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26 n e w h a v e n B I Z | M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 9 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m KASSIE TUCKER M A NAGING DIRECTOR TSAI CENTER FOR INNOVATIV E THINKING AT YA LE, NEW H AV EN Residence: Fairfield College(s): University of Mary Washington, BS; Babson College, MBA Leads oper- ations and program- ming at Tsai CITY, launched two years ago to inspire and support students through programs and funding to seek innovative ways to address real-world problems. "We're building a new kind of innovation center, one rooted in radical inclu- sivity: here, students from all backgrounds tackle issues like climate change and civic engagement, develop creative projects from documentary films to digital platforms, and launch high-growth ventures and movements. Many of the initiatives, projects and startups we support operate locally and aim to benefit the New Haven ecosystem." How do you give back to the greater New Haven community? My family and I are super users of the parks in the area. I volunteer my time to help clean up the spaces for all to enjoy. What advice would you give to up-and-coming business professionals? Talk about your ideas with everyone. You never know who can help make that crucial connection or provide insight to take your idea to the next level. What don't most people know about you? I'm a sci-fi nerd. I'll read pretty much any book with a post-apocalyptic story line. STEVE MILLER PRINCIPA L & BROKER LEV EY MILLER M A RETZ, LLC, WOODBRIDGE Residence: West Haven College(s): Hofstra University, BS One of the lions of New Haven's commercial real-estate landscape, Miller for decades has helped to foster a culture of collegiality and (sometimes even) cooperation in a famously fractious industry. Levey Miller Maretz has been selling, leasing and managing commercial properties throughout the city, region and state since 1963. Miller has been instrumental in craing more deals for key downtown parcels than he probably cares to remember. How do you give back to the community? We have always encouraged our team to give back to our community. I am a past president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven and currently vice chairman of CIC [Connecticut Community Investment Corp.], a nonprofit community lender representing the SBA [U.S. Small Business Administration] in our region. What advice would you give to up-and-coming business professionals? Don't be afraid of a challenging task. Analyze the situation, create a plan — go for it. Summer of '71: In 1971, I graduated from Hofstra in May, opened a retail business — Jimmy's Army & Navy in West Haven — in July and got married on August 8. It was a busy year. JON SODERSTROM M A NAGING DIRECTOR OFFICE OF COOPER ATIV E RESEA RCH, YA LE UNIV ERSITY Residence: Madison College(s): Hope College, BA; Northwestern University, Ph.D. Yale finally decided to al- low commer- cialization of its research in the 1990s, and Soder- strom has been at the tip of the spear for 20 years. OCR has midwifed dozens of new ven- tures that have raised more than $1 billion in venture capital and over $5 billion in equity invest- ments. ese include Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Kolltan (now Celldex), Melinta as well as Biohaven Pharmaceuticals and Arvinas, which recently launched successful IPOs. How do you give back? I have served on many state boards and commissions focused on education, entrepreneurship and economic development. We sponsor many public seminars and workshops on entrepre- neurship and new venture creation. Our biggest event is our annual Innovation Summit [May 9], a major showcase/ networking event that attracts more than 1,000 to investigate opportunities for new ventures. What advice would you give to up- and-coming business profession- als? Find your place to plug into the network and get involved. New Haven is still a small town and your ability to make a dif- ference is limited only by your energy and imagination. Lightness of being: I was named the 87th 'Daily Point of Light' by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 for volunteer work with low-income families in East Tennessee to build and rehabilitate housing. JENNIFER HEATH PRESIDENT & CEO UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEW H AV EN Residence: Hamden College(s): Davidson College, BA; Princeton University, MPA A consci- entious and capable executive, Heath directs the almost century-old philanthropic concern serving 12 commu- nities throughout greater New Haven. For many in the corporate community, the United Way offers principal (and often sole) interface with service- and care-providers to those in need. How do you give back to the community? I feel really fortunate to have a job that is completely focused on giving back to the community. Every day, I get to think about how to solve community problems and ways to get more people involved in being part of the solution. I also give financially to organizations and causes I care about, and I'm an active member of my church, where I work with kids and participate in the music program. What advice would you give to up-and-coming professionals? Seek out people in your organization and/or field whom you admire and learn from them. I have benefited greatly over the years from really talented people who were senior to me and gave me advice and encouragement along the way. Keys to work-life balance (all 88 of them): I love to play the piano. I'll never play Carnegie Hall, but it brings me a lot of pleasure, and is a great stress reliever. NEW HAVEN: POWER 50 >> Retail Sales >> Higher Education & Nonprofits

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