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19 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 23, 2021 Diana Piquette Curtis Rodriguez-Porter Age: 36 Company: Nassau Financial Group Title: Chief Financial Officer No. of years with current company: 7 Town where I live: Farmington Town where I work: Hartford College: University of Connecticut Highest degree: Master's degree in Accounting Age: 37 Company: CREC — Capitol Region Education Council Title: Program Manager for the Department of School Choice No. of years with current company: 3 Town where I live: Hartford Town where I work: Hartford College: Undergraduate: Central Connecticut State University Graduate: Walden University Highest degree: Master's degree in Public Administration D iana Piquette is Chief Financial Officer of Nassau Financial Group, a financial services company with more than $27 billion in assets, taking on the role in 2020. Piquette is a strong leader with a keen knack for managing complex initiatives. She led the building of the company's accounting infrastructure and transformed both the financial reporting process and business analytics. She has also taken a leading role in many strategic initiatives including acquisitions and raising capital. Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: 1. Built Nassau's accounting and financial reporting infrastructure that enables acquisitions and capital market participation. 2. Was the finance lead for a $100 million investment in Nassau and several acquisitions including a company with $2.5 billion in assets. 3. Lead a team of 70, developing financial talent to support the company's objectives. 4. One of a small number of female CFOs in the U.S. What's been your biggest professional/work accomplishment so far in your career? My biggest accomplishment has been executing strategic initiatives and transactions that have enabled Nassau to grow. These include raising capital, establishing an efficient capital structure for the company, a strategic acquisition and building out an accounting and financial reporting infrastructure while reducing time to produce financial information and analytics. C urtis Porter has been at Capital Region Education Council (CREC) for almost three years. As the School Choice Program Manager, he leads marketing and programming strategy for CREC's 16 themed magnet schools and 29 districts that participate in the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. He transitioned from a multicultural marketing agency to education at Hartford Public Schools in 2013 and since then has been able to merge his passion for marketing and family engagement. Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: 1. Values collaboration and community because of my strong belief that nothing can be accomplished alone. 2. Empowers others to always want more and do more. 3. Thrives while at the table and serving all of the different intersections I represent to ensure equitable practices for the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community. 4. Received CREC's Shining Star award for embodying CREC's Core Values: Expect Excellence, Act With Courage, Demand Equity, and Embrace Collaboration. Fun Fact I only eat my Oreo cookie ice cream soft. Nassau Financial Group and the Women of Nassau Celebrate Diana Piquette Diana P WON.indd 1 Diana P WON.indd 1 7/30/21 8:43 AM 7/30/21 8:43 AM 40 UNDER FORTY | TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 2021