Hartford Business Journal

38 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 7, 2025 POWE R 50 CohnReznick's Connecticut practice. She's also been leading the charge in getting employees back to the office. Ferrucci earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University, and her master's in accounting and taxation from the University of Hartford. She's also active in the community, serving on the planning committee for the Building Foundations Commercial Real Estate Breakfast, which is in part- nership with the United Way. She is also on the CohnReznick Foundation's board of directors. Melissa L. Ferrucci Continued from page 37 49 Karen DuBois- Walton K aren DuBois-Walton last September was named CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the $748-million community chest for 20 municipalities in and around the Elm City. DuBois-Walton leads roughly 50 staffers who work in the areas of donor relations, grant strategy, mission investments, office adminis- tration and senior management. The community foundation is home to more than 1,000 charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations. Funds are used to support various programs, from job skills and manufacturing workforce training, to racial equity and DEI workshops for nonprofits. The foundation is also building a new business support network — called the New Haven Equitable Entre- preneurial Ecosystem (NHE3) — for small business owners who may not have had access to traditional lenders, providing connections to technical assistance as well as capital. Prior to her current role, DuBois- Walton helmed the Elm City Commu- nities/Housing Authority of the City of New Haven for 16 years. She was also the immediate past chair of the CT State Board of Education, and prior to that, served as chief of staff and chief administrative officer for former New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. DuBois-Walton earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University, and a master's degree and Ph.D. from Boston University. 50 David Kooris F airfield native David Kooris was tapped by Gov. Ned Lamont last July to launch a new quasi- public agency armed with $60 million to incentivize development of dense multifamily housing around mass- transit hubs and downtowns. The first municipalities began enrolling with the new Municipal Redevelopment Authority in February, and Kooris expects to begin funding projects this year. Kooris is a veteran planner, with 17 years of experience leading economic development initiatives in different Connecticut cities and towns. His professional career began at the New York-based Regional Plan Association in 2005, focusing on development proposals around mass transit in New York and New Jersey. There, he learned to rally various constituencies around the benefit of transit-oriented development. Kooris rose to head Regional Plan Association projects in Connecticut before he left in 2012 to lead Bridgeport's planning and economic development offices. Four years later, Kooris was hired as director of resilience for the state Department of Housing. In 2018, he was appointed deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Kooris served in that capacity for about two years, and then took a job leading Stamford's downtown busi- ness improvement district. He left that role to helm MRDA. Kooris also serves on the Connecticut Port Authority board and was its chairman from July 2019 through last August. Congratulations! To all the Power 50 Honorees Your recognition is well deserved! Largest Connecticut-Based Accounting Firm For over 60 years, Whittlesey's team of professionals has provided superior service and value-added advice, with specialization in Assurance, Advisory, Tax and Technology. Learn more at WAdvising.com Holyoke 413.536.3970 Hamden 203.397.2525 Hartford 860.522.3111 ASSURANCE | ADVISORY | TAX | TECHNOLOGY

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