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www.HartfordBusiness.com August 8, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 7 WHAT'S AHEAD: ■ 8/15 Focus: Health Care ■ The List: Skilled Nursing Facilities ■ Nonprofit Profile: Hartford Stage CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24 MetroHartford Alliance Rising Star Breakfast The MetroHartford Alliance's upcoming Rising Star Breakfast will take place Aug. 24, featuring a look back on 25 years of local volunteers and workplaces that contributed to the United Way's Year of Caring. The event will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Hilton Hartford Hotel, 315 Trumbull St., Hartford. The featured speaker will be Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, who is the commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. Cost to attend is $20 for members and nonmembers. For more information or to register go to: https://www.metrohartford.com. F O R A C O M P L E T E L I S T O F G R E A T E R H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S E V E N T S , G O T O W W W . H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S . C O M A N D C L I C K O N ' C A L E N D A R . ' A L L C A L E N D A R I T E M S M U S T B E S U B M I T T E D E L E C T R O N I C A L L Y V I A O U R W E B S I T E , H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S . C O M . HOSPITALITY & TOURISM Mark Twain House facelift aims to boost attendance The Mark Twain House & Museum is restoring its Mahogany Suite and Carriage House Barn area, projects along with other infrastructure work that could be completed by the end of the year. The museum's renovations, supported with a $2.2 million grant from the Connecticut Bond Commission, will enhance the visitor's experience while improving the grounds and facilities, the museum said. Visitors come from all 50 states and approxi- mately 75 countries annually. In 2015, approximate- ly 68,000 people toured the house. The museum's goal is 75,000 this year and a continuation of that upward trend. Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor Create Your Next Happy hour Call for details Vito's by the Park 26 Trumbull St. Hartford, CT 06103 860-244-2200 Hold a private function for your business, featuring a personalized signature cocktail & celebratory bites! P.O. Box 2468, New Britain, CT 06050 800.969.3837 nteriors.com Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring Keep your exterior colorful and festive year round with our exterior seasonal program! indoor / outdoor plantscapes • holiday decor 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 Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford. P H O T O | H B J F I L E INSURANCE Hartford insurance distributor buys NYC firm Independent insurance distributor Futurity First Financial Corp., which recently relocated to downtown Hartford, has ac- quired New York City-based M3 Financial, an annuity indepen- dent marketing organization. With a national scope, M3 Financial, FFFC's second acquisition, is led by founder Mike Bartolotta, who will remain president as he develops new business for FFFC, the company said. Since 2007, M3 Financial has worked with partner agencies, finan- cial advisors and insurance agents in marketing fixed and fixed-indexed annuities. Its acquisition is expected to give FFFC leverage, particularly in the area of diversified retirement planning, said FFFC CEO Mike Kalan. In May, FFFC had acquired Imeriti Financial Network based in Minnesota and California, the company said. SPORTS CT sends 9 Olympians to Rio Nine Connecticut residents — including two from the Hartford area — are headed to Brazil to participate in the 2016 summer Olympic games, the governor's office announced. Connecticut members of the U.S. Olympic team include: • Donn Cabral — track and field (Glastonbury); • Andrew Campbell, Jr. — rowing (New Canaan); • Charlie Cole — rowing (New Canaan); • Thomas Dunstan — water polo (New Canaan); • Austin Hack — rowing (Old Lyme); • Michael Hartfield — track and field (Manchester); • Devin McEwan — canoe/kayak (Salisbury); • Alyssa Naeher — soccer (Seymour/Bridgeport); • Chris Wyles — rugby (Stamford).