Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 8, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 7 Keating said some group leaders are worried about competing for a limited pool of prospective members, but he thinks that's wrong-minded. He said groups have a common goal and must work together. "If we look at ourselves as competi- tors and not allies, you start to alienate opportunity," he said. "If you get enough people on board that want to see the city succeed, it creates a ripple effect." HYPE Executive Director Kim Bishop said her 4,000-member group, includ- ing participants working and living in and out of Hartford, supports young professionals enrolling in other local initiatives because it benefits the city. She said she doesn't see a competi- tive threat. Even as new groups spawn in Greater Hartford, Bishop said HYPE's membership over the last five years has remained steady, indicating they are meeting the needs of their base. Changing the dialogue The founding ambassadors of Restart The HART, a five-month old group gaining attention for its pro- Hartford advocacy, plan on collabo- rating with HYPE and others to build like-minded connections. Co-founding ambassador Nicole Bac- caro, a 26-year-old Berlin resident and supply chain specialist at United Tech- nologies Research Center in East Hart- ford, said Restart The HART's biggest challenge is defining their mission either as a movement or as a social group. With about 750 followers across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Restart The HART uses its social ac- counts as a directory of Hartford's latest offerings. Original and reshared posts recently note the Parkville Market groundbreaking, the River- front Recapture Food Truck Festival, a par three golf course at Hartford's Dunkin' Donuts Park, newly proposed apartments or the view from Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt. Working to "reclaim Hartford," am- bassadors are also gathering at happy hours or hosting "public meetups" at venues like Upward Hartford to develop ideas on attracting new mem- bers, improve messaging or organize future hangouts. The group gains new members at each event, Baccaro said. Their direction is being mapped out by a cast of Millennials and other founding ambassadors, including Ali Lazowski, founder of Bare Life, a startup maker of allergen-friendly foods and recipes, and Hilary Stoudt, an associate real estate manager for realty firm CBRE in Hartford. Other leaders include startup entre- preneurs and employees at large com- panies including Travelers Cos., Pratt & Whitney and Stanley Black & Decker. "I think there is a real demand in the area for young professionals to be proud of where they're from and Re- start The HART," Baccaro said. Just a few doors down from the MetroHartford Alliance on Pratt Street, the co-founders of marketing firm Lumi Agency have created a digital and social group — "We Hartford" — aimed at bringing people together in the city at happy hours and area events. We Hartford co-founders Melissa Melonson, 34, and Cara Stellato, 29, are gaining attention online through their interview series showcasing city restaurants, including Chango Rosa and The Russell Grab & Go, Real Art Ways, incubator space Upward Hart- ford and others. The group's "Make Hartford Yours" series has more than 371,600 views online, and as many as 100 people have attended its happy hour events held at newer restaurants. Melonson said We Hartford has been successful thus far based on an influx of positive com- ments both online and at events, which are mainly targeted to Millennials. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who at 39 years old is just a few years outside of being a Millennial himself, is also a staunch supporter of the group's ef- forts, including taking to social media to promote its videos. "We're seeing more and more energy and activity in Hartford and it's great to see groups trying to highlight that and build on it," the mayor said. 14 Bobala Road 3rd Floor Holyoke, MA 01040 Tel: 413.536.3970 www.WAdvising.com Headquarters 280 Trumbull St 24th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 Tel: 860.522.3111 One Hamden Center 2319 Whitney Ave, Suite 2A Hamden, CT 06518 Tel: 203.397.2525 With the increasing popularity of high-deductible health plans it's more important than ever for healthcare organizations to have a reliable revenue strategy in place. Be Sure to Investigate: • Upfront Payment Strategies • Cash Controls • Patient Account Receivable Optimization • Payer Contracts Review and Negotiation • Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cash Flow Projections An operational review can help identify ways to turn your healthcare organization into a lean high-performing business. Contact a Whittlesey Advisor for a consultation. 860.522.3111 Improve Your Revenue Cycle ASSURANCE | ADVISORY | TAX | TECHNOLOGY Restart The HART founders on a LimeBike on Pratt Street in Hartford.

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