Progress, Promise, and Challenges Connecticut Business ...
Transcript of Progress, Promise, and Challenges Connecticut Business ...
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ANNUAL REPORT 2012ANNUAL REPORT 2012
CBIA CONNECTICUTBUSINESS & INDUSTRYASSOCIATION
Progress, Promise, and Challenges
Connecticut Business Looks to the Future
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CBIA’s Mission Serve as an advocate for the general business and
industry community in Connecticut
Promote a state business climate that is globally
competitive and encourages business expansions,
startups, and relocations in Connecticut
encourage communication and cooperation among
business and industry, government, other private-
sector institutions, and the general public on important
economic and social issues
Provide a wide range of products and services that
benefit member companies
CBIA 10,000 BusinessesWorking for a CompetitiveConnecticut
top row, left to right: Thomas S. Santa, Chair; John R. Rathgeber, President & CEO; Donald R. Droppo, Jr., Vice Chair; James P. Torgerson, Vice Chair
Second row, left to right: Ramona Carlow, Immediate Past Chair; J. Dennis Chalk, John R. Ciulla, Donna R. Galluzzo
third row, left to right: Chandler J. Howard, Richard T. Mason, Robert S. Sobolewski, Maureen M. Weaver
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2012 CBIA Executive Committee
Chair & President’s Report
Over the past twelve months, state policymakers have increased their focus on our economy and the challenges that employers face operating businesses in Connecticut. It began last fall with Governor Malloy calling for a special legislative session on jobs and engaging the leaders from both political parties in shaping the agenda. As a result, positive steps were taken to help grow
the private sector and create new job opportunities.
During the 2012 General Assembly session, the administration and legislators focused on public education and the adoption of reforms to ensure that more students would graduate from high school with the skills they need to be successful in college or the workplace. Connecticut’s skilled workforce is our greatest eco-nomic strength, but there is growing concern about its future.
CBIA worked with a coalition of reform-minded organizations to support the governor’s proposals to raise overall student performance, close the achievement gap, enhance teacher and school administrator accountability, and provide financial transparency. Near the end of the session, a compromise bill that addressed a significant number of these critical issues passed the legislature with broad bipartisan support. We will continue to work with coalition members to ensure that these reforms are effectively implemented both at the state Department of Education and at the local level.
In other policy initiatives, CBIA was successful in backing efforts to expand programs supporting small businesses and startups, return brownfields to productive use, and streamline permitting processes. And, we were able to convince legislators to reject bills that would have increased the cost of doing business or imposed new mandates on employers.
Nevertheless, the state continues to face significant budget problems and long-term fiscal issues that must be addressed to truly restore business confidence and improve our economic competitiveness. During the 2013 session, we will work hard to convince policymakers to adopt a new two-year state budget that leans state government, avoids further tax increases on individuals and businesses, and addresses our long-term debt.
We encourage you to visit cbia.com to track what your state legislators are doing on the important fiscal and economic issues facing Connecticut. The site provides tools you can use to identify your state represen-tatives and senators and let them know your viewpoint. It also contains a wealth of information on the latest economic and business trends and serves as your gateway to all CBIA products and services.
Throughout the year, we provide our members with an array of products, services, and information designed to help you manage your business, save money, and be successful. Last spring, we adopted a new three-year strategic plan to enhance our offerings and provide greater value to our members. We are totally committed to serving you and welcome your ideas about what more we can do.
Sincerely,
Thomas S. Santa John R. Rathgeber Chair President & CEO
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CBIA President and CEO John Rathgeber responds to questions from the media at the State Capitol.
By the NumBers
11 registered staff lobbyists. 5,538 hours spent lobbying. 208 bills on which staff lobbyists testified. 65 public hearings
attended. 125 harmful bills defeated. 10 positive bills enacted. 12 government regulations and administrative policies worked on by
staff. 106 business groups that joined CBIA-led coalitions.
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GovernmentAffairs
Progress on some of the most important issues affecting
Connecticut’s businesses and economy was achieved this
year because of bipartisan agreement on the critical impera-
tives of job creation and education reform.
