BBS21 | Program/Registration | Attendee Info | Speakers | Sponsors | Partners

As the BBB CEO of one of Connecticut’s largest non-profit agencies, Paulette Scarpetti is a leader in the true sense. With a background that spans forty-three years, she has experienced many economic ups and downs, new business trends, and changing technology. Paulette started her career as the president of a small BBB that serviced only New Haven County. Over the years, she has acquired other BBB service areas growing what is now the BBB of Connecticut. She is passionate about helping business succeed no matter what the marketplace does. 

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Drew Crandall is the president of Keep In Touch, a marketing and media business in Vernon, Connecticut that he founded in 1988. Keep In Touch has been accredited by the BBB for nearly 33 years, with no complaints and an A+ rating. The business has received several BBB awards, including the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Drew served as a Director on the BBB Serving Connecticut’s Board of Directors for many years, including two years as Chair. Today, he remains involved as a Director on the BBB Foundation Board. He has watched Paulette Scarpetti navigate the BBB through many economic cycles, innovations, challenges, changes, and expansions as well as the coronavirus pandemic. "Throughout my 44-year professional career, I've worked with hundreds of local, regional, national and global business leaders," he says; "and in my humble opinion, Paulette is one of the finest, most competent leaders with whom I've ever worked."

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Catherine Marx was appointed District Director of U.S. Small Business Administration’s Connecticut District Office on September 28, 2020. The Connecticut District Office is located in Hartford, Connecticut, with a satellite office in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As District Director, Ms. Marx is responsible for leading the Connecticut SBA team in the effective delivery and management of SBA’s financial and business development programs throughout the state. Her office has a mission to advise, assist and advocate for the interests of small businesses statewide. Central to this mission is the close collaboration Ms. Marx fosters between small businesses and lending partners, SBA resource partners, economic development professionals and state and local entities. These relationships strengthen the economy by promoting entrepreneurship as well as small business creation and growth.

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Before launching her successful business as a dynamic speaker, educator and leadership coach, Maureen Ross Gemme, enjoyed a 27 year career at a Fortune 200 company. After experiencing a major life transformation in her 20’s, Maureen learned early on what it takes to advance and grow in a highly matrixed business organization.

During her corporate years she was recognized for her expertise in process management, leadership, training and communications. Maureen has a breadth of experience including leading remote training teams, rolling out multi-million dollar technology systems training across the enterprise, improving processes and documentation in all 13 departments she worked in and managing large scale leadership events. 

Maureen began her entrepreneurial journey in 2013 when she launched her venture to train and develop leaders who want to make an impact. Maureen is passionate about helping her clients overcome their fears, develop confidence to present their ideas solidly and lead others so they can live up to their full potential and move their business and life forward. 

In 2020, Maureen has pivoted her business to providing online training and working with people with solid recovery from addiction to help them step into leadership.

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Kevin's entire life has been about telling stories. Whether on stage or in a conference room, he's spent nearly three decades connecting thoughts, ideas, and emotions with audiences of all sizes. As a Creative Director, he's told visual and data stories for Fortune 500 companies. On the theatrical stage, he's performed for thousands on a national tour and composed the score for two produced musicals. These combined experiences inform his somewhat unique perspective when it comes to telling stories.

The question he gets most often - what is the Outermost Ring? It's the title of a musical he’s writing, and he liked the philosophy so much that he made it the core of his company.  It refers to the rings of a tree, and as a tree grows and expands it adds one ring for each year of its life.  The Outermost Ring refers to the present, the current time.  Kevin likes the idea that we are always learning, growing, and taking new shape, while never losing sight of where we’ve been and what’s at our core. Connect with Kevin at OutermostRing.com.

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Dan Gannon is a professional speaker, author, leadership coach, and goal success guru. Dan began his professional journey in the United States Marine Corps where he hardened his communication and leadership skills as a Human Intelligence Specialist. He was exposed to professional speaking while in college at Long Island University and after graduation, Dan toured the country sharing his story of overcoming adversity, becoming the first of his family to serve in the military and graduate college. After speaking to tens of thousands of college students all over the United States, Dan began to write his book "Do It For the Dopamine - Hacking Brain Chemistry to Achieve Success". Since 2019 Dan has been coaching business executives and small business owners, helping them level up their leadership and communication skills and become high achievers by using his goal success equation. 

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Darren is an accomplished Senior Administrative Officer in the United States Navy with over 13 years of military experience. His executive expertise from the Navy allowed him to develop and implement numerous organizational strategic plans. Provided mentorship and coaching to over 2,000 personnel during his tenure in the U.S. Navy. Managed an annual budget more than $640,000 during two tours as a Senior Executive Assistant responsible for all Government Travel Expenses totaling over $5.76 Million.

