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T H E 2 0 2 6 WOMEN IN BUSINESS H O N O R E E S HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 23, 2026 B3 Melanie ballestas Principal CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) CLA's nonprofit practice in Connecticut. I am fortunate to have exceptional mentors guiding our team, and I am committed to learning from every opportunity they provide. While there is more to master before that time comes, I look forward to future growth and possibilities. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Balancing a fulfilling career while raising a teenager with special needs has been my greatest challenge. Working mothers often master the art of juggling multiple responsibilities, but navigating the additional complexities of special needs requires an even greater level of adaptability and resilience. I'm thankful to have a supportive family to help me thrive. How are you involved in the community? Serving nonprofit organizations is deeply meaningful to me, both professionally and through volunteer service. I serve on the executive committee of the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut and the audit committee for The Bridge Family Center. However, the experience that has brought me the most joy is volunteering as a summer camp counselor with Jett Foundation's Camp Promise. M elanie Ballestas is a seasoned assurance principal with more than 20 years of experience serving a broad range of nonprofit organi- zations, including human service agencies, membership and health care organiza- tions, community and private foundations, and educational institutions. Ballestas has extensive experience auditing nonprofit entities subject to the compliance and reporting requirements of Uniform Guidance and the State Single Audit Act. Her work involves helping organizations meet federal and state grant, financial and operational requirements and maintain internal controls and financial management practices. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Advancing to principal in 2023 has been my biggest professional accomplishment to date. This demonstrated my resilience through the pandemic, the challenges of being a working mom to an amazing son with special needs, and our legacy firm's integration into CLA. I am grateful for the continued support of past and present members of the CLA family. What's the next big goal you want to accom- plish professionally? My next major professional goal is to lead CONNOISSEURS DINERS REGULARS VISITORS MENTORS NEIGHBORS COLLABORATORS COACHES VOLUNTEERS TEACHERS ADVOCATES CPAs | CONSULTANTS | WEALTH ADVISORS | COLLABORATORS ©2026 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer. Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Congratulations, Melanie Ballestas, on being named a winner of the Hartford Business Journal 2026 Women in Business Awards. 860-561-4000 | CLAconnect.com HannaH belMont Marketing and Talent Manager Westminster Tool adoption for small businesses. At Westminster Tool, I implemented a tuition reimbursement program, removing the financial burden to build a technical skill foundation, and expanded our internal training academy to provide clear career roadmaps for employees to grow in their roles. I also helped elevate Westminster Tool to national recognition for its leadership in both company culture and plastic medi- cal device manufacturing expertise. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? Westminster Tool has certainly come a long way in terms of shaking up the stereotypes of what a small manufac- turing shop looks like, but there is still a lot of work to be done on the local level in our community to bring more diverse representation in manufactur- ing careers. My aspirational goal is to have the workforce of small manufacturers like us truly represent what our commu- nity looks like, in terms of age, gender, race and more. Without diversity you can't have innovation and I still feel like that's lacking in a lot of manufac- turing teams. H annah Belmont started in the manufacturing industry as a technical writer and journal- ist, covering industrial markets from aerospace to automotive. In 2020, she joined her family's injection moldmaking business managing marketing strategy and supporting business development. In addition to leading recruitment, HR and talent development at Westminster Tool, she works closely with state and national organizations to support workforce initiatives, such as the CT Manufacturing Innovation Fund, CBIA Manufacturing Coalition and Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance. Her advocacy includes sitting on various boards promoting STEM career opportunities, advocating for diversity in manufacturing and securing funds for statewide technical education programs. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Some of my biggest accomplishments span workforce initiatives inside and outside my family's business. I worked with state organizations to help distrib- ute over $15 million last year in funding for manufacturing growth and workforce development, including technology As one of only 14 members across the coun- try recently chosen for the inaugural Business Banking Advisory Council, I aim to drive meaningful improvements within our busi- ness so we can serve clients more efficiently and effectively. I also hope to eliminate some of the barriers faced by our bankers to make it easier for them to do business. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Balancing professional aspirations with family life has been the most significant challenge of my career. Societal norms and expectations often create additional obstacles for professionals, particularly women with young children. Developing the ability to remain present and effective both at work and at home has required ongoing effort. The support of dedicated colleagues and family members has been instrumental in navigating these challenges. How are you involved in the community? Growing up in and now living in Connecticut, serving my community is very important. I have served as a board member for many Hartford area nonprofits including River- front Recapture, Scapegoat Garden and the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. I currently serve as president of the Center School PTO, where I get to directly give back to the school my three children attend. L indsay Castonguay Hany is a senior vice president and business bank- ing senior relationship manager at Bank of America. In this role, she provides commercial banking services and consulta- tive advice to Connecticut companies with annual sales of greater than $20 million. Hany is focused on assisting clients with expansion, acquisition, management tran- sition, generational transfer, and navigating local, regional, national and international markets. She specializes in serving women-owned and women-run businesses. Hany also serves on Bank of America's Connecticut leadership team and a national advisory council that provides input on business banking strategy. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Early in my banking career, I realized that many business-oriented networking events were geared toward activities that appealed more to men and were sparsely attended by women in the business community. I devel- oped a networking opportunity focused on female business leaders, and for over five years have been holding an annual "Women in Business Networking Forum," which is attended by 60 to 100 women business leaders in Connecticut each year. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? lindsay Castonguay Hany Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager Bank of america