Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com December 19, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 13 Ojakian mends fences amid cost-cutting efforts By John Stearns jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com M ark Ojakian's first full year on the job as president of the Connecticut State Col- leges & Universities (CSCU) sys- tem was largely one of stabilizing and healing. It also was marked by successes, but importantly, laying the foundation for more. He had to repair relationships between CSCU and parties that included lawmakers who control the system's budget and faculty in contract renegotiations. He had to demonstrate leadership and stability in a post that turned over four times before him between 2011 — when the system was formed to consolidate 17 col- leges and universities under one umbrella — and when he became CSCU's captain in Sept. 2015. "I think the system and the colleges were hungry for a leader Gilberto confronts tough fundraising climate By Keith Griffin Special to the Hartford Business Journal I n a year of negatives for non- profits, Paula S. Gilberto saw a lot of positives. In April, Gilberto assumed the role of president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut fol- lowing the retirement of Susan B. Dunn. She acknowledged it had been a challenging fundrais- ing climate, with an increasing number of households facing financial pressures and people focused on different things like the national election. When interviewed in mid-fall, Gilberto said her United Way, the largest of 15 in Connecticut, was in the midst of its annual Shmerling pleased with first year at helm of CT Children's By Matt Pilon mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com C onnecticut Children's Medi- cal Center CEO Jim Shmer- ling is decidedly upbeat about the year he and his 187-bed hospital had in 2016. Recapping the last 12 months in a recent interview, Shmerling, who moved to Connecticut from his home state of Tennessee just over a year ago to start his new gig, reported that the hospital grew patient revenues and cut expenses without resorting to layoffs or eliminating programs. Better yet, Connecticut In her first year as United Way CEO, Paula Gilberto dealt with declining government aid and other financial pressures put on nonprofits. At the end of his first full year heading up the state public college system, Mark Ojakian received a three- year contract extension. CT Children's CEO James Shmerling helped the hospital improve its bottom line in 2016 and revive affiliation talks. H B J P H O T O | K E I T H G R I F F I N H B J P H O T O | M A T T P I L O N H B J P H O T O | J O H N S T E A R N S Continued on page 14 Continued on page 14 Continued on page 14

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