Darren earned his MBA and MS in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Organizational Development at Grand Canyon University.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chateau Rouge, Inc., a Management Consulting Company focused on Human Resources Management & Professional Development Training, he seeks to ignite cultural transformation by empowering all people to engage, connect, and thrive in their organization. 

Darren is a proud member of Electric City Connections BNI, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Golden Key International Honor Society. He is also a volunteer business consultant for the Veteran Launching Venture program at Fairleigh Dickinson University and a USAA/SHRM Ambassador. He is passionate about all things leadership, innovation, mentoring, and coaching executive and aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.

"It always seems impossible, until it's done." - Nelson Mandela

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Sara Conklin is a passionate client experience leader, innovator, culture change agent, and storyteller. She helps organizations thrive on change through a culture of human-centered innovation. She's spent her 15-year career driving business wins through experience design in Fortune 500 technology and healthcare organizations. She's currently at Connecticut-based Pitney Bowes where she and her team systematically embed Client Experience vision and strategy across the organization. Sara lives with her family in New Hampshire where she enjoys hiking, cooking garden-fresh veggies, and hosting foreign exchange students from countries around the world.

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As a teacher/facilitator/catalyst of design thinking, Steve is always trying to find that delicate balance between delivering world-class learning experiences and supporting everyone’s work goals, all while making the experience fun and dynamic. Steve firmly believe that EVERYONE is an innovator and designer, whether at work, home or at play. Empowering people to look at their challenges, and ultimately their solutions, in new and different ways is an honor of a lifetime. 

Currently, Steve runs the Client-Centered Innovation Program at Pitney Bowes, teaching design thinking to anyone he runs into.  His experiences as a Principal Instructor at LUMA Institute have allowed him to teach more than 250 design thinking workshops, helping over 5,000 people across a variety of geographies, industries and organizational sizes.  Prior to those positions Steve served as a Senior Director of Business Development and Account Management at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and as a Consultant at AonHewitt.

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A Boston boy at heart, Michael moved to Connecticut a little over a year ago with his wife, where they grew their family of two into four, plus one fury sidekick. Graduating from Boston University with a degree in Hospitality, he swiftly shifted gears to pursue his passion for digital media and enhance his desire to make his dent in the ever-changing digital universe. With several years of SEO, SEM and Social Media marketing experience, he brings an omni-channel digital strategy with each and every custom-built proposal. Leveraging data and consumer insights allows each tactic to engage the core target audience, without any wasted impressions. When he is not busy brainstorming new strategies for his clients, he can be found on the golf course followed by an afternoon of playing catch with his 3-year-old son and helping his one-year old daughter learn how to walk.

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Bob is a marketing professional with 11+ years of experience across diverse mediums, including digital media and services, sponsored content, broadcast, print, and direct mail. Key strengths in B2B brand storytelling, cross-media and integration marketing strategy. Specialization in the Grocery, Home and Healthcare space. He has extensive experience in publisher content marketing, including industry insights, presenting and developing cohesive content creation and distribution programs across written, visual, and video, and case study and ROI development.

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Rod Wilson has been in IT support for over 20 years.  He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and holds multiple other technology certifications.  After working in corporate IT for a number of years, Rod started RAD Computing in July of 2005.  Rod’s technology support and consulting focuses primarily on small/medium businesses.  From the entry point of your internet connection, servers, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, business applications, the icons on your desktop and everything in-between, Rod’s depth of knowledge keeps his clients technology current and protected.  Rod knows the culture of SMB’s, when technology is not working, doing business is impacted.  When business is impacted, Rod knows it is critical to respond quickly, knowledgably and listen to the client’s needs.

One of Rod’s first job’s as a kid was at Walgreens.  Written over the top of the break room doorway was a saying, “The Customer is King”.  Decades later, that image still lingers in his mind when he takes care of clients.  Every single one of his clients is important.  No matter if they are 1 person companies or 2000 people companies.   Like many entrepreneurs, Rod understands performing multiple duties to run a business, and there is nothing he asks of his team that he won’t do himself.  When people ask Rod the “secret” to what they perceive as business success?  Rod’s answer has always been, “I show up every day, I return phone calls and I fix peoples problems”.  Rod has repeated those actions all his life, one day at a time.  Rod believes in the power of example, and Rod strives to be a power of example to his family, employees and clients every day.

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Sonia Alvelo, President and CEO of Latin Financial, was born and raised in Puerto Rico. With over 10 years in the business financial industry, Alvelo has made her mission to provide business financing with the recourses necessary to all businesses in US & PR. 

It is no secret that women are a powerful force in ignition positive change in industries. Alvelo launched Latin Financial back in 2010 after growing tired of finance companies and industries that was “By men, for men.” 

