Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com July 20, 2015 • Hartford Business Journal 25 40 Under Forty 2015 40 Under Forty 2015 Tara Gerber D uring her time with the Travelers Championship, Tara Gerber has been a key factor in yearly annual revenue climbing from just more than $13 million to $16.5 million while charitable giv- ing has increased from $300,000 per year in 2006 to $1.558 million in 2014. In February 2014, Gerber was an intricate part of the senior leadership team when Travelers extended their title sponsorship for another 10 years, securing the event's future into 2024. Throughout Gerber's eight years with the tournament, the Travelers Championship has claimed a total of nine of the prestigious PGA Tour awards. These awards have included Most Fan Friendly Event, Best Title Sponsor Integration, Best Use of Players, Best Title Sponsor, Best Branding/Signage, Best Mar- keting Plan and Charity of the Year. Through her work at the Travelers Cham- pionship, Gerber has a direct positive impact on the charities of this region. Since she began in 2007, the tournament has generated in excess of $8 million for more than 500 charities throughout the region. Gerber has donated her resources as one of the founding members of the United Way Women's Leadership Council, she is a corporator for St. Francis Care and was president of West Hartford Newcomers and Neighbors. Q&A What is the best thing someone would say about your career thus far? That I was part of the team that launched the new era and new experience when Travelers took over as title sponsor of Connecticut's PGA Tour event, and in doing so, helped increase the tournament's charitable giving from $300,000 per year in 2006 to more than $1.5 million in 2015. The most important journey I have ever taken is…..Recovering from a life-changing fall during an obstacle course race. I was completely taken out of my normal world. After surgeries, nearly two years of rehab and having to learn to walk again, I fought my way back in. The support and love I received from my friends, family and col- leagues truly changed me and my outlook on life. When Hollywood makes a movie about your entire life and career, what will the title and tagline be? Title: One Day at a Time Tagline: Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about …Maximizing every minute Favorite activity on vacation?Relaxing with my toes in the sand What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? China Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Australia Favorite Connecticut destination: West Hartford Gerber visiting a winery in Napa Valley, Calif. with her sister Kelly Cunningham. Age: 33 Title: Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships Company: Travelers Championship Location: Hartford Hometown: West Hartford College: Springfield College, UConn (Executive MBA) Charitable giving at the Travelers Championship has increased 400% during Gerber's tenure at the tournament. Daniel Gottfried D aniel Gottfried is a partner in the tax and corporate group at Hinck- ley Allen, a regional law firm. He is chair of the tax section of the Connecticut Bar Association and has served in leader- ship roles with the international section of the American Bar Association. An alumnus of both UConn and UConn Law, he gives back by serving as an adjunct professor at UConn Law, where he has cre- ated and teaches two law school courses He is active with many community organizations, including Wexner Heritage Program and Beth El of West Hartford, and has various Hartford area causes. He lives in Avon with his wife and three kids. Gottfried is passionate about outdoor adventure and music. Gottfried's 3-year-old child has already climbed Mt. Greylock (tallest in Massachusetts); 8-year-old child has climbed Mt. Mitchell (tallest on the East Coast); and 16-year-old child has completed the Presidential Traverse, a 26-mile traverse of the eight presidential peaks in the White Mountains, including Mt. Washington. Q&A If you gave the next commencement speech at your alma mater, what would the message be? The message would focus on the impor- tance of continuous learning, improvement of oneself and one's world. Basking in the glow of their recent accomplishment, my speech would challenge graduates to understand the success of graduation in the broader scheme of life as one 'comma' in a series of future struggles and successes. What three factors contributed to your success today? My experiences as a child, the role models of my parents, and the role models of my early law firm mentors. If society got together 100 years from now to build a statue of you, what would the plaque say? It would either quote the poetry from a men's bathroom wall, or the plaque itself would be covered with a hand-written sign that reads: 'If you haul it, you can have it.' If you want me to be aspirational, I would like the plaque to reflect a life that included an appreciation for family, success in business, and contributing towards making the world a better place. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about… What is "off time"? What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Israel Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Mauna Kea (highest peak in Hawaii, and tallest mountain on earth when measured from base to summit) Favorite Connecticut destinations: Bear Moun- tain and The Harwinton Fair Age: 37 Title: Partner Company: Hinckley Allen Location: Hartford Hometown: Avon College: University of Connecticut Gottfried visiting the British Virgin Islands. Gottfried on the 26-mile Presidential Traverse, which connects the eight presidential peaks in the Northeast. Gottfried's favorite foreign food is Shakshuka, a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and onions, often spiced with cumin.

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