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www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 11, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 9 customers' needs. Simsbury Bank & Trust has shrunk headcount while expanding its custom- er base the past two years, said Martin Geitz, president and CEO of the $514 million-asset community lender and its parent, SBT Bancorp. "Banks are a reflection of the economy,'' said Geitz, past president of the Connecticut Community Bankers Association. "Regrettably, Connecticut has had two consecutive years of a con- tracting economy. The state has still yet to recover all of the jobs lost during the Great Recession after the financial crisis. … The weak economy means that the opportunities for banks to do busi- ness with companies and consumers is also challenged." Still, Simsbury Bank has contin- ued to expand its retail-commercial customer base, Geitz said, offering them a wider variety of online account- management, loan and other services due to its and other lenders' ongoing investments in mobile banking and other "smart" technologies. "Thanks to our technology in- novations, fewer customers visit our branches for routine transac- tions than 10 or 20 years ago," he said. "They are handling routine transactions through online banking and mobile bank- ing. As such, we don't need as many people in our branches." Moreover, banks also have deployed labor-saving technology in their inter- nal operations, such as account settle- ments, risk assessment, auditing and regulatory compliance, Geitz said. " … Our team members become more productive as many manual activities disappear,'' he said. " … The staffing levels we needed 10 or 20 years ago to perform our operational activities have declined." Insurers still have needs Winkler, of the MetroHartford Al- liance, said insurers will still need to fill certain jobs despite the increas- ing role of technology. "You're not going to get rid of claims handlers,'' Winkler said as an example. "But claims handlers are going to have to learn how to do their jobs differently.'' Indeed, local insurers like The Hartford will still need to replenish talent pools as aging workers retire. A 2013 report in PropertyCasu- alty360 said the industry would need to fill 400,000 positions by 2020. The Hartford has responded to that threat by developing an apprentice- training program with Capital Com- munity College to groom the next generation of claims handlers. In Connecticut, three apprentices will graduate in October, with six more by Jan. 2019 — all of whom likely will be offered permanent roles that include $45,000 starting salaries and benefits. The program also exists in Florida, with Seminole College, and in Ari- zona, with Rio Salado College. Through a spokesman, The Hart- ford said it's "pleased" with the qual- ity and productivity of its first class of apprentices. "We are committed to the city of Hartford and the state of Con- necticut,'' the spokesman said. "We continue to be a significant employer in the region and are actively hiring to support the future growth of the organization." Movers & Shakers Susan A. Martinelli was recently installed to serve as president for the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) for its 2018-19 activity year. Martinelli is managing partner of the New Haven office of RSM US LLP and lives in Southington. Michael Menapace, a partner in the law office of Wiggin and Dana, was recently installed as president of the Hartford County Bar Association (HCBA). Menapace is in the firm's litigation department and based in the Hartford office. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, the insurance and reinsurance industries, and data breach/cyber liability issues. Cesarina Thompson, dean of the School of Health Sciences at American International College (AIC) in Springfield, has been named dean of the University of Hartford's College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP), effective July 1. Thompson has been dean since 2012 at AIC, where she introduced several new programs, including a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy; increased the number of full-time faculty and students by 15 percent; and oversaw successful professional program accreditation reviews. Fred Stone has been promoted to manager of the Avon/ Canton Hoffman Auto Body Shop and Jonathan Hoffman has been promoted to service manager at Hoffman Porsche. Stone has been Hoffman Porsche service manager since Feb. 2014. Hoffman joined his family's company in 2014 and has served as corporate operations legal counsel and fixed operations manager. Vinit Gupta, Jenna D'Amico, Jingyi Wu, Olivia Werenski, Ashley Balch, Kasem Omary, Laura Balinskas, Maira Correia, Mikaela Yepez and Josh Bisaccia have joined Rocky Hill-based Avid Marketing Group (AMG), which focuses on shopper strategy and tactics for the beverage market. Gupta is a business intelligence project manager; D'Amico is a digital account executive; Wu is a marketing and data analyst; Werenski is an associate account coordinator; Balch is a production artist; Omary is the lead developer on efforts to develop, enhance and maintain AMG's software portfolio; Balinskas is an account and digital innovation director; Correia is an associate project manager; Yepez is an associate account coordinator; and Bisaccia is a staff accountant. Susan Smith was recently selected as executive director of Bike Walk CT and will be responsible for leading its operational activities, with emphasis on implementing strategies and programs that support the organization's mission to make Connecticut safer and more appealing for cyclists and pedestrians. She has served on Bike Walk's board and led Discover CT cycling events. Vinit Gupta Ashley Balch Jingyi Wu Laura Balinskas Mikaela Yepez Jenna D'Amico Kasem Omary Olivia Werenski Maira Correia Josh Bisaccia Financial Services Employment in CT Year Financial Jobs All CT Jobs 2007 124,400 1,691,900 2008 122,900 1,712,300 2009 120,900 1,663,600 2010 116,100 1,596,300 2011 117,200 1,618,200 2012 114,900 1,633,700 2013 113,400 1,644,700 2014 109,900 1,653,100 2015 110,100 1,670,500 2016 110,200 1,676,400 2017 108,600 1,683,500 2018 108,000 1,689,400 Source: CT Dept. of Labor Donald Klepper- Smith, New Haven economist and banking adviser Susan A. Martinelli Michael Menapace Fred Stone Jonathan Hoffman Cesarina Thompson Simsbury Bank CEO Martin Geitz (right) flanked by CFO John Sudol, says his bank has benefited from its investments in mobile banking and other smart technologies. PHOTO | HBJ FILE