Within the span of seven months, the General Assembly expanded the
state’s portfolio of resources designed to help businesses create jobs and
grow here and committed Connecticut’s public education system to new
and higher standards of excellence. The long-sought-after education
reforms that were passed will better equip our young people with the
skills that they and Connecticut employers need to meet the challenges
of the 21st century economy.
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CBIA is grateful to Governor Malloy
and legislators on both sides of the
aisle who worked to improve
Connecticut’s public education
system.
This was also a year in which some key state
agencies streamlined their processes to make it
easier for the business community to interact with
state government. It’s important that we continue
to see those kinds of positive changes, especially
as difficult economic conditions persist and pose a
serious challenge to unlocking private-sector
investment, restoring job creation, and maintain-
ing fiscal responsibility in state government.
CBIAInvolvement
Throughout the year, our board, our members,
and our government affairs staff were highly visi-
ble at the State Capitol, playing an instrumental
role in the success of pro-business, pro-education-
reform legislation.
The Jobs Bill adopted in the October 2011 spe-
cial session echoed many of the proposals devel-
oped by CBIA members and offered in our Pro-
Jobs Agenda before the session began.
The education reforms adopted in May 2012
reflected the landmark work of CBIA’s
Education Foundation in helping to raise aca-
demic standards and inspire young people to
achieve new heights at school and in life. The
reforms also responded to employers’ urgent
need for a pipeline of skilled workers.
The new era of cooperation with many state
agencies answered our members’ longstanding
call for government to restore a greater level of
confidence in the state that will enable busi-
nesses to grow, create jobs, and increase invest-
ments in Connecticut.
In many cases, we were instrumental in creating
and leading coalitions of like-minded organiza-
tions in supporting efforts to provide long-term
benefits to Connecticut’s economy.
All of this was critically important, as many
Connecticut businesses continue to struggle and
job creation continues to be elusive.
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Photos (clockwise from top): Gov. Dannel Malloy signs the education reform bill into law at a May 15 ceremony at the State Capitol. CBIA Associate Counsel Eric Brown (right) with Kevin Hennessy, direc-tor of state and local affairs at Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Inc. CBIA Vice President of Govern-ment Affairs Bonnie Stewart with Electric Boat’s Chief of Government Relations Jack Shea.
Energy & EnvironmentThis was yet another year in which CBIA’s leadership in energy and envi-
ronmental issues resulted in legislative success. We continue to foster a
productive relationship with the Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection to develop policies aligned with Commissioner
Dan Esty’s “triple E” agenda of better environmental protection,
expanding energy options, and growing Connecticut’s economy.
For example, our Environmental Policies Council (EPC) effectively kept at the
forefront the issue of critical shortfalls in the state’s underground storage tank
fund. This yielded a significant step forward in addressing the situation during
the June 2012 special session. In addition, the EPC’s involvement helped win fur-
ther enhancements to last year’s landmark brownfields legislation.
On the energy front, while much of the regular General Assembly session was
consumed with responses to the two major storms that hit the Northeast in
2011, lawmakers nevertheless approved several important energy proposals dur-
ing the June special session. Among the more significant measures, advocated by
CBIA, was the creation of a new program to promote energy efficiency invest-
ments at commercial and industrial facilities.
Labor & Healthcare CostsWith the spotlight this year mainly on education reform and headline-grab-
bing social issues, lawmakers focused less than usual on labor and employ-
ment legislation. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage died after
failing to gain enough Senate support to be brought to a vote before the
session ended.
Lawmakers also refrained from adopting more health insurance mandates,
which would have added to the already high cost of healthcare in Connecticut. Key to this
restraint was a decision by a federal healthcare agency, widely communicated by CBIA,
which made the state financially liable for any new mandates adopted after Dec. 31, 2011.
Fiscal PolicyThe state’s fiscal situation remained tenuous
despite the significant tax increases adopted
in 2011. Lawmakers and the administration
once again faced a budget deficit, and in response, the
legislature approved a budget fix that employs an all-
too-familiar patchwork of borrowing, fund transfers,
and deferred payments.
CBIA continued to advocate for greater fiscal responsi-
bility and the adoption of the practical solutions recom-
mended by the Connecticut Regional Institute for the
21st Century in order to make state government more
efficient, effective, and affordable.
