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40 UNDER FORTY | 2024 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 19, 2024 3 Spotlighting top young professionals T here continues to be a talent war in Connecticut as employers compete for top performers amid a tight labor market. Up-and-coming young professionals remain a key recruitment focus for companies. While Connecticut struggles at times to retain newly-minted college graduates, the state still has a strong cohort of young professionals making a difference at their respective organiza- tions and within the broader community. It's important to put a spotlight on them to show others that starting a business or launching and making a career here can pay dividends, both professionally and personally. That's the purpose of 40 Under Forty. Every year for the last 28 years, Hartford Business Journal, with the help of our independent judges, has selected 40 of the top young professionals who are leading their organizations. This year we received about 175 nomi- nations. Narrowing down the list to 40 deserving honorees was a difficult task. More importantly, our winners provide evidence that our state has a vast young talent pool. Our 2024 honorees hail from the private, public and nonprofit sectors, and from organizations both small and large. We'd like to thank this year's judges for helping choose our honorees. They include: • Paddi LeShane, CEO & Co-Founder, Sullivan & LeShane Inc. • Andi Campbell, President, WellSpark Health • Bruce Adams, President & CEO, Credit Union League of Connecticut. We will be celebrating our annual 40 Under Forty event on Sept. 19, at the Aqua Turf Club in the Plantsville section of Southington. If you think you have what it takes to be part of a future 40 Under Forty class, we ask that you submit a nomination next year. This award is only as strong as the class of individuals who are nominated for it. And many nominees represent the state's promising future. Greg Bordonaro Editor CONTENTS 1 Natalia Sieira Millán .............. 20 Kevin Jodice ...................................... 9 Heather Atkins ............................... 4 Jonathan E. Harding ................ 7 Michelle Rakebrand ................ 17 Christopher Mele ....................... 13 2 Jessica Fenner ............................... 6 Kevin F. Kenny .............................. 10 Nicole Warren .............................. 22 Matthew Gravell ............................ 7 Michelle Nicholson ................... 16 Brianne Nichols ........................... 16 3 Drew Iacovazzi ............................... 8 Elizabeth Retersdorf ............. 19 Erick Russell ................................... 19 Shruti Singh ..................................... 21 Jennie Hirsch ...................................7 Anthony Anthony ......................... 4 4 Matthew S. Gelles ........................ 7 Taniqua Huguley-Chaplin ... 8 Lesley Kuffour ............................. 10 Genny Fonseca ............................... 6 Tucker Childs ................................... 5 Allison P. Dearington ................5 5 Christina Siena ........................... 20 Alexander Sulpasso ................ 21 Juliana Carrillo MacTaggart . 4 Mike McGuire ................................. 13 Romika Odedra-Roma ......... 17 Jessica Idleman ............................ 8 6 Adrienne Nelson ........................ 14 Martha Prou ..................................... 17 Chris Marziale ................................ 12 Troy LePage ..................................... 12 Jennifer A. Pedevillano ...... 17 Thomas Wood ............................. 23 Missing from photos Jonathan Moore .........................14 Taylor Shea .................................... 20 Robert Wooley ............................ 23 Sheri Yuschak ............................. 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 FEATURED PHOTOS BY: BRIAN AMBROSE PHOTOGRAPHY