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16 Hartford Business Journal • July 25, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com Fitzpatrick poses with the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Champions. (Right) He stands in Downtown Hartford. Age: 37 Company: Connecticut Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America Title: Senior Development Director Town where I live: Manchester Town where I work: East Hartford College: Goucher College Michael Fitzpatrick Q&A: What do you do and what are your goals in your current job? As development director of the Connecticut Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America, it is my mission to ensure that we extend our life-changing program to every young person who wants it. What are your goals for your community involvement? Martin Luther King once said, 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?' That senti- ment precisely sums up my beliefs. I have a responsibility to help others and a duty to leave things better than I found them. What's your biggest passion? If you've ever been in a room with me for more than 10 minutes, the subject of scouting has come up. I don't apologize for that, because scouting — like no other program — positively and dramatically affects the youth it engages. What are your future aspirations? I'm always asking, 'What's next? What new challenge lies ahead? What ways can we find to improve our program?' I'm not satisfied until there are wait lists to join scouting and par- ents fret over whether or not they'll be able to get their child in. What needs to happen for Hartford to become a more vibrant city where people work, live and play? To attract and hold people to Hartford, we need to offer an exciting array of activities and experiences. HYPE has begun addressing this need by creating a community through which young people can connect and give back. Positive additions to our cityscape, like the Front Street District, further this cause. Additionally, we have to make Connecticut more affordable so that the dynamic and young element can afford to live here. List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: 1) I am a constant champion for scouting. 2) I am active and engaged in the community both through HYPE and The Hartford Club. 3) I volunteer for other wor- thy organizations, including Junior Achieve- ment, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. 4) I advocate for changes in scouting that open it to more youth and increase its impact. Time Tested: What personal possession in your life has with- stood the test of time? My first Swiss Army knife What hobby did you develop at a young age that you still enjoy today? Sailing and backpacking 20 years ago, what did you envision as your future profession? Army intelligence officer Who do you consider your mentor? Steve Bortz, Director of Development, Garrett Regional Medical Center To inspire a volunteer to meet a fundraising goal, I once accepted a challenge wherein if I lost, he got to shave my head at a regional meeting. Three months later, he met his goal and I got well and truly sheared. Gibbs, a Boy Scout mentor, presents a new uniform to a Putnam teen whose family's house had burned down. Gibbs visited the Great Wall of China in 2007 as part of a college exchange trip with Eastern Connecticut State University. Also posing are friends Eric Lusa and Kasia Mohn. Age: 30 Company: Change Incorporated Title: Executive Director/CEO Town where I live: Stamford Town where I work: Middletown College: Eastern CT State University Derrick Gibbs, Jr. Q&A: What do you do and what are your goals in your current job? I'm the executive director/CEO of Change Inc. I manage 35 employees, focusing on growth, financials and daily operations. My goal is to raise money to accomplish our first acquisition. I'm looking at organizations that offer similar services to us. What are your goals for your community involvement? My goal is to join additional nonprofit boards because my business knowledge and ability to contribute to those organizations give me fulfillment. I hope to return to volunteer firefighting and I'm inter- ested in politics. What's your biggest passion? I enjoy helping people. Since a young age I've always wanted to be in a caregiving or lifesaving role, from lifeguard to medical technician to firefighter. This field has also been something I'm very passionate about. My original plans were to go to college and study nursing. What are your future aspirations? My big- gest aspiration is to be the founder of an organization that provides healthcare and health education services to low-income neighborhoods. I wasn't able to graduate with a nursing degree, but at this point I can hire doctors, nurses and dentists. What needs to happen for Hartford to become a more vibrant city where people work, live and play? Hartford needs to get the entire community working together. City redevelop- ment shouldn't only be focused on downtown, where it only benefits a particular demograph- ic community, but also on surrounding areas that have huge need. Long standing residents in the north, south and west ends should not be forgotten. More police presence in high- crime areas, not just driving by, but officers on foot. The city must do more collaboration with community organizations to improve some of our neighborhoods. List four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty: 1) I founded a company that employees over 300 people. 2) I'm currently or have been involved in: volunteer Broad Brook Fire Department, Middletown/Willimantic Rotary Club, Boy Scouts of America, board member of the Middlesex YMCA, and board member of the Stamford Public Education Fund. 3) My company has saved state taxpayers over a million dollars in long-term care expenses through the state Department of Social Ser- vices. 4) When I was in sixth grade I was told that I had a reading disability, but I never let that stop me. I managed to never stay back, go to college and graduate on time, and now own a business that provides home care to elders and individuals with mental-health disabilities. Time Tested: What personal possession in your life has with- stood the test of time? My first lawn mower What hobby did you develop at a young age that you still enjoy today? Boating and fishing 20 years ago, what did you envision as your future profession? A doctor Who do you consider your mentor? There are too many to list. I started my first business at age 13, it was a lawn-care company called Der-Marc Lawn Care Services. 40 Under Forty 2016 40 Under Forty 2016