Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com July 20, 2015 • Hartford Business Journal 35 40 Under Forty 2015 Handwriting font in the photo caption Anthony Shannon A s an attorney in the school law prac- tice group at Shipman & Goodwin LLP for the past four years, Anthony Shan- non has handled labor negotiations, arbitra- tions and other labor and general legal issues affecting boards of education across the state. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University's Graduate School of Education teaching law and public education. Prior to law school, Shannon was an engineer at United Technologies where he supported the company's infrastructure and assisted with digitizing work processes to improve business efficiency. Shannon is the president-elect of the statewide black bar association, the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association. He volunteers his time tutoring students at Wish Elementary every Tuesday throughout the regular school year and is a volunteer reader at Burr Elementary School in Hart- ford. He also is a coach in the West Hartford Youth Basketball League, something he has done for the last three years. Shannon lives in downtown Hartford and was born in Bridgeport. Q&A What is the best thing someone would say about your career thus far? Some of the most important aspects of being a good attor- ney include being responsive and a good listener. My clients have full access to me throughout the day to reach me for issues. If I am unavailable to take a call or respond to an email, I make it my priority to at least get back to them to acknowledge receipt even if I am unable to answer their question imme- diately. Furthermore, I try my best to listen to my client's needs and get them the results that they desire to the best of my ability. I also try to develop relationships with my clients to foster a feeling of confidence that I will handle their issue as if it were my own and zealously advocate on their behalf. If there is one person whose life and career you want to imitate, who would it be? If there was one person whose life and career I would want to imitate, it would be President Barrack Obama. This is not because I pos- sess an aspiration to become president, but because I admire his courage to pursue his dreams in the face of adversity. The road to presidency was bumpy and even a danger- ous endeavor at times. Yet he continued to move forward. I never want fear to prevent me from pursuing a goal that I believe in, whether that is professionally or other- wise. President Obama is living proof that sometimes in order to achieve greatness one must possess the willingness to take a risk. I aspire to possess that courage. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about….Coaching and mentoring middle school/early high school students What is your dream car? GT convertible Bently coupe What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Costa Rica Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Bora Bora Favorite Connecticut destination: Restaurant at Water's Edge Resort & Spa in Westbrook Shannon at the base of the CN Tower in Ontario, Canada. Age: 30 Title: Associate Attorney Company: Shipman & Goodwin LLP Location: Hartford Hometown: Hartford College: North Carolina A&T State University (Undergraduate); University of Connecticut School of Law (Graduate) Shannon is on the United Way Emerging Leaders Society board. 40 Under Forty 2015 Steven C. Taylor S teven Taylor manages marketing programs and initiatives for Webster Bank. Taylor partners with other marketing specialists to reach all company objectives in a timely manner, measuring the performance of programs and making rec- ommendations for future improvements. In addition, Taylor performs business analysis and works with other managers. Prior to Taylor's role in marketing, he was a banking center manager for Web- ster Bank and most recently managed the Bloomfield/Copaco banking center, which ranked in the top 10 percent in 2014. Taylor serves on the board of directors for Community Health Resources and on the board of advisors for the Wilson Gray YMCA. He is a 2014 Quest graduate through Leader- ship Greater Hartford, coaches youth football and basketball in Windsor, is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, is a Prince Hall Free & Accepted Mason, and in 2014 was inducted in the Windsor High School Hall of Fame as part of the 1998 Connecticut state championship basketball team. He lives in Windsor with his wife of six years and two children, 3 year-old Steven Jr. and 8 year-old Chloe. Q&A At what age did you decide what you wanted to do with your career? Deciding on what I wanted to do with my career as a whole happened at different times throughout my life. Growing up, I was blessed to have adults around me who were involved in the community, coached and mentored youth. Based on this experience, it instilled in me to always help out the youth and those less fortunate in my community. In addition to my previous work experience, I chose my major in college (business administration with concentration in marketing) because I liked the other people in the major. I actu- ally think that's probably a good way to choose a career, too. Enjoying being around the people you work with is important. Banking has allowed me to help individuals, families and businesses. Which destination has most shaped who you are in business and life today? My dad is from Lynchburg, Va. We still to this day visit family there at least once per year. My dad always reflects to us the hard times growing up with three sisters and four brothers in the South during the '50s, '60s and '70s. His parents worked hard, which instilled in him to work hard. He ultimately graduated from Morehouse College, got his MBA from the University of Hartford, and retired as deputy warden of the Carl Robinson Cor- rectional Institution in Enfield. Every time I visit my family in Lynchburg, I always think about what he told me about his struggles and how nothing ever came to anyone with- out hard work. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about… Developing our youth both academically and athletically What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? San Juan, Puerto Rico Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Africa Favorite Connecticut destination: Mohegan Sun Taylor at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City. Age: 34 Title: VP/Senior Marketing Program Manager Company: Webster Bank Location: Waterbury Hometown: Windsor College: Johnson C. Smith University Taylor's preferred way to travel is by train, since his son Steven Jr. loves trains.

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