Prudently, the legislature’s tax-writing committee
refrained from any new taxes this year. CBIA’s Tax
Committee was once again a key resource for legislators
and the Department of Revenue Services in clearly con-
veying the impact tax policy has on businesses and the
potential for economic growth.
Campaign Finance
CBIA applauded Governor Malloy’s
veto of a bill that would have
imposed unreasonable rules and
procedures on Connecticut businesses making
campaign-related expenditures. We were part
of an unusual but effective group, including the
Connecticut Civil Liberties Union and
Connecticut Daily Newspapers Association, in
opposing this legislation.
!ThanksThe success we enjoyed this year can largely be credited to the indispens-able involvement of CBIA members from businesses small and large throughout the state. Your participation matters a great deal, and we will continue to count on your support as we work to improve on this year’s results and help make you, and Connecticut, as competitive as possible.
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Senate Republican leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) discusses the state budget at Connecticut Business Day in February.
By the NumBers
66,100 visits to CBIA’s government affairs website during the legislative session. 438,000 cbia.com site visits. 300
businesspeople at the state Capitol for Connecticut Business Day 2012. 11 CBIA News magazines published. 22 Government Affairs reports
published. 35 digital Government Affairs reports and legislative updates/alerts sent.
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Engaging Our Members& the Public
CBIA members and the public play a critical role in
convincing government leaders to adopt policies favorable
to economic growth and job creation. That’s why we
continue to refine and expand opportunities for both
constituencies to learn about key issues affecting businesses and engage
in the policymaking process.
Those opportunities include our weekly Government Affairs Report,
monthly CBIA News magazine, digital communications, and face-to-face
meetings with state legislators.
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Digital OutreachCBIA’sGovernmentAffairsWebsite
We updated gov.cbia.com to make it easier for users to access information and
communicate with state legislators. The new one-stop portal includes:
• issues & Policies—information on business-critical legislation
• contact ct Legislators—a powerful tool that enables members to identify their
state lawmakers and email them right from the website, used by thousands of
CBIA members and many of our partner organizations this year
• Bill tracker—summaries of business-related bills, status updates, and links to
each bill on the General Assembly’s website
• track issues—allows members to sign up for CBIA email alerts and e-newsletters
on important legislation in any of eight issue areas
“FirstNotice”Emails
Our lobbying staff sent up-to-the-minute emails on legislative developments to CBIA
member groups, including the Government Affairs Council and Tax Committee.
Video
CBIA employed web-based and email-embedded video, including regular
“This Week at the Capitol” segments, to inform our members and the public
about breaking business news.
SocialMedia
We continue to expand use of social media to educate and engage our
members and the voting public. We’re using:
• Linkedin and Facebook (facebook.com/cbiafb) for real-time business news
updates and member interaction
• twitter (twitter.com/cbia) for up-to-the-minute policy and business news
• Youtube (youtube.com/cbiavideos) for fast dissemination of videos
• Flickr (flickr.com/photos/cbia) for photo distribution
Election & Grassroots ActivitiesThis summer, CBIA created a special Election 2012 website
(cbia.com/election) featuring:
• Candidate background information
• Details on public policy issues
• Probing questions to ask candidates
• The latest news on local and statewide races
• A schedule of campaign events
Other CBIA grassroots activities included:
• Supporting the Partnership for Connecticut’s Future, a
bipartisan, grassroots organization of citizens, businesses,
chambers of commerce, and community leaders committed
to fostering awareness of economic and fiscal issues. CBIA
upgraded the Partnership website (partnershipct.org) and
kept partnership members apprised of business legislation
via Twitter and Facebook. The group has more than 1,000
member businesses, individuals, and organizations and
4,500 Facebook supporters.
• Conducting presentations throughout the state before
chambers of commerce and other business groups to
inform them about pending legislation.
ConnectingPolicymakerswithBusinesspeopleConnecticut Business Day: On February 29, 300 business leaders from across the state came together at the Legislative Office Building in
Hartford for Connecticut Business Day 2012. Co-sponsored by CBIA and the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives,
the event featured addresses by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield), and Department of
Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith. Discussion centered on small-business competitiveness, focusing
on topics such as the high cost of doing business in Connecticut, jobs, education reform, and fiscal responsibility.
