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C-SUITE | 2025 AWARDS B10 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 M ary-Jane Foster has had multiple jobs in her career, all of which contributed to her ability to do this job. Actress for 22 years, volunteer for a DV agency resulting in a law degree, entrepreneur, developer, owner of multiple busi- nesses, and throughout all, she has been an advocate for domestic violence policies that recognize and support victims and survivors. It has taken all of this experience to be able to lead Interval House, which is the most complex and demanding of any work she says she has ever done. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments over the past year? I am grateful I have been able to stabi- lize Interval House in several ways, much of it coming together in the last year. Importantly, the balance sheet reflects a gain of over $3 million, the operating reserves have more than tripled, and we now have a total of $2.1 million in our endowment for emergency assistance to individuals. We have updated our facility to provide comfort, beauty and peace with a total renovation of the residential floor of the safe house. We have more than tripled our commitment to prevention and education, and we are reaching kids and teens every day to talk about healthy relationships thanks to many partners. In what ways are you involved in the community? As a leader of a nonprofit and resident of downtown Hartford, I try to show up and support my fellow nonprofits and the small businesses downtown. On The Job Guiding business principle: Integrity – oh, and laughter. Best way to keep your competitive edge: Do what you love – everything else follows. Best business decision: Take the job! Worst business decision: ARG. Present a new organization chart to the staff that didn't honor or work for the staff. Please don't tell anyone about this. Biggest missed opportunity: See above. e organization's structure needed realigning and, in my first shot at it, I missed by a mile (or two). Goal yet to be achieved: Full funding for prevention of intimate partner violence. Mary-Jane Foster President & CEO INTERVAL HOUSE Size of organization: $3.5M budget Employees: 38 Education: Law degree, Quinnipiac University School of Law WINNER CATEGORY | CEO, SMALL NONPROFIT, FEWER THAN 75 EMPLOYEES J ohn Bordeaux is the president and CEO of AdvanceCT. is state- wide nonprofit economic organization partners with the government and busi- nesses of Connecticut to recruit, retain and expand companies to create quality jobs and economic vitality for years to come. Bordeaux spent a large part of his career as a professional fundraiser in education and cultural institutions, with side journeys into software and theater production. What have been your biggest professional accomplish- ments over the past year? In the past year, I led the extraordinary team at AdvanceCT to discover and evaluate over 4,200 companies for recruitment to and expansion in Connecticut. We manage a long and complex business development cycle, and we successfully completed 15 business attraction projects, 33 expansions/reten- tion projects with nearly 1,000 new jobs created, and over $600 million in capital expenditures for Connecticut. With the support of the team and an engaged board of directors, we have built a business development function for the state of Connecticut that dependably attracts investment that befits our complex econ- omy and puts us on a path of continued, sustainable growth. In what ways are you involved in the community? e work at AdvanceCT engages with the commu- nity at every level — busi- ness leaders, educational institutions, and state and local government. It is a privilege to work with them to create jobs and elevate the quality of our fellow citizens' lives, potentially changing the direction of a family's life for generations. On The Job Guiding business principle: Invest in relationships — everyone wants the opportunity to help. Best way to keep your competitive edge: Up early after a good night's sleep. Best business decision: Focusing Advan- ceCT's efforts on business development to drive new interest in Connecticut, and letting go of work and functions that do not serve this primary mission. Worst business decision: Trying to produce a hit theater production in Chicago in an 11:30 p.m. time slot. John Bourdeaux President & CEO ADVANCECT Size of organization: $5.5M budget Employees: 22 Education: Bachelor's degree in history, University of Chicago WINNER CATEGORY | CEO, SMALL NONPROFIT, FEWER THAN 75 EMPLOYEES