Watch your email for news of upcoming events.
2015 Chapter Global Golf Outing
Monday, Oct. 5
Wethersfield Country Club
Wethersfield, Conn.
9:30 a.m. – Registration starts
10 - 11 a.m. – Continental breakfast
11 a.m. – Shotgun start
BBQ lunch with beer and wine on the course
After the round: 2 hours of open bar and heavy passed hors d’oeuvres
Click here to register and for sponsorship opportunities.
******************************************
Recap of recent chapter events:
End users, service providers discuss evolving relationship
Panelists representing both "sides" discussed evolving the relationship between service
providers and clients, i.e.,
end users. Travelers hosted the July 28
event at its Hartford headquarters. Pete Olson, Global Alliance Director,
Travelers/CBRE, far left, moderated the session. Panelists included, from left, Ron Falkner, Vice President
of Corporate Real Estate, Voya Financial; Stephanie Fulbright, Vice President, Real Estate & Security,
The Hartford; Joe Sadak, Managing Director, Operations and Account Management, New York Tri-State,
Cushman & Wakefield; and Scott Tibbo, Managing Director, Corporate Solutions, JLL.
*****************************
Panelists describe their experience
with various CRE operating models
A panel of end users discussed their experience with various corporate real estate (CRE)
operating models and the role CRE plays in influencing corporate strategy.
Wade Godin, Executive Director, Leasing & Strategy, Aetna, far left, moderated the session.
The panel comprised, from left, John Pursell, Vice President, Global Real Estate, Diageo;
Scott Kosswig, Director of Real Estate, Stanley Black & Decker (and chapter President);
and Rick Frazier, senior CRE advisor and former Director of Real Estate at Praxair
and Kaman Industrial Technologies. Diageo hosted the July 22 session at its
Norwalk, Conn., headquarters. The discussion built on the success of a similar
event held in February at Voya Financial in Windsor, Conn.
*****************************
First Tee of Connecticut is topic
at Travelers Championship breakfast
The MetroHartford Alliance hosted the chapter’s annual Travelers Championship breakfast
on June 26 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. David Polk, President and
Executive Director of The First Tee of Connecticut, far left, discussed the youth-development
organization’s work with young people across the state. From Left, Becky Nolan,
Vice President, Business Development, MetroHartford Alliance; Scott Kosswig, Director
of Real Estate, Stanley Black & Decker, and Chapter President;
and Pete Olson, Global Alliance Director, Travelers/CBRE.
*****************************
Chapter visits Jackson Labs
Yu-Hui Rogers, Site Director, top, and Jim Buckley,
Senior Facilities Manager, hosted the chapter’s visit to
The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in
Farmington, Conn., on May 28. Rogers outlined
Jackson Labs’ work and the strategy behind the
organization’s new building in Farmington. Rogers
and Buckley then led a tour of the facility.
*****************************
Young Leaders meet-and-greet reception
draws chapter members and guests of all ages
Young Leaders, chapter board members and other guests toasted the spring at a Young Leaders
meet-and-greet at The Hartford Club on May 14. Clockwise from top left, Scott Tibbo, JLL;
Scott Kosswig, Stanley Black & Decker (chapter President); Phil Deschene, JLL; Erika Fairlie,
Clohessy Harris & Kaiser; Josh Hagstrom, Interscape; Rich Kaiser and Jim Harris,
Clohessy Harris & Kaiser; Chris Nardi, Silver/Petrucelli & Associates; Sandie Fitzpatrick,
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance; Derek Czenczelewski, The S/L/A/M Collaborative;
Christine Zimmerman, JLL; Kyle Roberts, CBRE; Anna Pfau, CBRE; Robyn Abbate,
Reid and Riege, P.C.; Giulia Wakim, CBRE; Ben Norris, ASSA ABLOY;
Jan McKenzie, ASSA ABLOY; Marcia Fowler, Herman Miller.
******************************************
Cross-functional panel analyzes factors
behind choosing the right tech platform
What’s the right technology platform for your corporate real estate operations? A panel comprising
end users and IT professionals discussed factors that help determine the appropriate size and scope
of the data-management system to support your real estate structure. The session, attended by
nearly 80 people, built on the Feb. 12 session on corporate real estate operating models.
Right photo, left to right, Peter Stergos, Head of Real Estate, Americas/EMEAR, United Technologies;
Elizabeth Sharp, Associate Vice President, Global Technologies Solutions, DTZ;
Wade Godin, Executive Director, Real Estate Services and Head of Real Estate Strategy and
Leasing, Aetna; and Dave Tyrrell, Director of Real Estate Information Technology, Aetna.
