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6 Hartford Business Journal | April 11, 2022 | Women In Business Women In Business Awards 2022 A native of Plainville, Quinn Wazorko Christopher graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2002, going on to Southern Connecticut State University for a master's in social work. Until she became owner of M&T Enterprises in 2017, Christopher was employed at Wheeler Clinic in Plainville. Christopher served on the Plainville Town Council from 2012 to 2017, is co- president of the Plainville Chamber of Commerce, president of the South Canal Street Industrial Park Association, serves on the Plainville Parks and Recreation Commission, is a member of the Plainville Democratic Town Committee, and is the administrator of the Ted Christopher Memorial Fund and the Drive for Safety Initiative. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Following my husband's unexpected death in 2017, I had to decide what to do with his business of servicing Allison transmissions. I had no knowledge of the transmission business, but with my brother-in-law Mike Christopher's support and knowledge, we decided to continue running the business. For the last five years, he and I have continued M&T Enterprises' success. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I want to continue to grow the business. While our account base has increased by 30% since 2017, I would like to see it grow an additional 20% in the next two years and serve 500 clients. We will do this by continuing to be competitive, providing quality repairs and exceeding client expectations. As a businesswoman, I hope to serve as a role model for those interested in this type of career. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Having to unexpectedly pivot my career path is the biggest professional challenge I have overcome. Never did I imagine running this kind of business, especially one not usually associated with women. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? Considered an essential service, we were extremely fortunate in that we never had to close. We were able to do large-scale repairs and replacements. Because we had a fully stocked inventory, we were not caught in the supply-chain dilemma. Quinn Wazorko Christopher Employer: M&T Enterprises Title: Owner A fter 15 years as a meteorologist, most notably at WeatherBug (an app she helped bring to life), Blozy retired her crystal ball to pursue a master's degree in exercise science from George Washington University. Fifteen days after graduating at the top of her class, she moved to Connecticut and purchased Fleet Feet Hartford. Under her leadership, Fleet Feet has grown into one of the largest specialty running stores in the country and consistently receives "Best Running Stores in America" honors. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? I left the stability of meteorology, sold my house, cashed out my savings and took on sizable debt to purchase Fleet Feet during the economic downturn of 2008. Within two years, I doubled the store's revenues, paid off all my debts and created a thriving running community. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? Creating more sparks through mentorship and financial assistance to inspire and help people pursue their passions, especially when it benefits a community. I don't want to leave a legacy, I want to fuel a movement to pay it forward, that continues for generations. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? The nature of retail is that you have continuous turnover. We are always hiring, training and picking up the slack when someone moves on. It's super challenging, but I've learned to embrace my role to teach staff the skills they need and be a springboard for their next job. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? COVID jolted me out of my comfort zone. I had to think differently, adapt quickly and work harder than ever. More importantly, I learned to balance the needs of the business with the needs of my staff, all of whom stuck by me. Who has been your most important mentor and why? Terry Hambrick was my manager at WeatherBug for 10 years. When I'm faced with a tough situation, I always think 'What would Terry do?' Steph Blozy Employer: Fleet Feet Title: Owner M ichele Ciotola oversees a team of 20 intellectual property professionals and is active in firm management, including the firm's equity advancement and women's initiative committees. Ciotola cultivates an inclusive and team- driven environment. A self-proclaimed trademark nerd, she enjoys working with her clients to build and enforce their brands and creative content in the United States and internationally. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? I'm a founding member of the firm's women's initiative employee resource group and serve on the firm's equity advancement committee, which leads the firm in its diversity, equity, and inclusion work. My team and I deeply value creators — we offer a special copyright law session for artists of all kinds — so that they understand their IP rights regarding their artistic creations. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? The IP Duo was born during the pandemic: Patent attorney Tina Dorr and I teamed up for business development. We write articles, give talks and we are in the process of launching a podcast, IP Obsessed. I want to continue to build our IP Duo brand. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Assuming the role of chair during a pandemic brought many challenges, including transitioning the longstanding clients of my retiring partner to my responsibility, without the opportunity for in-person meetings. I had to be more intentional and inclusive in my communications and proactive in many areas. All this while working from home, where my school- aged children would often join internal meetings uninvited. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? The pandemic forced me to immediately embrace video conferencing. And communication became more crucial than before — video conferencing, whether to collaborate with colleagues or clients, or just to connect — allowed me to not just maintain relationships but strengthen them. What do you like to do outside of work? I want to create memories with my family. This includes trying new recipes together, planting a garden, hiking, and many arts and craft projects that take over our kitchen table. My side hustle is chauffeuring my children to their activities. Michele Ciotola Employer: Cantor Colburn Title: Partner & Chair, Trademark and Copyright Department A drienne W. Cochrane has devoted her nonprofit career to underserved and disenfranchised individuals and communities. Her work is centered in achieving racial and gender equity and social justice. As CEO of the $9-million YWCA Hartford Region, Cochrane and her leadership team are expanding programs and services in Hartford; launching a social enterprise; and transforming their headquarters into a Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity to create sustainable impact for women, girls and families, particularly women and girls of color. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? My total body of work as opposed to a single accomplishment. My nonprofit work is consistently mission-centered and solutions focused on serving those most vulnerable. Social justice requires that we disrupt and dismantle unjust practices to achieve social transformation. Being part of a team doing this work is a collective accomplishment. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? YWCA Hartford Region is leveraging stakeholders and relationships to expand our programs and services, launch our social enterprise, Persimmon Petals, and transform our building into a Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity to provide a safe place where women, girls and families will thrive. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Successfully steering a complex, multilayered organization and team through a pandemic is a different kind of opportunity. My board leaned in, the team stepped up, and we used the time to redefine our vision, complete our strategic plan and re-imagine how we optimize our building to fulfill our mission. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? The pandemic transformed the way we live and work and define the two. The diverse experiences of our early learning staff — who could not work remotely — and staff who could, was a delicate balance. Consistent, open communication and acknowledgement of differences forged a deeper bond. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I hope that my career legacy will be as a compassionate servant leader who fostered positive and impactful change in the lives of those who needed it most. Adrienne W. Cochrane Employer: YWCA Hartford Region Title: CEO