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www.HartfordBusiness.com • August 5, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 29 40 UNDER FORTY 2019 R achel DeCavage is the owner and lead designer of cinder + salt, an eco-friendly clothing and lifestyle brand, founded in 2014. All cinder + salt products are hand-printed by DeCavage using her original designs and recycled inks. With a core focus on environmental sustainability, DeCavage operates a zero- waste print shop, leads beach and street clean-ups throughout Connecticut and has created clean-waste recycling oppor- tunities through her brick and mortar. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Cinder + salt is currently carried in over 200 stores nationwide and remains a micro-business, with a team of just three people. Through a focus on efficient production and sustain- able resourcing, I'm able to mass pro- duce my handmade products to meet growing demand. How are you involved in the community? Since 2017, I've hosted over a dozen beach and street clean-ups in Con- necticut, collecting over 1,000 pounds of litter. I spent three years as trea- surer of Cetacean Society Interna- tional and currently volunteer with The Rockfall Foundation to organize community events. What do you like to do outside of work? I love vacationing to tropical locales to immerse myself in nature, includ- ing swimming with whale sharks and bird watching in rainforests. I also love hiking, paddleboarding and creating art from my home studio. Oh and mar- garitas! I'll take any excuse to go out for nachos and margaritas. Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: • Founded a company that has seen consistent growth for five years and counting. • Selected for the Workshop at Macy's accelerator program for female- and minority-owned businesses ready to sell to major retailers. • Regularly creates and hosts envi- ronmental volunteer opportunities throughout the state. • Founded Evergreen Design Co., a nonprofit whose mission is to educate the community on, provide means to and promote a sustainable way of life through a focus on design. FUN FACT I've spent hours perfecting my chicken-clucking impression. It doesn't disappoint. B ecky Humphrey is a director at Conning, in the insurance research group, where she leads a change initiative aimed at modernizing the group's products, services and delivery. She is also responsible for increasing connectivity throughout the firm and leveraging the group's insurance indus- try expertise more broadly. In addi- tion, Humphrey is a property-casualty researcher and consultant who enjoys providing strategic advice, market analysis, and guidance to leadership teams and boards of directors. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Developing my knowledge of the crop insurance industry. In addition to authoring well-respected research on this sector, Conning has been an advisor to more than a third of the crop insurance industry on various strategic projects over the past three years. How are you involved in the community? Member of the Roberts Founda- tion, where I serve on the investment subcommittee. The foundation funds the creation and presentation of works of art, locally. Member of the Hartford Stage junior board. Co-chair of the Stage One Committee and serve on the investment and finance committees. What do you like to do outside of work? I love international travel; my partner and I are committed to traveling to at least one new country every year. This year we are visiting Peru and hiking Machu Picchu. Additionally, I love theatre, hiking, weightlifting, reading nonfiction and listening to podcasts. Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: • Serve on two local arts nonprofit board of directors — Hartford Stage and The Roberts Foundation. • Committed to mentoring other young professionals and interns at Conning and in the community. • One of Conning's youngest directors. • Founded two employee-resource groups to increase professional- development opportunities and points of connection for employees. FUN FACT Recently featured, along with my trainer and other gym members, in Muscle & Fitness Hers. Rebekah "Becky" Humphrey Director, Insurance Research & Consulting, Conning Age: 35 No. of years with current company: 5 Town where I live: West Hartford Town where I work: Hartford College: Wheaton College, Trinity College Highest degree: Master's degree in economics Who is your favorite superhero? Wonder Woman, I appreciate her commitment to social justice. Rachel DeCavage Owner + Creative Director, cinder + salt Age: 35 No. of years with current company: 5 1⁄2 Town where I live: Bristol Town where I work: Middletown College: Bennington College Highest degree: Bachelor's degree in visual arts Who is your favorite superhero? Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, for obvious reasons.