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HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 4, 2024 31 POWER 50 Governor's Workforce Council. Prior to joining the foundation, Williams served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, where he led the federal economic development agenda for the United States. 1 9 Caroline Simmons S tamford is one of Connecticut's fastest-growing cities, and there's data to back that up. From 2010 to 2020, Stamford saw its population increase by 10.5% to 135,470 residents, becoming the second-largest city in Connecticut behind Bridgeport. By compar- ison, Connecticut's population as a whole grew only 1% during that 10-year period. Stamford benefits from its Fairfield County location and relatively easy access to Manhattan via train. It's a base for financial services and fintech companies. Leading Stamford is Mayor Caro- line Simmons, an emerging power player in Connecticut's Democratic Party. Simmons was elected mayor in 2021, defeating former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine in what became a hotly contested and watched race. Before that, Simmons served as a state representative, where she became known for supporting pro-business legislation as co-chair of the Commerce Committee and bipartisan Manufacturing Caucus. She also previously worked at a mental health policy lab at the Yale School of Medicine and the Women's Business Development Council. Simmons made national headlines in 2017 when she married her now husband, Art Linares. Linares was a Republican state Senator. Simmons was a Democrat still serving in the House. Their bipartisan union, at a polarizing time in U.S. politics, was profiled on an episode of CNN's "LoveStory." According to her biography, Simmons' top priorities as mayor include investing in the city's "infra- structure, advancing economic prosperity, and making government more responsive to enhance quality of life for residents." 20 Joanne Berger- Sweeney T his year marks a decade that Joanne Berger-Sweeney has served as president of Hart- ford-based Trinity College. In 2014, she became both the first woman and person of color to be named president in the liberal arts school's 200-year history. And she continues to build up her influence. Last June, Berg- er-Sweeney, a trained neurophysi- ologist who has contributed to more than 60 scientific publications, was appointed board chair of Hartford HealthCare, the second-largest healthcare system in the state. She is also a board member of the Capital Region Development Authority, a quasi-public agency that has helped finance thousands of new apartments in downtown Hartford. At Trinity, she is staying ahead of fast-moving advancements in technology and its effects on higher education. Last year, the school launched a pilot exploration program on the use of artificial intelligence across disciplines. She is also overseeing environ- mental and sustainability efforts such as fossil fuel divestment, and has made diversity, equity and inclusion a key focus area. In the coming years, Berg- er-Sweeney will oversee a $30 million, 37,000-square-foot addition to Trinity's George M. Ferris Athletic Center. Other accomplishments under her watch include expanding Trinity's campus footprint into downtown Hartford by establishing an innovation center in Constitution Plaza and the Liberal Arts Action Lab, part of the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research. She also helped launch an exclusive liberal arts partnership with global technology firm Infosys. Building Ideas That Work... Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. will guide you in defining your project goals, help analyze your prospective property and provide a realistic budget. For more than 80 years, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. has provided quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With an attractive design, it presents to your customers a comfortable relaxing environment to help promote sales. You will appreciate the quality your facility presents.