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Small Business advisory council
Led by CBIA board member Kimberlee Pita,
managing principal of the Pita Group, the
council sponsored a networking event to
examine ways of marketing to and working
with five different generations. Members also
joined CBIA’s Manufacturers Advisory Council
in a joint meeting with House Majority Leader
J. Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) where they
discussed the 2012 legislative agenda. The
group also reviewed bills that passed during
the 2012 Legislative Session. In May, the
council met to discuss recommendations for
enhancing CBIA’s outreach to small businesses.
manufacturers advisory council
Led by Richard Laurenzi, president of Prospect
Machine Products, the council met with the
Corporate Development Group on doing busi-
ness in overseas markets and with CONNSTEP
and the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource
Center about identifying growth opportuni-
ties. Council members were invited to assist
the commissioner of the state Department of
Corrections in creating a training program for
nonviolent offenders.
In June, the council held a special meeting
with Rep. Selim Noujaim (R-Waterbury) and
Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford), leader, of
the newly formed Manufacturing Caucus in
the state legislature. The group discussed how
the caucus will work to educate the public and
legislators on the crucial role of manufacturing
in the state’s economy. The council also
reviewed the results of Connecticut
Manufacturing: Building on the Past, Creating
our Future—a report prepared by CBIA in con-
junction with DataCore Partners LLC—and dis-
cussed the three new manufacturing centers at
state community colleges.
Human resources council
Comprised of some of the top HR profession-
als in Connecticut, CBIA’s Human Resources
Council helps CBIA members stay abreast of
current trends, recent court decisions, and
developing legal issues. The council held the
following five meetings:
• The Painless Performance Appraisal
• Your Employee Handbook: Corporate Asset
or Legal Liability?
• Judicial Overview
• Make Your Company a Great Place to Work
• HR and Mental Health First Aid
government affairs council
With participants from nearly 60 Connecticut
companies, the Government Affairs Council
helped state lawmakers understand the busi-
ness and economic implications of numerous
bills. In particular, council members met with
legislators to explain how tax and labor pro-
posals that increase business costs have a real
impact on companies’ ability to compete—
and on their decisions about whether to stay
in Connecticut.
environmental Policies council
Chaired by Dave Smith, global EH&S manager
at Pratt & Whitney, the EPC continued to
advance its standing as the premier advocate
for business on environmental matters in
Connecticut and broadened the scope of its
activities to include energy issues as well.
On the environmental front, many EPC mem-
bers participated in six months of intensive
meetings with the Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection (DEEP) to develop
proposals for simplifying Connecticut’s com-
plex, confusing array of environmental clean-
up laws and regulations. Discussions contin-
ue, and we hope that a package of common-
sense reforms will be adopted in 2013.
Members also participated in meetings with
DEEP officials on issues ranging from water
discharge permitting to underground storage
tank regulations. We held an Environmental
Summit at the Capitol in October and a major
brownfield conference at the Legislative
Office Building in January that was broadcast
online to more than a dozen states.
Through staff participation in all three of the
state’s major energy policy commissions, the EPC
is in a unique position to advocate for its mem-
bers’ interests in the development and implemen-
tation of energy policy in Connecticut. This year,
we held our first combined Environmental
and Energy Conference in June, drawing
more than 250 attendees.
The EPC had a very successful year at the
Capitol, with the approval of measures to
streamline permitting, reform brownfield reg-
ulations, and offer creative financing options
for businesses seeking to lower their costs
through energy efficiency.
tax committee
Under the chairmanship of Charles Lenore,
partner in the law firm of Day Pitney LLP,
CBIA’s Tax Committee consulted with our
government affairs staff, lending expertise
that guided our advocacy efforts. The com-
mittee also met with state commissioners to
share information regarding the impact of tax
policy on economic development decisions.
Labor & employment Law council
Comprised of attorneys and senior human
resources managers, the Labor and
Employment Law Council helped develop
CBIA’s Government Affairs Agenda, provided
analysis of legislative and regulatory propos-
als, and communicated with legislators on pri-
ority issues. Council members also shared
expertise on labor and employment matters
with policymakers, explaining the business
impact of proposed actions.
