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T H E 2 0 2 4 WOMEN IN BUSINESS H O N O R E E S HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 1, 2024 B9 Carolyne Hannan Senior Vice President Comcast New England Region C arolyne Hannan's professional career spans 30 years in the telecommunications industry, with a primary focus on sales, marketing, product deployment and general management. She currently serves as senior vice president of Comcast's New England region, serving customers across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. In this role, she is respon- sible for operations, including employee engagement, financial performance and the customer experience. Hannan graduated with a bachelor's degree from Baruch College and is a graduate of a number of development programs from Harvard University, Stamford University, and The Wharton School. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments? I am incredibly proud of the work we have done at Comcast to help close the digital divide, especially the focus on network expansions to previously unserved or underserved areas across New England, connecting more people to the power of broadband. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? In my current role I am focused on providing our customers with the best broadband, mobile and entertainment products, while focusing on the customer experience. I'm also committed to building a world-class culture for our employees and delivering on business results. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? The media and technology industry has evolved greatly over my career. My focus has always been on bringing our employees and customers along this journey by providing the best experience. The ability to nurture a culture with a focus on delivering a great overall customer experience is key to the journey. How are you involved in the community? I'm a proud supporter of Middletown's Pride Festival and Boxes to Boots. Jacqueline Heard CEO and Co-Founder Enko Chem Inc. A seasoned agri-food industry leader motivated by the need for sustainable change in the sector, Jacqueline Heard currently leads Enko Chem Inc. in its work to design safe and sustainable solutions to crop-destroying problems by applying drug discovery approaches from pharma to agriculture. As CEO, Heard draws from deep experience as an entrepreneur, investor and global business executive. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments? I'm passionate about the need for agricultural sustainability. Since spearheading the launch of Enko in 2017, I've grown a team of 50 to create crop protection solutions that address a $70 billion core market. I've also raised $150 million from investors and cultivated critical industry relationships and ongoing research and development collaborations. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I look forward to when our products are actively transforming the agricultural indus- try, enabling all regions to solve large-scale crop problems and respond quickly to new ones by protecting crops from pests and disease, and to increase farm productivity and food security around the world safely. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Systemic change is never easy. Working with investors, industry partners, regulators and the scientific community to address the need for a new era of safer, more sustainable chemicals for the ag industry is an ongoing effort. I've found that active listening, open collaboration and science-backed passion are the keys to success. How are you involved in the community? I try to be an active voice for industry change by speaking at events and serving on boards of directors and scientific advisory boards. I've also been involved in MIT's Sloan Women in Management and Women in Bio. Locally, we've begun working with UConn to give students hands-on ag R&D experience.