Left photo, Dave Hawkins, Senior Managing Director, DTZ, moderated the session.
Aetna hosted the March 31 chapter event.
******************************************
Leading end user members
outline their CRE operating models
Three of the chapter's leading end user members outlined their organizations' operating
models during a Feb. 12 panel discussion hosted by Voya Financial in Windsor, Conn.
Left to right, Sanjiv Awasthi, Vice President, Global Real Estate, Cigna; Siobhan Fink, Senior
Director, Global Real Estate Portfolio & Workplace Strategy, Alexion Pharmaceuticals; and
Jim Scannell, Senior Vice President, Administrative Services, Travelers. Wade Godin,
Executive Director, Real Estate Services and Head of Real Estate Strategy and Leasing, Aetna,
moderated the session.
********************************************
Members and friends welcome 2015
at New Year's party in Stamford
Chapter members and friends welcomed 2015 with a return visit to Cask Republic in
Stamford on Jan. 20. Top row, left to right, Jim Ryan, Pitney Bowes; Marcia Fowler,
Herman Miller; Eric Brill, Gensler; Larry Levine, Red Thread; Assaf Ben-Atar,
Pullman & Comley. Second row, left to right, Scott Breig, The Whiting-Turner
Contracting Co.; Mark Nisbett, Cigna; Eric Cushman, Gilbane; Martha Mahoney,
FUJIFILM Holdings America; Third row, left to right, Ryan Eargle, Guardian Life;
Peter Allen, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; Dave Jackson, Red Thread;
Greg Durkin, Stamford Office Furniture; Annemarie Fleming, MovePlan;
Joel Binstok, The York Group.
********************************************
Chapter donates to Share Our Strength
to help end childhood hunger
Robyn Abbate, right, Attorney at Reid and Riege, P.C. and a
Connecticut/Westchester chapter board member, presents a $1,500 check
to Lucy Nolan, Executive Director of Share our Strength. The organization’s
mission is to end childhood hunger in America by connecting kids
in need with nutritious food and by teaching families how to cook healthy,
affordable meals.The donation derived from proceeds from the
chapter's 2014 golf outing.
********************************************
2014
********************************************
Chapter looks back on triumphant year
and toasts the holiday season and 2015
Chapter members and guests looked back on our award-winning year,
in which membership hit an all-time high of 135 and the chapter was named
CoreNet Global’s Chapter of the Year. Red Thread hosted the first-ever
Year in Review event, which was followed by the chapter's 2014 Holiday party.
********************************************
Security and counter-terrorism
expert speaks at CoreNet/RIMS breakfast
Sal Lifrieri, left, spoke at the fourth annual breakfast organized by CoreNet
Connecticut/Westchester and the Connecticut Valley chapter of the Risk
and Insurance Management Society (RIMS). Lifrieri, who talked about
“Managing Risks Amid Ever-changing Threats,” served as Director of
Security and Intelligence Operations for New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani's Office of Emergency Management. He is an expert
in counter-terrorism, corporate security, executive protection and
crisis management. Bill Desrosiers, right, is President of the RIMS chapter
and Director of Risk Management for The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection
and Insurance Co. Stanley Black & Decker hosted the Nov. 12 event.
********************************************
16th annual golf outing sees highest turnout in years
The chapter's 16th annual golf outing, held on Oct. 6 at the Wethersfield Country Club in Wethersfield, Conn., drew
nearly 100 attendees for golf, dinner and networking. Special thanks to Reid and Riege for its help in organizing
the event and to the chapter golf committee and volunteers: Robyn Abbate and Joe Fortier of Reid and Reige,
Larry Feldman of Knoll/Office Resources, Marcia Fowler of Herman Miller, Dave Jackson of Red Thread,
Sandra Johnson of Sandra Johnson Consulting, Rita Joy of Interscape, Jan McKenzie of ASSA ABLOY
and Jon Putnam of Cushman & Wakefield.
********************************************
Panel outlines The Hartford's
"Exceptional Workplace" strategy
A cross-functional panel outlined The Hartford's Exceptional Workplace strategy, which encompasses
new workstations, offices, collaborations and support areas, all supported by enhanced technology. Panelists
discussed the company’s change-management and related IT strategies and then led attendees through
the new Design Center. The center allows employees to experience firsthand how their new space
will support their business needs. The Hartford hosted the Sept. 23 event.
Cynthia Leary, far left, formerly The Hartford’s Director of Strategic Planning & Real Estate, led the discussion.
