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HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 9, 2026 3 BIZ BRIE FS Nicole Wagner is the CEO of LambdaVision. HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever LambdaVision books Starlab mission to advance artificial retina production Woodbridge-based LambdaVision Inc. has reserved space aboard Starlab, a commercial space station in develop- ment, as it seeks to scale manufacturing of its protein-based artificial retina. The company has flown nine missions to the International Space Station, using microgravity to refine production of the light-sensitive films central to the retina implant. LambdaVision's device is designed to help restore vision in patients with degenerative retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa. The announcement follows a recently completed $7 million seed funding round that extends the company's financial runway. Starlab is being developed to help replace the International Space Station, which is scheduled to retire later this decade. dent, succeeds former CEO Keith Wiemert, who retired last fall. The leadership change comes after the credit union's recent rebrand from Seasons Federal Credit Union to Ellafi, a shift emphasizing financial inde- pendence for women and their allies. Ellafi manages approximately $175 million in assets and is constructing a new Middletown transaction center to support growth. Beacon Bank completes CT rebrand after merger Former Berkshire Bank branches in the Greater Hartford region are now operating under the Beacon Bank name, reflecting last year's merger between two Massachusetts lenders, Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Brookline Bancorp. The rebranding formalizes the combined company's Connecticut presence, which includes 11 branches spanning West Hartford, Glastonbury, Rocky Hill, West Sims- bury, Farmington and several eastern Connecticut communities. Many of those locations stem from Berkshire Bank's earlier Connecticut expansion, including its acquisitions of Connecticut Bank and Trust and Savings Institute Bank and Trust. Cigna's Cordani to retire in July, new CEO named Bloomfield-based The Cigna Group announced that President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Evanko will succeed David M. Cordani as chief executive officer effective July 1, 2026. Cordani, who has led the company for nearly 17 years, will retire as CEO on that date and become executive chair of the board. Evanko, a nearly 30-year company veteran, has been elected to the board of directors and previously served as chief finan- cial officer and president of Cigna Healthcare. He currently oversees the insur- er's portfolio of health benefits and services businesses. The company said Cordani and Evanko will work together through July 1 to ensure a smooth transition. CT credit union appoints new CEO after rebrand Middletown-based Ellafi Federal Credit Union has named longtime executive Robyn Swanson as its new president and CEO, following a national search. Swanson, who has spent 27 years with the organization and most recently served as senior vice presi- Robotic-assisted surgery, designed for you Saint Francis Hospital is leading the way in robotic surgery, bringing the most advanced technology in the region to patients across greater Hartford. As the first hospital in the greater Hartford area to acquire the Da Vinci 5 Robotic Surgical System, Saint Francis is setting a new standard for innovation, precision and minimally invasive care. Saint Francis surgeons are highly experienced in robotic-assisted procedures across specialties such as surgical oncology, thoracic surgery, bariatrics, urology, gynecology and general surgery. The Da Vinci 5 also complements the hospital's future in robotics and minimally invasive technologies, reinforcing its commitment to delivering state-of- the-art care. Learn more at TrinityHealthOfNE.org/Robot Robyn Swanson Brian Evanko