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14 n e w h a v e n B I Z | S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 2 0 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m CAREER 180 860.871.1111 www.nemsi.com 166 Tunnel Road, Vernon, CT 06066 Choose an Award-Winning Partner For Over 50 Years, Clients Have Counted On NEMSI For: • HVAC, Plumbing and Process Piping • Design-Build Construction • Energy Management Systems • LEED Certification Programs • Electrical Services • Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Programs • 24/7/365 Emergency Response Recent Awards Include: » ABC Platinum Safety Award » ABC Accredited Quality Contractor (ABC-AQC) » ABC Excellence in Construction Award » ABC Specialty Contractor of the Year » Contracting Business First Place Design/Build Award License #s: E1-104939 • S1- 302974 P1- 203519 • F1- 10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 Offices in: New London | Trumbull | Pawtucket, RI | Palmer, MA | Manchester, NH | Albany, NY Offi ces in: New London | Trumbull | Pawtucket, RI Palmer, MA | Manchester, NH | Albany, NY Choose an Award-Winning Partner For Over 50 Years, Clients Have Counted On NEMSI For: • HVAC, Plumbing and Process Piping • Design-Build Construction • Energy Management Systems • LEED Certifi cation Programs • Electrical Services • Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance Programs • 24/7/365 Emergency Response License #s: E1-104939 • S1- 302974 P1- 203519 • F1- 10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 What Can We Do For You? 860.871.1111 www.nemsi.com 55 Gerber Road East South Windsor, CT 060746 Recent Awards Include: » ABC Platinum Safety Award » ABC Accredited Quality Contractor (ABC-AQC) » ABC Excellence in Construction Award » ABC Specialty Contractor of the Year » Contracting Business First Place Design/Build Award Susan Rapini switched from chamber work to become director of external relations at Southern Connecticut State University's School of Business. have as much knowledge as possi- ble. If you are opening a business, learn everything about it and look at every issue, such as location." From chambers to a university: Susan Rapini For 17-plus years, Susan Rapini had been doing similar work at chambers of commerce, first for the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce and most recently as the Greater New Haven Cham- ber of Commerce's executive vice president. She oversaw marketing, communications and business development. "I loved what I was doing, but I was interested in doing more," Ra- pini recalls. "I wanted to grow and take on more responsibility." Rapini decided to look into a new path when she was in her late 50s. "I wanted a new challenge where I could make a significant impact," Rapini says. Rapini confided in friends and mentors, and that's how she learned about her current position. For the past two years, Rapini has been working as the director of external relations for Southern Connecti- cut State University's School of Business. At SCSU, Rapini is still working with businesses, just in a different way, and she says her role at the chambers prepared her for her current challenge. Now, she makes connections in the business world for the univer- sity, such as helping students find internships. She determines what employers need from graduates, and whether SCSU students have the matching skills. If not, she works to make sure the universi- ty's students get those skills. Based on input from the Orange-based Avangrid, SCSU created a new public utilities management program. She also helps with fundraising for various university projects and oversees SCSU's Business Success Center, which performs mock in- terviews with students, helps them polish their résumés and provides them with career and job-readi- ness coaching. "I get to work with the business community, students and faculty," Rapini says. Unlike many career-changers Rapini did not have to return to school or undertake new training. She has a degree in marketing from Quinnipiac University's School of Business. Moving to a university setting was a big culture change, she says, and she has had a learning curve. "Even though it is scary to leave something when you are so comfortable, it is worth the risk," Rapini says. "e key is just to be open to it and don't be afraid. What is the worst thing that could happen?" n Continued from Page 13

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