Hartford Business Journal

10 Hartford Business Journal • October 19, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com By Matt Pilon mpilon@hartfordbusiness.com I n the midst of a historic pandemic that's battered Connecticut's economy and left gaping holes in upcom- ing state budgets, deciding to leave a private-sector career to be- come the face of business interests at the state Capitol might seem like a risky move for most people. Not Chris DiPentima. The recently named CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry As- sociation (CBIA) says he's fully aware of the challenge ahead, where he could be on the opposing side of law- maker proposals to increase business taxes to help close projected billion- dollar deficits in the years ahead. But DiPentima says he has no regrets about leaving his former job as president of Pegasus Manufac- turing, an aerospace components maker that his father founded in the late 1980s, to lead the state's largest business association. "It's a tough situation, but I've faced tough situations running businesses as well," DiPentima said in a recent interview. "Do you run away from a challenge, or do you embrace it as an opportunity to maybe do things differently, do things better, and come out stronger?" DiPentima has been involved with the CBIA for nearly two decades as a busi- ness and/or board member, but that long history doesn't mean the former aerospace exec will bring the same old playbook into leg- islative battles. But he also doesn't plan to reinvent the wheel either. Through CBIA's recently launched Re- building Con- necticut market- ing campaign, which seeks to influence the legislative agenda in the coming year and beyond, the association is fo- cused on putting out more posi- tive messaging about the im- pact its member companies have on their com- munities and employees' lives, and pointing out that tax hikes could diminish those benefits. "We want to be an organization with faces — behind each job is an individual and their commu- nity," DiPentima said. "The con- cern about taxes is that some feel it's easier to raise them on companies because it's not affecting individuals, when in fact you are." That's just one of the shifts hap- pening within CBIA of late. There are other signs of change to its com- munications and policy strategies, some noticeable and some subtle. For example, CBIA isn't endorsing candidates in state legislative races this year, something it's done going back at least a decade. Instead, CBIA will publish the names of lawmakers who sign a new policy pledge, which lays out the group's 2021 legislative priorities. The one-page document lists 11 bullet points focused on workforce development, urban renewal, more favorable tax policies, transportation funding, and greater use of nonprof- its to provide services on behalf of state agencies, among other topics. As of press time, more than 75 legislative candidates had signed the pledge. DiPentima said that's a good start, but CBIA — whose membership includes a wide variety of small and large companies across multiple industries and with different interests — will be tracking whether the pledge system proves to be more effective for his membership's interests than the prior endorsement strategy. Several Democratic committee co- chairs have signed the pledge, which could be seen as a bipartisan win for CBIA, since its endorsements in the past have leaned Republican. Collaborative strategy DiPentima has been working closely in recent months with his predecessor, Joe Brennan, who delayed his June retirement plans to help CBIA navigate the pandemic fallout and leadership transition. Despite Brennan's soft-spoken demeanor, CBIA experimented with a more aggressive approach early in his five-year tenure as CEO. In 2016, CBIA, in reaction to recent tax hikes at the time, turned heads by forming a political action committee that ul- timately made more than $550,000 CBIA's 'Rebuilding CT' pledge The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is asking state lawmakers to sign a pro-business pledge ahead of the November elections and 2021 legislative session. The pledge supports the following policy positions: Expanding the state's manufac- turing apprenticeship tax credit program to include small manufac- turers and repealing the state sales tax on employer training programs. Repealing the 6.35% state sales tax on employment training and safety apparel, including personal protective equipment. Restoring the pass-through entity tax credit to its original 93% — a 2019 reduction cost small busi- nesses $53 million annually. Restoring the R&D tax credit to attract entrepreneurs, foster startup businesses, and promote private-sector investment. Restoring the long-term finan- cial sustainability of the state's Unemployment Trust Fund through the adoption of benefit reforms already implemented as best practices by neighboring states. Business Influencer DiPentima hones CBIA's lobbying game plan ahead of potentially tumultuous budget session After months of pandemic- related work, new CBIA CEO Chris DiPentima is about to steer the state's largest business association through its next test: The 2021 legislative session. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER

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