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HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | August 15, 2022 17 2022 | 40 UNDER FORTY Jamal Robinson oversees all sales and marketing at New England Brewing Co. and is the founder and chair of NEBCO's D.I.E. Committee. Robinson spearheaded the creation of two African-American Brewers Scholarships and is the founder and president of the Change in the Air Foundation, a nonprofit focused on diversifying the beer industry. He's the co-founder of the Change in the Air Festival and newest board member of the New Haven Green Fund. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? A big accomplishment was being pro- moted to director of sales and marketing for one of the best and largest breweries in Connecticut. Along with establishing two African-American brewers' schol- arships to help diversify and better the industry, I have spent 18 years as one of the first and few African-Americans in it. How are you involved in the community? I help in any way I can in partnership with Devin Avshalom - Smith, alder of Ward 20 and founder of Newhallville Community Action Network to evolve the neighbor- hood and Starr Street garden. I've also joined the board of New Haven Green Fund, providing grants for sustain- able efforts in New Haven County. What do you like to do outside of work? I'm an avid home gardener with aspira- tions of becoming a master gardener and currently in the middle of building a self-sustainable urban homestead in New Haven. Its currently equipped with gardens, chickens and compost with plans of adding water retention, solar and bee keeping. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Youngest and first African-American to become a regional sales manager for a craft brewery in New England. • Became a brand manager at an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler before I was legally allowed to drink alcohol. • Established two African-American Brewers Scholarships (one endowed, one annual) and led a team to raise Melissa Paul has spent her professional career in service to bettering our com- munities through education and youth development. She has worked in a variety of educational settings including public and private schools and in the nonprofit sector. As Hartford Promise's director – college partnerships and reaching forward, she cultivates and manages partner college relationships, building and maintaining a vibrant scholar community and supporting scholars toward college success. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Helping to usher hundreds of first-gen- eration college students through their uncharted paths to success is my biggest accomplishment. I have designed a pro- gram that adapts to our scholars' individual needs and guides them toward their unique goals and accomplishments How are you involved in the community? While the work I do at Hartford Promise has a direct impact on the Greater Hartford community, I also serve on the board of directors for the Little Theatre of Manchester. In addition, I am involved in my children's school communities in both Hartford and West Hartford. What do you like to do outside of work? I love the performing arts. I have been in productions with numerous theatre groups throughout the state and have sung pro- fessionally in venues all over the Northeast. I enjoy spending time with my family, being out in the summer sun and baking delicious treats to share. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Facilitated meaningful and effective partnerships with area colleges that sup- port the success of Hartford students. • Provide safe space for scholars and colleagues to turn when they need to be heard. • Committed to increasing diversity and equity in Connecticut theatre organiza- tions both on and off stage. • Co-founded the longest running all-fe- male a cappella group in Cape Cod, 16 years and counting. Vaishali Shah is the owner of the Coder School Farmington, Glastonbury, and Cheshire (coming soon). The Coder School is a national franchise headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Shah is the first person in Connecticut to open up a coding for kids after school and summer camp program. The company has grown from six employees to more than 20 in three years. The idea came about as her husband was Googling after school programs for her son. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? My biggest accomplishment was starting Alison Rossi is the founder and executive director of the CT Diamond Club located in East Hartford. She also works full- time as a named account executive with NWN Carousel. As director of the CT Diamond Club, she is responsible for the operations, growth and development of 120 players per season. The mission of the CT Diamond Club is to use softball as a platform to develop strong, independent women. As a named account executive at NWN Carousel, Rossi manages strategic accounts in Connecticut to align their business vision a business without having any business experience and growing it to be suc- cessful. I went into a business centered around technology without having any pre- vious technology education and opened up two Coder Schools in less than two years. It involved pivoting through the pandemic to offer an online service. How are you involved in the community? I'm providing high school and college students with internship opportunities and coding classes to Farmington, Glastonbury and Wethersfield public schools. It also offers Girl Scout coding badges to the Girl Scout community and provides autistic kids a place to thrive. My business provides any student between the ages of 7 to 18, a place to learn about coding, robotics and technology that may not be offered at their local schools. What do you like to do outside of work? Travel! I like going anywhere and every- where with my family as well as working out, reading, running, cooking and baking with my six-year-old daughter. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Started the first Coding School for Kids franchise in Connecticut. • Built a net worth of $1.5 million in three years. • Pivoted through the pandemic and offered an online service that was profit- able throughout the pandemic. • Offered high school and college students an internship opportunity concentrated around computer science. with their technology strategy. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? My biggest professional achievement was completing my master's degree in educational technology. I started it while in my fifth year at CCSU and wasn't sure I would complete it. However, through the support of family and friends, I completed this degree with Summa Cum Laude honors. The practical knowledge that I gained during this experience is still used on a daily basis. How are you involved in the community? My work in the community is based within my work at the CT Diamond Club. Each year, I work with more than 200 athletes to help them achieve their goals on and off the field. Whether I'm tutoring an athlete before practice, explaining an advanced hitting concept or drawing out plays on a whiteboard for kids, I live for that moment when they 'get it.' What do you like to do outside of work? If I am not working on the Diamond Club or work, you can find me reading, doing impossible jigsaw puzzles or catching a Broadway show. There is nothing better than a live musical! Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Founded CT Diamond Club and success- fully grew to physical capacity. • Awarded NWN Carousel Achiever's Club. • Placed athletes at schools in line with their academic goals. • Manage 11 high-performing softball teams within state. Vaishali Shah Age: 39 Company: The Coder School Farmington and Glastonbury Title: Owner Number of years with current company: 3.5 Town where I live: Southington Town where I work: Farmington and Glastonbury College: University of Connecticut Highest degree: Master's in healthcare administration Alison Rossi Age: 37 Company: NWN Carousel; CT Diamond Club Title: Named Account Executive; Found- er/Executive Director Number of years with current company: 6; 7 Town where I live: Vernon Town where I work: Vernon College: Central Connecticut University Highest degree: Master's in educational technology Jamal Robinson Age: 36 Company: New England Brewing Company Title: Director of Sales and Marketing Number of years with current company: 2 Town where I live: New Haven Town where I work: Woodbridge College: One year at David Lipscomb University, one year at Manchester Community College. Highest degree: High school diploma Melissa Paul Age: 38 Company: Hartford Promise Title: Director – College Partnerships and Reaching Forward Number of years with current company: 5 Town where I live: West Hartford Town where I work: Hartford College: University of Connecticut and Central CT State University Highest degree: Master's degree in school counseling