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10 Hartford Business Journal | April 11, 2022 | Women In Business A lyssa Goduti leads Ädelbrook Behavioral and Developmental Services, a 122-year-old nonprofit providing education, residential and community-based services for hundreds of children, adults and families. Specializing in autism spectrum disorders, developmental services and behavioral health treatment, the organization has a $45-million budget, 600 employees and 20 locations. Goduti is also an adjunct professor in UConn's Department of Public Policy. She's on the boards of the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance and The Children's League of Connecticut. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? In the past three years, despite the pandemic, Ädelbrook has expanded, adding programs, serving more families and providing greater access to much-needed care. Every day I see the youth we support who — despite challenges — demonstrate resilience and positivity. My greatest accomplishment is expanding access to care so that more families can get the services they need to succeed. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I strive to promote systemic change that enhances access to care. I hope to contribute to public policy initiatives that support and honor the expertise and dedication of staff working for nonprofit human service agencies. This will allow us to strengthen our workforce to expand services to meet growing needs. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Managing residential services, special education schools and in-home services during the pandemic was the greatest challenge of my career. We responded to unprecedented situations with frequently changing guidance. When most people remained home, we continued to support people face to face. We were able to keep children safe, healthy and happy. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? COVID reinforced the importance of quick and decisive decision making, transparent communication, innovation, teamwork and gratitude. Collaboration and partnerships — both internally and externally — helped us navigate uncharted waters in a way that kept the focus on the safety and well-being of the children and families we serve. Who has been your most important mentor and why? My father was an innovative and respected business leader. He taught me to dream big, lead by example, seek out opportunities, take risks and show gratitude. Alyssa Goduti Employer: Ädelbrook Behavioral and Developmental Services Title: President & CEO A ndréa Hawkins heads up Leading Culture Solutions (LCS), a boutique business consulting firm that helps organizations align human dynamics to achieve organizational outcomes. She has over 20 years of strategic planning and culture transformation experience with a focus on inclusion. With a master's degree in organizational behavior, Hawkins co-owns three Berkins cafes in Greater Hartford with her husband, Doug. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? Starting four businesses in six years and realizing this was what I was meant to do. I love creating businesses where people can be their best selves. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Allowing others to try to limit possibilities for my future and my career aspirations. I had a very modest start, having grown up in the projects in Hartford, attending community college and finally graduating with my master's degree from the University of Hartford — all of this education part time at night for 25 years. Nothing about my life was traditional. What do you like to do outside of work? I enjoy giving back to the community. We've started a donor-advised fund (Berkins Family Fund) to be able to help startup nonprofits and nonprofits that want to combine their efforts to serve our communities. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? For our café businesses — we had to be patient and really think about the safety of our employees and ourselves. We cut back our hours to limit exposure. At LCS, we've made good use of Zoom and have been able create and build relationships with our clients. What are your keys to maintaining business success? At LCS and Berkins, we treat our employees like family (and some are). We've found that if you give to your teams, they give back to you. Andréa Hawkins Employer: Leading Culture Solutions Title: CEO & Founding Partner Women In Business Awards 2022 G rowing up in a housing project in South Hartford, Flemming-Butler began organizing and advocating in 1998. Through her work and from her own personal history, she has developed a unique perspective on the limitations of political power in minority populations. It is this perspective that she uses as a lobbyist, working to connect corporate clients with residents in the community to address problems of common interest. Strategic Outreach Solutions is the only Black female lobbying firm in Connecticut. What is your biggest professional accomplishment so far? My biggest accomplishment so far is the safe spaces I've created, like my Lobbying Training Institute. There, we teach women the negotiation and advocacy skills they need to access spaces that have historically been closed to them and empower them with the tools they need to bring lasting change. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? My immediate goal is to continue to break barriers in Connecticut and ensure that others who look like me and come from similar backgrounds know they have a place in the Capitol and in the lobbying space. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? In a field dominated by white men, it is often challenging to be authentically myself and not compromise on any aspect of my identity to fit in. I've made a commitment to myself that I won't change how I do things just because it's not how things have been done. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? It's helped me realize that Zoom makes it easier to connect my corporate lobbying clients with individuals in the communities that are being impacted by their position on legislation. Lobbying doesn't happen in a vacuum, and it's critical for business and corporations to create relationships with everyday people to solve problems of common interest. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? We need more women of color in the lobbying space both in Connecticut and nationally, and I want to break those doors wide open and empower women to enter and stay in these spaces. Janice Flemming-Butler Employer: Strategic Outreach Solutions Title: Founder & CEO H eather Gates is the president and CEO of Community Health Resources (CHR). Under her leadership, CHR has become the most comprehensive, nonprofit behavioral healthcare agency in Connecticut and was the first agency to meet rigorous federal criteria as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. Gates has twice been named a Top Leader through the annual Top Workplace survey and is actively involved with local, state and national advocacy organizations, including the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance and the board of the National Council for Mental Well Being. What is your biggest professional accomplishment so far? My biggest accomplishment has been creating a comprehensive system of care for children, families and adults to address mental health and substance-use disorders. I am proud of the services we offer by an amazing team of staff. Leading them through the pandemic is one of my greatest accomplishments. What is your next big professional goal? I want CHR to be known as a just and equitable employer and service provider. It is so important to me to lead us through the changes underway in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). We have a great team working to achieve results in multiple areas, including training, staff support and service delivery. What has been your biggest professional challenge? When I think back on my career, my biggest challenge was balancing work and family commitments. When my children were young, the concept of work-life balance did not exist. As a woman CEO, I was often the only woman in many meetings, even in an industry dominated by women. How has the pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? Leading an essential healthcare agency in a pandemic required a shift away from strategic focus to operational focus. My job changed significantly as I became more involved in decision making about operations, a necessity to keep staff and those whom we serve safe. Thank goodness for my team! What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I want to be remembered as a strong advocate for those who are most in need of behavioral health services. There are still tremendous inequities in the way services are funded. Heather M. Gates Employer: Community Health Resources Title: President & CEO