Workers’ compensation council
CBIA’s Workers’ Compensation Council—a
group of professionals responsible for their
companies’ workers’ compensation pro-
grams—provided input into CBIA’s
Government Affairs Agenda and informed
state legislators about the financial, adminis-
trative, and claims management implications
of proposed changes to workers’ compensa-
tion laws. The council also represented the
business community before the Workers’
Compensation Commission and other state
agencies, coordinated diverse groups of busi-
ness interests around public policy goals, and
informed CBIA about legal decisions that
affected employers’ workers’ compensation
costs and claims management actions.
member councils & committeescBia members who served on our councils and committees stayed abreast of proposed laws and regulations, provided feedback to policymakers, and helped guide our advocacy efforts.
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By the NumBers
1,430 newspaper articles that included CBIA’s positions on public policy issues and/or quoted statements from CBIA staff. 1 newspaper
ad in 8 leading Connecticut dailies in the form of an open letter to the state legislature. 2,080 Business minute radio spots aired.
616 radio and tV reports that discussed CBIA’s positions on public policy issues or included interviews with CBIA staff. 4 weeks of advertis-
ing on broadcast and cable television. 4 weeks of advertising on radio.
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The Media Spotlight
CBIA press releases, newspaper editorial board meetings,
newsroom briefings, and interviews generated 1,430
newspaper articles and 616 television and radio reports about
issues affecting Connecticut’s business community.
Leveraging our in-house video and audio technology, we fed CBIA expert
commentary quickly and effectively to broadcast news outlets. CBIA public
policy and economic experts were heard on radio stations statewide,
including in weekly spots on WGCH in Greenwich and monthly reports on
WDRC in Hartford. We also regularly contributed articles, survey results,
op-ed pieces, and MP3 radio reports to the Connecticut media, including
weekly opinion articles in the Fairfield County Business Journal.
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CBIA developed a two-stage public awareness
campaign timed to coincide with critical points of
the 2012 General Assembly session. The cam-
paign was designed to:
• Highlight CBIA’s public policy agenda
• Engage the business community
• Reach multiple audiences, including the gover-
nor’s administration, legislators, media, business
leaders, and the public
We launched the first stage of the campaign in
January and February with:
• Press releases highlighting our 2012
Government Affairs Agenda
• Meetings with editorial boards of eight of the
state’s largest newspapers
• The placement of staff on radio and television
news programs
• 30-second radio and television spots emphasiz-
ing the need for a competitive Connecticut and
a leaner, smarter state government
• Targeted ads on websites visited by legislators
and administration officials
• Ads in eight newspapers in the form of an
open letter to lawmakers, calling on them to
listen to the business community’s concerns and
ideas
In the second stage of the campaign, which
began in April, CBIA ran two weeks of television
and radio public awareness advertising featuring
two separate spots supporting the governor’s edu-
cation reform package and highlighting the
urgent need for action.
Public Awareness Advertising
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The first spot, “Put Children First,” noted that a
wide range of constituencies—parent groups,
school administrators, and business and communi-
ty leaders—supported meaningful education
reforms outlined in the governor’s proposal. The
second spot, “It Cannot Be an Excuse,” pointed
out the dramatic differences in academic perfor-
mance between low-income students in
Massachusetts and Connecticut.
CBIA Business MinuteNow in its 23rd year, this 60-second radio spot
airs Monday through Friday on eight Connecticut
radio stations and at cbia.com/newsroom. This
year’s segments included interviews with:
• UConn President Susan Herbst on the
BioScience Connecticut Initiative and UConn
Technology Park and their impact on economic
development
• Commissioner of the state Department of Labor
Glenn Marshall on the benefits of the
Subsidized Training and Employment Program
(STEP UP) for small businesses
• Connecticut Development Authority President
Marie O’Brien on business financing opportuni-
ties available through the CDA
VideoCBIA produces two popular videos, This Week at
the Capitol and This Week at CBIA, as well as
video highlights of our conferences, television
appearances by our staff, and media interviews of
CBIA members. Videos are posted to YouTube,
cbia.com, and our social media sites.