Panelists included, left to right, Terri Frink, Principal, Interior Design, The S/L/A/M Collaborative;
Eugene Smyth, Director, Collaboration/Mobility Engineering, The Hartford; Karlene Joseph, Program Director,
The Hartford; and Pat Flaherty, Senior Business Consultant, The Hartford.
********************************************
Chapter leaders initiate partnership
with UConn real estate students
Chapter board members Jon Putnam, Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield, left, and
Scott Kosswig, Director of Real Estate, Stanley Black & Decker (and incoming chapter President),
visited the University of Connecticut's Storrs campus to address student officers of the university's
Real Estate Society. The Sept.10 dinner event helped the chapter kick off what's expected to be a
long-term relationship with UConn's real estate program. The relationship is in keeping with
CoreNet Global's worldwide initiative to form partnerships with university-level real estate programs.
********************************************
Members, friends gather in Stamford for
a "Midsummer Night's Networking"
Chapter members and guests gathered on July 30 for an evening of networking and good times
at Crab Shell, across the Rippowam River from Stamford's Harbor Point. Top, left to right,
Joel Binstok, York Consulting; Annemarie Fleming, MovePlan, Karen Harris, Red Thread;
Susan Gilbert, Pitney Bowes; Sandie Fitzpatrick, Fidelity National Title Group;
Nancy Juenemann and Martha Mahoney, FUJIFILM Holdings America. Middle, left to right,
Dave Jackson, Red Thread (chapter President); Barry Hersch, New York University;
Brian Cleveland, Buchanan Architects; Amanda Cleveland, Silver/Petrucelli + Associates;
Becca Nell, Argyle Project Management; Scott Kosswig, Stanley Black & Decker
(chapter President-elect); Eric Brill, Gensler. Bottom, left to right, Pete Olson,
Travelers/CBRE (immediate past chapter President); Jan McKenzie and
David Hirsch, ABBA ABLOY; Jake Dibble, CBRE; Will Gaskins, Herman Miller;
Jim Ryan, Pitney Bowes; Mary Leggio, Arquitectura e Interiores.
********************************************
At chapter's annual breakfast, Andy Bessette
traces Travelers Championship's eight-year evolution
Andy Bessette, Travelers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, spoke
at the Connecticut/Westchester chapter’s annual breakfast at the Travelers Championship golf tournament
in Cromwell, Conn. Bessette, a Connecticut/Westchester member, discussed the tournament’s
explosive growth since Travelers initiated its sponsorship in 2007. The tournament is now a major stop on
the PGA TOUR. The MetroHartford Alliance hosted the June 20 breakfast in its chalet along Corporate Row.
********************************************
Panel analyzes potential roadblocks
in lease-transaction process
A panel representing the landlord and tenant sides identified and suggested possible
ways to eliminate the obstacles that often hold up lease negotiations. Left to right,
Tim Lescalleet, Senior Vice President, Griffin Land; Joe Fortier,
Partner, Reid and Riege, P.C.; Troy Riccitelli, Director, Real Estate,
The Hartford. Far left, Wade Godin, Head of Leasing & Strategy, Aetna,
moderated the discussion. Aetna hosted the June 4 event
********************************************
Chapter hears Hartford market update
and goes on "virtual tour" of downtown
A steady rain forced indoors a planned Hartford market update and downtown walking tour
on April 30. Nevertheless, attendees saw a detailed picture of recent -- and important --
developments downtown and throughout the region. Left to right, Jon Putnam, Executive Director,
Cushman & Wakefield; Michael Freimuth, Executive Director, Capital Region Development
Authority; and Peter Christian, Director, Development & Acquisitions, The HB Nitkin
Group. The event took place at Spotlight Theatres, part of the Front Street development,
a key "stop" on the virtual tour. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. sponsored the event.
********************************************
Multi-discipline panel considers DEEP changes
and their potential effect on real estate strategy
Panelists discussed the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's (DEEP)
prospective changes to environmental regulations and the potential impact on
real estate strategy and other decisions. Left to right, Derek Ezovski, President,
Office Risk Management (moderator); Paul LaMonica, Senior Vice President, Farmington Bank;
Mark Duclos, President, Sentry Commercial Real Estate Services; Bob Benzinger,A.V.P., Real
Estate Infrastructure and Capital Projects, The Hartford; Mike Ainsworth,Technical Professional,
HRP Associates; and Beth Barton, Partner, Day Pitney LLP.
The March 20 panel discussion, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Cromwell, Conn., was the
first-ever joint event between the chapter and the International Council of Shopping Centers.