Hartford Business Journal Custom Publishing

10 Celebrating 140 Years • The Hartford Club Members enjoy multiple themed dinners throughout the year such as Lobster and Lights. Dr. Jason Kasprzak – Member for 8 years A Canton dentist, Dr. Kasprzak said he first joined The Hartford Club "to meet more people within the area." The club has accomplished that for him. "I've enjoyed a lot of the friendships and the events they put on like wine tastings and cigar dinners. My wife and I make an effort to come into Hartford to go to places like this." The best part of the club for him is the cigar lounge. Richard Boccaccio – Member for 30 years Boccaccio said a combination of factors make him a longtime member: the convenience, good camaraderie, and the cigar lounge. "It's the only one in town," he proclaimed. The good networking opportunities also appeal to him. "A lot of business deals get started here," Boccaccio said. He's also a fan of the cuisine. "The food has been very good," said Boccacio, an insurance consultant/broker who has an office in downtown Hartford. "I've always found the food to be very satisfactory, good quality." The best part of The Hartford Club would be the building's ambiance. "It's over 100 years old. It's a great feeling to be part of that," he said. Michael O'Connell – Member for 27 years O'Connell, who both lives and works in Hartford, first started coming to the club 40 years ago as a guest. "I see The Hartford Club as an integral part of the business and residential community," he said. "If it's important for you to integrate into the business community, this is the place to do it." That's a factor that's going to continue for years. "There's a nice demographic of young people joining the club. This is the place to be," he said. Ken McGovern – Member for 18 months McGovern, who works in the executive search field, said The Hartford Club has been valuable to him from a business standpoint. "It has allowed me to reconnect with a lot of people and introduce myself to a lot of new contacts," said McGovern, before adding, "I expected the membership to be much older but it runs the gamut." He described the club as "a jewel" that more people should learn about. "A lot of people don't know the club and should. It's a classic piece of Hartford that remains relevant," McGovern said. Ted & Lorraine DiLorenzo – Members for 15 years Lorraine DiLorenzo describes The Hartford Club as the best kept secret in town because of things like a seasonal outdoor patio. Her husband Ted said they also enjoy that they can walk there from their East Hartford riverfront apartment. Ted, a former Hartford city council member, said there's an aura about The Hartford Club and its facilities. "You can find some of Hartford's history here," he added. There's an added factor both appreciate when it comes to dining that may not be possible in similar upscale Hartford eateries. "The wonderful thing is it's quiet. You can hear conversations," Lorraine said. Nancy Wheeler – Member for 5 Years Wheeler, an executive with the MetroHartford Alliance, said, "We do a lot of business events and I find my membership helps to enhance the work we do and we see many of our members here at the club." She also pointed out the changing demographics. "It's nice to see younger, professional members here. And, it's nice to see more women." Plus, there's just something special about the service. "It's very important to us as we plan events we can rely on quality customer service. It's what the business community expects and what we get here at The Hartford Club." Nick Cianci – Member for 3 Years Cianci and his wife joined after exploring venues for their wedding. They liked it so much they became members. Cianci, who works as a financial advisor in employee benefits, said, "The social interaction gives me the ability to interact with people from different business and age groups." He recommends The Hartford Club for other young professionals. "We're constantly growing the membership. The club isn't stuffy. It's a very accepting population from different walks of life." The service offered is also something you won't see at a regular restaurant. "If there's something I like to do, they can make it happen for you." The clubs within the club also hold an appeal for him. "The clubs are a way for people to have tighter interactions," Cianci said. Membership Has Its Benefits A few of our members share their thoughts... Headshots by Keith Griffin embership M ere's an underappreciated diversity to e Hartford Club with a mix of younger, older, married, single, for-profit and non-profit business members. All have a great affinity for the institution and, in their own words, shared what makes e Hartford Club such a special place for them.

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