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40 UNDER FORTY | 2024 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 19, 2024 7 Matthew Gelles serves as president and CEO of NEFCO, a 1,000-plus employee con- struction supply distributor throughout the United States. As president and CEO, Gelles provides leadership for the entire company, with an emphasis on long-term value creation, growth, profitability and return on invested capital. He is responsible for NEFCO's strategic, finan- cial and operational execution with oversight over all of NEFCO's departments. Since Gelles joined NEFCO in 2010, revenues have grown by 18x and profitability has grown by 28x. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? My biggest professional accomplishment has been leading the execution of the comprehensive strategic plan I drafted in 2012, to take our family's regional construction distribution business from 70 employees and four locations in 2012, and grow it to become a nationwide distributor, which today spans over 40 locations and over 1,000 employees. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Took over leadership of NEFCO as president and CEO in 2022 at age 34 and have doubled both revenues and profitability in the last two years. • Lead strategic planning and execution, which has led to tremendous growth and transformation of our family business, from 70 employees to over 1,000 in 14 years. • Lead strategic planning and execu- tion, which has resulted in revenues increasing by 18x in those 14 years, making NEFCO one of the largest inde- pendent distributors across the U.S. What do you like to do outside of work? I enjoy spending time with my family, my wife Tracy, and sons Gabe and Jack and my extended family and friends. I am an avid sports fan and in my spare time, I enjoy playing golf, basketball, tennis, padel and basically any other sport available to me. Matthew Gravell is the director of pro- gram finance at Electric Boat. He leads a team of 80 people responsible for cost management and financial performance across all business lines, including the Columbia-class submarine program, the nation's No. 1 defense priority. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Having the honor of being chosen as the senior management represen- tative on board the USS Vermont's post-delivery sea trials. I was able to experience five days at sea and was in awe of the sailors who operate and the men and women who design, build and test these machines. How are you involved in the community? I am involved with my children's sports teams and support the United Way. I also mentor professionals at EB, from improving their business acumen to providing situational help. I have been fortunate in my career to have had mentors supporting me, so I feel it is important to pay it forward. What do you like to do outside of work? Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife, Elizabeth, and our children, Logan and Victoria (ages 6 and 5). In the summer, we spend our week- ends at the beach, but come winter, our attention turns to UConn basketball. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • The teams I have led have developed and implemented multiple process improvements to streamline interactive management metrics and dashboards. • I am the financial management representative on EB's shipyard director team, which is leading a once-in-a-generation growth period. • In my 15 years at EB, I have developed significant leadership influence and am a key member of the senior leadership team. Jennie Hirsch is the chief of staff at Connecticut Foodshare, the food bank serving the entire state of Connecticut. She joined the organization over six years ago and, in that time, has worked to develop the organization's leading, trusted voice in policy and government relations. Hirsch was instrumental in executing the historic merger of Foodshare and Connecticut Food Bank in 2021, and developing the new Connecticut Foodshare organization. Originally from New York, she now lives in Hartford with Jonathan Harding is the corporation counsel for the City of Hartford. He leads the legal department of the city and provides legal counsel to all of the city's elected officials, departments, boards and commissions. Before joining the city, Harding served as associate general counsel to Gov. Ned Lamont. He started his legal career as an assistant attorney general for the state of Connecticut, and served in that capacity for 10 years. her partner Ryan and their dog Bialy. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? My involvement in the food bank merger is the biggest accomplishment of my career thus far. Working together, we achieved something that will have a massive, lasting impact on our neighbors in Connecticut. I am proud to have con- tributed my strengths to that journey. How are you involved in the community? I stand on the shoulders of so many incredible individuals who have worked toward more inclusive, equitable communities. I'm committed to ensuring that I use my privilege to create more opportunities and support for others, and am lucky to work for an organization that helps the community every day. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • Chief of staff at a major nonprofit by 30. • Secured federal funding for and supported the development of the "Grocery on Broad" with Forge City Works, a nonprofit grocery store in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford. • Graduate of Leadership Greater Hartford's Quest Program (Class of 2022). What do you like to do outside of work? I like to read, ride my bike with my partner and play board games with friends. I love to cook and host game night! What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career? Serving as corporation counsel for the City of Hartford is one of the great honors of my life. In that capacity, I lead an entire legal department of incredible public servants and make critical deci- sions daily that have a direct effect on the citizens and the business commu- nity of the city. How are you involved in the community? I serve on the boards of the West End Civic Association and the iQuilt Partnership. I previously served as a commissioner on the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission, the Hartford Democratic Town Committee, Noah Webster Microsociety Magnet School Governance Council, and mentored at CREC Impact Academy. Why do you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty? • I have been a tireless public servant that has dedicated my entire legal career to work that benefits the public at large. • I thrive in high-pressure, dynamic work environments. I welcome professional challenges and always seek to produce the highest-quality work product. • I always treat my colleagues and the public at large with respect, dignity and compassion. Matthew S. Gelles AGE: 36 COMPANY: NEFCO TITLE: President & CEO NO. OF YEARS WITH CURRENT COMPANY: 14 WHERE I WORK: East Hartford COLLEGE: Syracuse University HIGHEST DEGREE: Master's of Industrial Distribution, Texas A&M Matthew Gravell AGE: 37 COMPANY: General Dynamics Electric Boat TITLE: Director of Program Finance NO. OF YEARS WITH CURRENT COMPANY: 15 WHERE I LIVE: Colchester WHERE I WORK: Groton COLLEGE: Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance), UConn HIGHEST DEGREE: Master's of Business Administration, University of New Haven Jonathan E. Harding AGE: 39 COMPANY: City of Hartford TITLE: Corporation Counsel NO. OF YEARS WITH CURRENT COMPANY: Less than 1 year WHERE I LIVE: Hartford WHERE I WORK: Hartford COLLEGE: Boston College HIGHEST DEGREE: Juris Doctor, UConn Law Jennie Hirsch AGE: 32 COMPANY: Connecticut Foodshare TITLE: Chief of Staff NO. OF YEARS WITH CURRENT COMPANY: 6 WHERE I LIVE: Hartford WHERE I WORK: Wallingford COLLEGE: SUNY New Paltz HIGHEST DEGREE: Bachelor's degree in Art History, SUNY New Paltz