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www.HartfordBusiness.com July 21, 2014 • Hartford Business Journal 41 Erica Ann Thompson Age: 39 Title at work/what do I do: Associate minister at Asylum Hill Congregational Church – United Church of Christ. I am charged to be pastor, preacher, and teacher to a large, diverse congregation. I provide pastoral care to parishioners in need, which means meeting people where they are at in their lives at any given time, cel- ebrating with people as they experience great joy, walk- ing the journey with people as they grieve and mourn. I help plan and lead worship, which means I preach periodically, participate and preside at the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, and perform weddings and funerals. I am involved with the programmatic life of AHCC, especially as it relates to Youth and Young Adult Ministry, membership activities, and Women's Spiritual- ity and Fellowship. Town where I work: Hartford Town where I live: West Hartford College I attended: Concordia College (undergrad); Princeton Theological Seminary (graduate) My passion, hobby or special talent: I love to travel and I am a fluent Spanish speaker. Favorite place to network: I am an old fashioned Facebook girl! Favorite drink at a networking event: I will always go for a good cold beer over everything else! How do I create connections in your profes- sional life? Each year I attend various conferences and workshops (local and national) where I continue to be connected to colleagues. I also sit on a number of boards and commit- tees, both within our ecclesial structure, as well as in the larger community. Currently I am the chair of the Hartford Association's Committee on Church and Ministry. What's been my biggest challenge professionally? Knowing how and when to divest appro- priately from the congregation I serve, striking that ever elusive work-life balance. I am a wife, a mother, and a pastor and at times navigating these different roles can be complicated and exhausting. Ministry is about caring for God's world and God's people. Healthy boundaries are incredibly important but it's a challenge to get it just right. What is the best advice I received? Growing up, my dad always reminded my sister and me: "Remember who you are." That simple, yet profound, phrase has helped me through more of life's tough situ- ations than I could ever count. Remember- ing who I am as a child of God has shaped the moral, ethical, and emotional landscape of my very being. What do I want my legacy to be? It has always been the same thing – I don't care if others see me as smart or successful, I want to be remembered as being wise. 40 Under Forty 2014 Erica lived and worked in Ecuador for three years, as a member of the U.S. Peace Corp. FUN FACT From Central Connecticut's trusted business news source. It's the up-to-date information you need to do better business! Get local breaking business news daily! Sign up today at HartfordBusiness.com: Click on the 'subscribe' button HBJToday and