Young Professionals of Waterbury Region CEO Speakers Series on Friday with Ginny O'Rourke Cookson

The Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Y.P.O.W.R. – Young Professionals of Waterbury Region – is hosting their annual three-part “Influential Business CEO Speaker Series” titled “The Past, The Present and The Future of Family Businesses.”  Attendees are capitalizing on the rare opportunity to directly engage with three longstanding and dedicated family business leaders in the greater Waterbury community.

The series began on Friday, January 13, 2017, with speaker Frank Monteiro, chief operating officer of MacDermid Performance Solutions in Waterbury. On Friday, January 27 the series will continue with speaker Virginia O’Rourke Cookson, owner of O’Rourke & Birch Florist, Inc. in Waterbury, and Carmen Romeo, president of Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury will be the final keynote speaker on Friday, February 24. All presentations are being held at Courtyard by Marriott Waterbury Downtown at 63 Grand Street from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. 

MacDermid Performance Solutions COO Frank Monteiro spoke to a packed room of fascinated attendees on January 13th. He articulated how the company has always been a ‘happy family’ within itself and there are “no formalities, titles, or barriers to all employees knowing each other.” Highly-respected for their extensive contributions to United Way and other non-profit organizations within the Waterbury region, Mr. Monteiro pride-fully commented, “When our employees leave their offices at 5:00 p.m. each day, they are not going home. They are going to meetings for non-profit organizations where they serve on committees and boards. We all want to be giving members to the Waterbury community.”

The January 27th Y.P.O.W.R. CEO Series speaker, Virginia “Ginny” O’Rourke Cookson, owner and president of O’Rourke & Birch Florist Inc. in Waterbury, is celebrating 94 years in business in 2017. O’Rourke-Cookson is a highly-respected member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber for 22 years, and in 2013, she was named the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year. She is also the recipient of many honorable and recognized community and leadership awards including the 2000 Waterbury Regional Chamber Business Woman of the Year Award. Silver Sponsor of this program is the Waterbury Exchange Club.

The February 24th’s CEO Series speaker, Carmen Romeo, president of Fascia’s Chocolates, was born and raised in Waterbury, graduated from Wilby High School and then Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Electrical Engineering.  During his corporate tenure, he worked with General Electric, Simplex Time Recorder, SimplexGrinnell organization. E-Lite Technologies, a spin-off of Timex Corp and Bergquist Torrington Company. In 2009, the engineer-turned-chocolatier joined his wife Louise's family business, Fascia's Chocolates. Under his leadership, Fascia's Chocolates has become a tourist destination in addition to making gelato and baked goods as a compliment to their premium chocolates. 

The mission of Y.P.O.W.R. is to energize young professionals aged 21 to 39 who are looking to grow their careers in the Waterbury area by engaging them in positive opportunities for professional development, educational, social, and community service.

All of Y.P.O.W.R’s CEO series programs will be held 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, Downtown Waterbury at 63 Grand Street. The series is open to Y.P.O.W.R. and Waterbury Regional Chamber members, and the general public.

Costs are $15/session for Y.P.O.W.R. members; $20/session for Waterbury Regional Chamber members; and $25/event for not-yet Y.P.O.W.R. members. To register, visit www.ypowr.org, or email to info@ypowr.org or call 203-757-0701.

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Submitted by Southbury, CT

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