Hartford Business Journal Special Editions

54 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 23, 2021 Kevin Leahy Q: What is your biggest professional accomplishment since receiving this award? T he biggest professional achievement since receiving the 40 Under 40 award was achieved alongside many of my colleagues who are also 40 Under 40 award winners. We set out to revolutionize wealth management – the services we deliver and how they are delivered – by providing unrivaled client experiences and career paths for our professionals. We accomplished that in creating and growing Connecticut Wealth Management. What was merely an idea in 2009 is now a fi rm that is growing careers for over 40 teammates and oversees $2.5 billion in assets for 600 wonderful families. Refl ecting on milestones like these certainly makes me proud, but it is also incredibly humbling that our fi rm, my teammates and I have been the recipient of such good fortune over the last decade. Year Won: 2009 Current Title: CEO Company: Connecticut Wealth Management Current Age: 50 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 Samuel Gray Q: What is your biggest professional accomplishment since receiving this award? S ome of the biggest accomplishments since receiving this award include completing a Master's degree from Albertus Magnus College in Management and Year Won: 2009 Current Title: President and CEO Company: Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford Current Age: 50 40 Organizational Leadership and leading the Boys & Girls Clubs through the pandemic. This was done by implementing virtual operations while opening for youth and families who needed services the most in our community in a safe and responsible way. I was also recognized in February by the Hartford Business Journal as one of greater Hartford's most influential leaders by being named to the Power 50. Last June, I led the groundbreaking on a $21 million new Boys & Girls Club facility in Hartford South End, which is expected to open after Labor Day this year. More than 1,500 youth in Hartford's South End community will see this new Boys & Girls Club as their second home. I also recently became certified as a Sherpa Executive Coach from the University of Georgia and I continue to be committed as a Black father and example to my three sons, Marcus, Myles and Mason. Grant Copeland Q: What is your biggest professional accomplishment since receiving this award? T o me, the 40 Under Forty award underscores how all of us can impact so much regardless of our age. Since receiving the award, one thing stands out as my biggest professional accomplishment; although it's very personal as well. Year Won: 2011 Current Title: President / Chief Creative Officer Company: WORX Branding | Digital | Marketing Current Age: 45 40 In 2018 and 2019, I co-chaired the United Way of Greater Waterbury campaign with my, then, 12-year-old daughter Ella. The campaign raised over $4 million — at the time, the second-highest fundraising amount in the organization's 77-year history. While this was amazing, I wanted to do something more. Something big. Something that could start during the campaign year and grow. Something that might impact the United Way and the entire community forever. So, I created a new United Way initiative called UPSTARTERS, which is aimed at giving every single young person aged 10 to 17 the opportunity to lead in the community. It's for youth, by youth — meaning, the kids identify what their community needs, plan their own activities and work together to raise whatever resources they've set as a goal. Over 1,000 youth across a ten- town region have participated already — yet we've only scratched the surface. And my daughter and son remain actively involved, hopefully learning to be community contributors for life. Q: What is your biggest professional accomplishment since receiving this award? I always fi nd it diffi cult to self- assess personal accomplishments but being able to continue working for the betterment of the City of Hartford is what I'm most proud of. Since moving back in 2005, I've been fortunate enough to hold several positions, both in the private and public sector, all with similar goals, to support residents and businesses. The Capital City has given me and my family so much that I fi nd it rewarding to give back in any way possible. In an age where individuals can relocate anywhere in the world with just a few clicks of a mouse, it's increasingly diffi cult for cities to compete for attraction and retention of talent. To be fortunate enough to be able to spend my professional career ensuring individuals can experience all the amazing things that Hartford has to off er is - and will always be - my biggest professional accomplishment. Hartford Has It. Julio Concepcion Year Won: 2011 Current Title: Executive Director Company: Hartford Chamber of Commerce Current Age: 39 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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