Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/991733
22 Hartford Business Journal • June 11, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com By Andy Thibault Special to the Hartford Business Journal W hen it comes to boardroom poli- tics and good old boys, Suzanne Hopgood knows the score — and she's not averse to sharing the gory details. During her service as CEO and chair of Furr's Restaurant Group, whose board became increasingly dysfunctional, she set up an interview for outside counsel with an international law firm. The senior law firm partner walked into a conference room and gave Hopgood his coffee order. "I gladly fetched [it] for him, knowing how much shorter the interview would be as soon as I took my seat at the head of the table," Hopgood wrote in an essay on serving as a woman on a corporate board. "It was a moment I thoroughly enjoyed. I suspect he did not." The incident reflects Hopgood's career of confronting and over- coming bias and flourishing in traditionally male- dominated roles. Currently, Hopgood chairs the Capital Regional Development Authority, an economic development agency created by the state legislature in 2010. The agency's purview includes housing development as well as operations and oversight for the Connecticut Convention Center and XL Center in Hartford and Rentschler Field in East Hartford. She has also run her own consulting firm since 1985 — The Hopgood Group — and serves as a board member for Newport Harbor Corp., a hospitality company in Newport R.I. The Hopgood Group developed a niche serving ON THE JOB Guiding business principle: Your word is all you have. Best way to keep your competitive edge: Living in the city, a multi-etnic, multi-cultural learning experience. Proudest accomplishment: Taking good care of my 97-year-old WWII veteran Dad. Becoming chair and CEO of a NYSE company — Furr's Restaurant Group — at age 48. Goal yet to be achieved: Having a lasting impact. Favorite part of the job: Mentoring Least favorite part of the job: People who treat women disrespectfully. Personal touch in your office: Gold Star paperweight my secretary gave me in 1984. JUDGMENT CALLS Best business decision: Creating The Hopgood Group LLC in 1985. Worst business decision: Owning an apartment complex. Biggest missed opportunity: None Best way to spot trends: Have a wide group of friends/associates/acquaintances. Watch and listen to their lifestyles. Live in the city. Next big move: Simplifying our lives. Your pet peeve: People who never step up to help and only sit at the back of the room throwing darts and complaining. Serial complainers. PERSONAL SIDE City of residence: Hartford Favorite way to relax: Bicycling in Asia. Hobbies: Biking, swimming Last vacation: Five weeks in Thailand, two of which were bicycling. Favorite movie: "Wonder Woman" and "Black Panther" The car you drive: 2012 Honda Accord Currently reading: "The Fire This Time," by Jesmyn Ward Favorite cause: Working to have more women on corporate boards of directors and shelters for abused women. Second choice career: I've done exactly what I wanted to do in my life. 'Maverick' Hopgood no stranger to Suzanne Hopgood CEO, The Hopgood Group LLC; Chair, Capital Region Development Authority Size of organization: Sole proprietorship Highest Education: University of New Hampshire, Bachelor's degree in business administration Previous job: CEO and board chair, Furr's Restaurant Group "I want the bad news. I can't fix it if I don't know about it." HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2018