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UConn President Susan Herbst discusses the university’s role as an economic driver at the CBIA/MetroHartford Alliance Economic Summit and Outlook in January.
By the NumBers
29 e-newsletters on human resources and safety/health issues sent. 9,000 member telephone inquiries answered. 1,040
attendees at CBIA’s economic conferences. 414 attendees at CBIA’s Annual meeting. 18 hr-related surveys of 1,557 companies and 117,505
employees. 15 economic and public policy surveys of Connecticut businesses, with over 3,000 companies reporting. 4,673 attendees
at CBIA conferences, workshops, and seminars. 337 attendees at CBIA webinars. 800 member companies in contracts through CBIA
energy Connections, purchasing 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas valued at approximately $7 million and 750 million kilowatt hours of electricity
valued at approximately $60 million. 4,700 members accessed our member Discounts website. 1,454 members used CBIA’s
cobranded CareerBuilder.com website.
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CBIA Works for You
Products, Programs, & Services
Every year, CBIA’s products, programs, and services help
thousands of Connecticut companies stay competitive and
responsive to an ever-changing economic and regulatory
environment. For CBIA members, help is never more than
a click or a phone call away.
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Human Resources & Safety Management
HRHotlineTelephoneConsulting
CBIA’s experts answered 9,000 member phone
calls on a wide variety of issues, including:
• Unemployment and workers’ compensation
• Connecticut’s new paid sick leave law
• Federal healthcare reform
• Compensation and benefits strategies
HRSurveys
Our human resources surveys provide members
with essential marketplace data on executive com-
pensation, benefits, and personnel policies. This
year we conducted 18 surveys of 1,557 compa-
nies and 117,505 employees.
Publications&Software
Our HR publications and other tools guide our
members through a range of legal and compliance
issues. This year, we made accessing those resourc-
es easier with upgrades to our online store (cbia.
com/store), improving navigation and usability.
Our most popular items are:
• CBIA Employee Handbook Software
• CBIA Poster Compliance Kit
Throughout the year, CBIA News monthly maga-
zine and our biweekly Human Resources E-News
and Safety & Health E-News kept members
informed about workplace trends, new laws, court
cases, and workforce development assistance.
ProfessionalDevelopment&Networking
CBIA members gained fresh perspectives on
important topics in human resources while net-
working with their peers at our:
• Conferences on human resources, health, and
safety
• More than 40 workshops, seminars, and round-
tables covering employment law essentials, sex-
ual harassment prevention training, supervisor
skills, and OSHA compliance
• Timely new programs covering:
- Connecticut’s new paid sick leave law
- Disaster planning
- Cybersecurity
- Ideas and solutions for entrepreneurs and
small businesses
We also streamlined online event registration with
the introduction of a new registration platform at
cbia.com/events.
On-SiteTraining
CBIA saved members time and money by conduct-
ing training at their facilities for more than 1,000
employees. Topics included:
• Sexual harassment prevention
• Basic employment law principles
• Family and medical leave
• Accommodating workers with disabilities
OnlineTraining
CBIA’s convenient HR webinars allowed attendees
to get the latest information right from their offic-
es. Our 2012 webinars:
• Job Hazard Analysis: Where Safety Meets
Operational Efficiency
• Conducting Business in a Global Society: A
Guide to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• Doing Business in an International World: The
Importance of U.S. Export Control Compliance
• Paid Sick Leave Update
• Controlling Unemployment Taxes: Fact, Not Myth
• 401(k) Fee Disclosures Under the New Labor
Department Mandate: Understanding
Regulation 408(b)(2)
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Economics & Public PolicyCBIA’s economic and public policy surveys and
programs provide members with data and analysis
to make informed business decisions. In 2012, we
addressed such issues as financing, the real estate
market, and Connecticut’s economic recovery.
