More than a dozen Danbury area entrepreneurs and their businesses received awards at the third annual CT Entrepreneur Awards ceremony in Hartford.
Western Connecticut State University was also presented with the award for Community Promoter of the Year.
Accepting the award was Dr. Pauline Assenza, professor in the Ancell School of Business with responsibility for the Small Business and Entrepreneurship concentration in the Management major.
“We’re trying to grow a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in our part of the state,” Assenza said. “It’s noteworthy that the greater Danbury area had 13 award recipients out of the possible 23 categories.” She nominated 11 local business people for the awards.
Entrepreneurs who received honorable mention in the judged categories were, from New Milford: Jessica Reis of Reis Learning Center, Kevin Lane of Create a Castle, and Tony Vengrove of Makery Co-Working. From Danbury: Liz Ceppos of Cross Culture Kombucha, A. Malakah Williams of Bash! Boutique Events and Organic Cakery, Jason Clemence of Thrillz Adventure Park, and the Danbury Hackerspace represented by Mike Kaltschnee.
In the community voting categories, more 8,000 people cast their votes for their hometown favorites to determine winners and runners-up. Individuals and companies from the Danbury/New Milford area placed in seven out of a possible 14 categories. The winners were Reis Learning Center, Create a Castle, Makery Co-Working, Bash! Boutique Events and Organic Cakery, and Random Hacks of Kindness, Jr. represented by Patrice Gans of Woodbury.
Those receiving honorable mention in the community vote included Jessica Bittner of Lasting Impressions Hand Stamped Jewelry from New Milford, Goat Boy Soaps represented by Lisa Agee of New Milford Cross Culture Kombucha, and Workspace Education represented by Catherine Fraise of Bethel.
Anyone in the greater Danbury area who has aspirations to pursue their business venture, or realize their entrepreneurial dreams, can contact several supporting resources, including SCORE of Western CT at 203-794-1404; and Nelson Merchan of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center. Other local resources include the Danbury Hackerspace, Makery Co-Working, and E.R.I.C., the entity that provides support for Entrepreneurship, Research, Innovation, and Creativity in the Westside Classroom Building at WCSU.
For more information about the Entrepreneur Awards event or the Entrepreneur Event Calendar, including how to get involved or become a sponsor, contact Bill Kenney at scallywag@ctevents.co.
For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.