Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1259024
www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 15, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 5 Former top Cigna executive Mark Boxer hired as UHart COO Mark Boxer, who recently retired as Cigna's chief information officer, is now chief operating officer at the University of Hartford. Boxer, who officially started his duties early this month, said he always planned to enter higher education after he retired from the insurance industry, and that his status as a UHart alum mixed with his desire to work with President Gregory Woodward made the university a good fit. "I don't think you could be a good business leader without being a good educator," said Boxer, who, in addition to holding two bachelor's degrees from UHart, also holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut. Downtown Hartford restaurant faces eviction uncertainty One of downtown Hartford's most active landlord-developers has filed a lawsuit seeking to evict Caribbean bar- restaurant The Russell and The Russell Grab & Go next door on Pratt Street for allegedly failing to pay rent. Court documents show that New York's Shelbourne Global Solutions LLC in January filed a complaint in Hartford Superior Court claiming The Russell, owned by restaurateur Hugh Russell, defaulted on its lease by "failing to pay all sums" when due. The complaint came months after Shelbourne in November served the restaurant with a notice to vacate the premises, and the business continued to occupy the 2,212-square-foot commercial space at 103-105 Pratt St., records show. In a March court filing, The Russell contested that it "neither admits nor denies the allegations" made by Shelbourne. The legal spat remains in limbo as Connecticut courts have curtailed operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hartford Athletic to begin 2020 season in July The Hartford Athletic says it will resume play in July after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its second season in the United Soccer League (USL) by four months. USL's board of governors agreed on a plan to tentatively begin the 2020 regular season on Saturday, July 11. The league said it will announce a new game schedule in the coming weeks. It's not clear whether fans will be able to attend games in 2020. Hartford nail salon sues CT over continued shutdown The owner of a Hartford nail salon has filed a lawsuit against the state of Connecticut for it's ongoing shutdown of personal service businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Luis Ramirez, owner of Roxy Nail Design on Park Street, filed the lawsuit Monday in Hartford Superior Court more than a week before nail salons, tattoo parlors, museums, zoos and other indoor businesses are on track to reopen as part of the second phase of Connecticut's economic reopening plan. An attorney representing Ramirez in a statement argued the state has claimed that nail and hair salons LATEST HEADLINES Spotlight on: Automotive Partyka Mazda | Hamden, CT Total Project Size: 8,000 SF 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD Another Successful Project by PDS PDS renovated this existing 8,000 square foot facility to Mazda's new "Retail Evolution" design. The work included all new interior finishes, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, sprinkler, EIFS and new ACM Panels. DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS Former Cigna exec Mark Boxer is now the COO of the University of Hartford. PHOTO | HBJ FILE Continued on page 6 >>