Conferences
Over 1,000 business executives, state legislators, and
other policymakers attended CBIA events to learn
about Connecticut’s business climate and state and
national economic trends. Programs included:
• The Connecticut Economy
• Economic Summit and Outlook 2012
• The Fairfield County Economic Outlook
Luncheon
• Annual Fairfield County Commercial &
Industrial Real Estate Outlook
In addition, our twelfth annual What’s the Deal?
business energy conference in October 2011 drew
105 exhibitors and 193 attendees. CBIA’s 2012
Connecticut Tax Conference in June drew 125
participants.
Surveys&Reports
CBIA provides members, government officials, and
news media with information on business, eco-
nomic, and state fiscal trends. Our quarterly CBIA/
Farmington Bank Credit Survey illustrated the
challenges of obtaining credit in a post-recession
economy. We also conducted and reported on 14
other surveys, including:
• CBIA/Blum Shapiro 2011 Survey of Connecticut
Businesses
• 2011 CBIA Connecticut Manufacturing
Workforce Survey
• 2011 Fairfield County Business Survey
• CBIA Quarterly Economic Survey
• Farmington Bank/ODMD Quarterly Commercial
and Industrial Real Estate Survey
• Connecticut Manufacturing: Building on the
Past, Creating Our Future
Survey results are available at cbia.com/newsroom.
Group Purchasing, Business Financing, and Member Discounts
CBIAEnergyConnections
For over 13 years, CBIA Energy Connections has
provided members with the most efficient and
effective electricity and natural gas purchasing
processes available. Nearly 800 companies now
purchase their electricity and/or natural gas
through CBIA Energy Connections. Over the past
year, member companies purchased 1.1 billion
cubic feet of natural gas valued at approximately
$7 million and 750 million kilowatt hours of elec-
tricity valued at approximately $60 million.
FinancingThroughCDA
Through our partnership with the Connecticut
Development Authority, CBIA provided informa-
tion on debt financing, investment capital, and
other financing options to over 6,000 members.
MemberDiscounts
CBIA’s Member Discounts program (cbia.com/dis-
counts) gives our members more buying power
and steeply reduced prices on products and servic-
es they need to run their businesses. Members
saved thousands of dollars on office supplies,
employee background checks, document shred-
ding, industrial cleaning services, and other prod-
ucts and services.
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By the NumBers
550 students and teachers attended manufacturing career expos. 114 underrepresented students enrolled in Advanced Placement stem
classes for school year 2012-2013. 20 Academy of engineering and Green technology students completed online energy-related courses through
Virtual high school. 1,400 visitors logged on to GetIntoenergyCt.com, for a total of 5,130 pageviews. 314 high school students and
teachers participated in the Innovative technology experiences for students and teachers program in school year 2011-2012, bringing the three-
year total to 861.
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Building a Better Workforce
A statewide survey of businesses conducted this spring
revealed that Connecticut’s workforce, traditionally
perceived as a major strength, is slipping. Only 30% of CBIA
members surveyed consider Connecticut’s labor force an
asset—a significant departure from previous years.
From advanced manufacturing to bioscience, today’s jobs require
considerably higher levels of skill, knowledge, and expertise, and research
shows that our workforce has not kept pace. Most Connecticut companies,
in fact, are having trouble finding qualified employees.
21
Legislation enacted this year has begun
to address some of Connecticut’s
workforce challenges, moving the
state forward by improving the teach-
ing profession, narrowing the
achievement gap between low-income and minor-
ity students and their peers, and turning around
the state’s lowest-performing schools.
Enhancing the quality of Connecticut’s workforce
and the state’s economic vitality are major priori-
ties for CBIA and its members. Our government
affairs team lobbied vigorously for the compre-
hensive reforms included in Connecticut’s land-
mark education bill, and our Education
Foundation this year redoubled its efforts to:
• Build young people’s interest and achievement in
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)
• Create meaningful partnerships among teach-
ers, students, and employers
• Align high school and postsecondary curricula
with the demands of the 21st century workplace
• Give unemployed adults the pre-employment
training and post-placement support services they
need to succeed in Connecticut’s key industries
The fastest-growing sectors of our economy,
including manufacturing, report a shortage of
workers with STEM (science, technology, engi-
neering, and math) skills. High school graduates
increasingly lack the academic background to
pursue STEM degrees in college, and a large
share of the current STEM workforce is prepar-
ing to retire.
