecticut Title Association, he is currently a member of the Connecticut Bar Association's Real Property Section, the New England Land Title Association, the American Land Title Association, and the Real Estate Finance Association of Connecticut.
49. Jonathan Moser
CEO and Chairman of the Board, Finalsite
Jonathan Moser is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Finalsite, an innovative software company specializing in creating and managing websites for schools, colleges, and educational institutions. Founded in 1998, Finalsite has established itself as a leader in the field, providing a comprehensive range of web-based solutions for educational communities worldwide. Their platform offers responsive designs, content management systems, integrated digital marketing tools, and other features tailored to meet the unique needs of the education sector.
Furthemore, Finalsite's user-friendly interface empowers schools to effectively communicate with their students, parents, and staff, while their expertise in web development ensures security, accessibility, and optimal performance. Moser has been with Finalsite since 1998. Previously, he was a CEO at IIC Group. Before that, he served as an assistant controller for Country Pure Foods. Moser earned an undergraduate degree in marketing and management from Eastern Connecticut State University.
50. Phil Gass
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Nassau
Phil Gass is a co-founder of Nassau and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. His company, Nassau, is always working harder to be the carrier of choice. They offer insurance products that can help you meet your retirement goals, such as protecting your savings, delivering guaranteed income, or paying for health care costs. They’re dedicated to providing best-in-class service and keeping things simple. Notably, Nassau Financial Group is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut with $22.1 billion in assets under management and 378,000 policyholders and contract holders.
Gass previously served as chairman and director of Fidelity & Guaranty Life. He also previously served as managing director of investments at HRG Group, where he was responsible for HRG and its affiliates' investments in financial services. Prior to joining HRG and its affiliates in 2008, Gass served as vice president of GE Capital, where he was responsible for underwriting and managing private equity investments. He also previously held roles at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and the Sumitomo Bank. Gass received a B.S. in finance from New York University and is a CFA charter holder.