Today, Latin Financial offers financing over 1 million a month to different companies that needs the capital to grow. No loan is too big or too small for us; Latin Financial goal is to simply help create a positive future for all businesses. 

Sonia is a proud member of Centro Unido (CUD) in Puerto Rico, Association of Pharmacies (AFCPR), Association of Tourism (PRTHTA), Association of Gas Station (ADGASPR) and BBB Serving Connecticut. She has also been highlighted by Debanked Magazine and Centro Unido Magazine in PR. 

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Brendan P. Lynch born and raised in Central Connecticut. Lynch has over 15 years of business financial experience, the last six as Founding Partner/CEO of Sharpe Capital. Always at the forefront of this quickly changing economy and working closely with clients and investors, Lynch is fully committed to meeting and exceeding expectations. His goal is to simply help create a positive future for all of our clients. 

Lynch is serves as a School Governance Council Member for Montessori Magnet at Batchelder, and was recognized as a 2021 Connecticut Entrepreneur Award finalist.

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Victoria Mottesheard is Senior Marketing Director for OUTFRONT’s East Region overseeing marketing initiatives in NY, DC, Connecticut, and beyond. At OUTFRONT, Victoria is closely involved in client strategy reaching businesses and consumers in the northeast and across the country. Beyond campaigns, Victoria works on development of digital marketing in the out-of-home industry.

Victoria has over 14 years of experience in the advertising industry building transit partnerships and client relationships across the northeast. She aids sales through development, consumer journey analysis, and audience focused strategy. Victoria is actively involved with industry associations focusing on standardization and advancement of measurement.

Victoria attended University of North Carolina, Wilmington where she majored in Communications and Film. She currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Ryan and her two young daughters.

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Diane Hannes is the President and General Manager of NBC Connecticut / WVIT and Telemundo Connecticut / WRDM, the NBCUniversal-owned local television stations serving English and Spanish-language viewers all throughout Connecticut. In this role, Hannes is responsible for the stations’ overall management, which includes the primary broadcast channels as well as the stations’ online and digital platforms.

Since May of 2019, Hannes has led the Connecticut stations through major programming initiatives and milestones including the FCC repack, business continuity through the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
 
With extensive experience in local broadcasting that spans more than 35 years, Hannes has served in a variety of roles in creative services, media planning and research, news programming, and content development. In 2003, Hannes joined WMAQ and WSNS where she spearheaded the rebranding and launch of the stations’ news, weather, community initiatives and joint-station efforts including NBC 5 Investigates, Telemundo Chicago Investiga, First Alert Weather, NBC 5 Responds and Telemundo Chicago Responde, and the “Making A Difference / Marcando La Diferencia,” community brand. Hannes’ efforts have elevated the stations and their work making news, weather and community initiatives recognized brands among English and Spanish-language audiences in the market.

Before her success at NBCUniversal, Hannes worked at WPWR-TV. From 1995 to 2003, she managed the station’s promotions department, including a team of professionals responsible for creating custom marketing campaigns and materials for the station. Hannes also oversaw the marketing department’s transition to WFLD-TV in 2003. Before this, she worked at The Oprah Winfrey Show as a promotion writer and producer. She launched her career at WPWR-TV and held numerous roles including promotion writer, producer, editor, and program assistant.

Hannes earned a bachelor’s degree in Literature and Communications from Benedictine University in Illinois. She previously served on the Board of Governors for the Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and currently serves on the board of the Connecticut Broadcasters Association

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The story of John Fuller is the same as many local business owners in our community who have turned passion into profit.  As a young man, Fuller transformed a chicken coop into his first station at the age of 21.  He did the morning show before hitting the road selling advertising.   At night, he worked into the wee hours recording commercials.   Every few years he would buy or build another radio station and would construct radio towers for his stations, as well as cellular telephone providers.  35 years later he is still doing what he loves with 27 radio signals in 5 states and a staff charged with entrepreneurial pride. 

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Kristie is BBB Serving Connecticut’s Manager of Business Engagement. Over the years, Kristie has built a strong foundation of knowledge in areas of customer service, marketing, and education industries. She is passionate about supporting and providing Accredited Business’s with all the tools they need to help them grow in today’s CT marketplace. Kristie holds 5+ years in managing business information and content for 5,400+ Accredited Business’s while creating new ideas to help strengthen and grow their companies’ online presence and exposure. Through Kristie’s experience (specifically in customer service), she understands the unique challenges companies, both large and small, face today and is very enthusiastic to do everything she can to meet the needs of each company she engages with. Her drive is to always improve herself and her tasks to help keep herself and Better Business Bureau growing and moving in a positive direction-free of stagnancy and full of innovation.

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