Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1508534
4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 2, 2023 BIZ BRIEFS Achieve Your Business & Personal Goals with Clarity & Confidence As a business owner, your financial plan should be inclusive of your company and personal finances. Momentum for Business Owners SM can help you build an action plan to accomplish your long-term goals, ultimately providing you with the clarity and confidence to move forward. Experience genuine. Visit CTWealthMgmt.com to learn more. 281 Farmington Avenue | Farmington, CT 06032 | 860.470.0290 an adult-use cannabis retail site at 169 East St. Kebra Smith-Bolden, a nurse who launched her business CannaHealth LLC in 2017, is a principal with Acreage. Plans are to open the new busi- ness at the East Street facility in the first quarter of 2024, she said. Acreage plans to rent the 3,000-square-foot first floor of the commercial building, which will be renovated for the new use. Yale banana-based leather startup wins $1M international prize Banofi Leather, a startup focused on crafting leather from banana crop waste for use in handbags and apparel, recently won the 2023 Hult Prize. The Hult Prize Foundation awarded the $1 million purse to the startup founded by Yale University student entrepreneurs. The annual contest, named after Swedish billionaire Bertil Eric Hult, challenges student entrepreneurs worldwide to create and launch busi- nesses that tackle social issues. Banofi Leather's products are vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free, compared to traditional animal-de- rived leather. The startup was inspired by founder Jinali Mody, who said she struggled to find a sustainable leather bag. Mody, who is from India and has a master's degree in sustainability from the Yale School of the Environment, wanted to find an alternative that wouldn't harm the planet. Banofi Leather beat five other finalists who competed in the competition's global finals in Paris. Top CBIA lobbyist to join Avon lobbying firm A small Avon-based lobbying firm has landed the top lobbyist from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. Eric Gjede, CBIA's current vice president of public policy, will be joining Statehouse Associates LLC later this year, the firm announced. Statehouse Asso- ciates is led by Managing Principal Andy Markowski, who is also Connecticut state director of the NFIB, a trade group that represents small businesses. Statehouse's other clients include the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Utility Contractors Associa- tion of Connecticut, CT Occupational Therapy Assoc., CT Heating and Cooling Contractors and Auto Body Association of CT, among others. Gjede will join Statehouse Associ- ates sometime in the fourth quarter, Markowski said. Hartford Athletic names new CEO A former professional goalkeeper, sports executive and founding member of Major League Soccer has been tapped as the new CEO of the Hartford Athletic professional soccer club. Nick Sakiewicz is replacing former CEO Jim Burda, who left the team in March after three years on the job. Sakiewicz, according to the Athletic, brings a long history of building the sport within the U.S., after joining Major League Soccer as a founding executive in 1995, and serving as first vice president of commercial sponsorship sales. From 1997 to 2006, he was pres- ident and general manager of both inaugural MLS teams in Tampa and New York. Key focus areas for Sakiewicz at the Athletic include boosting ticket sales, improving fan perks and growing a soccer youth academy. Former cannabis executive takes state job overseeing industry A former cannabis industry execu- tive has taken a state job overseeing investigations and enforcement of Connecticut's new adult-use market. Jennifer Mandzuk, the former CEO of Watertown-based cannabis cultivator Theraplant, is the new state cannabis program manager at the state Department of Consumer Protection. The role, which Mandzuk began in June, is a supervisory position that reports to Drug Control Division Director Rodrick Marriott. Mandzuk oversees general management of staff within DCP's Drug Control Division related to cannabis investigations and enforcement. The DCP said it's typical for the agency to hire from industries it oversees. Eric Gjede Nick Sakiewicz is the new CEO of the Hartford Athletic. HBJ PHOTO | HANNA SNYDER GAMBINI