CBIA’s Education Foundation administers a pro-
gram designed to increase high school students’
achievement in STEM subjects, their enrollment in
Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and their pur-
suit of STEM careers. Now in its third year, ITEST
(Innovative Technology Experiences for Students
and Teachers) is funded by a $1.2 million grant
from the National Science Foundation.
Over a three-year period, 861 freshmen and
sophomores from three high schools (East
Hartford, New Britain, and Wilby High School
in Waterbury) have participated in ITEST.
Teams of ITEST ninth-graders spent this past school
year answering complex questions developed by
corporate sponsors General Electric, Northeast
Utilities, Pfizer, and United Technologies Corp.
Questions centered on problems related to energy,
healthcare, and the environment, and
students deployed social media, wikis, web anima-
tion, and video technologies to research and
present their findings. In May they made formal
presentations at the Connecticut Science Center
before a panel of biochemists and engineers.
Tenth-graders attended young men’s/women’s
leadership programs, decision-making work-
shops, and career seminars and served as men-
tors for this year’s freshmen. They also visited
research, energy, and technology facilities to see
firsthand how classroom learning aligns with
real-world demands.
A primary goal of ITEST is to prepare ninth- and
tenth-graders for the rigors of AP STEM courses
in grades 11 and 12 and to increase their inter-
est in enrolling in those courses. Key results from
Year Three include the following:
• Interest in Advanced Placement is high: 90%
of ITEST students in April 2012 reported that
they are interested in taking AP math and sci-
ence. Of these, more than three-quarters are
very interested or extremely interested
• 114 students are enrolled in STEM AP classes
for the upcoming school year.
• 93% of ITEST students report a better under-
standing of how technology is used at work
• 92% say they have established new goals for
their careers, a notable increase over 60% in
Year One
• 87% plan to take more AP courses
CBIA’s Education Foundation has also provided
critical support for the Academy of Engineering
and Green Technology (AoEGT) at Hartford
Public High School. In addition to coordinating
the Academy’s business-led advisory board, the
Foundation arranged for students to:
• Attend professional conferences
• Participate in after-school tutoring and career
coaching sessions
• Compete in FIRST Robotics events
• Complete summer internships at manufactur-
ing, law, engineering, and technology firms
United Technologies Corp., a CBIA member
company and AoEGT corporate sponsor, provid-
ed $90,000 for CBIA’s Education Foundation to
continue its work with the Academy over the
past school year. With additional funding from
the U.S. Department of Energy, CBIA’s Education
Foundation this year organized internships at
Northeast Utilities and online energy-related
courses for 20 AoEGT students.
Photos: High school students participate in a series of career expos held in 2012 by the Connecticut Community Colleges’ College of Technology’s Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Expos were coordinated by CBIA’s Education Foundation.
22
Focus on STEM
Photos: Students from three Connecticut high schools participate in activities at the Connecticut Science Center as part of the ITEST (Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers) program.
23
Connecticut’s utilities face a critical shortage of workers
at the same time they are experiencing tremendous
growth potential from advances in traditional and alter-
native energy delivery and technology.
The Education Foundation committed significant resources
this year to developing an online tool for Connecticut ener-
gy and energy efficiency companies looking to expand their
talent pool. GetIntoEnergyCT.com includes videos and infor-
mation on scholarships and training opportunities. In the six
months since its launch, the site has had 1,400 unique visi-
tors and more than 5,000 pageviews.
The Foundation is also a key business partner in a $3.36 mil-
lion grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to oversee the
creation and refinement of a Connecticut Energy Sector
Strategic Plan—a plan for developing a skilled workforce in
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green jobs by:
• Upgrading the skills of displaced workers
• Connecting green workforce development to eco-
nomic development efforts
• Ensuring that Connecticut’s curriculum and training
capacity match the needs of energy-sector employers
The Foundation is also a regional partner in and manager of a
$200,000 grant from the Workforce Solutions Collaborative of
Metro Hartford to prepare unemployed and underemployed
adults for entry-level energy-sector jobs. Developed in conjunc-
tion with the Capitol Region Education Council, Academic
Skills Enhancement for Energy-Related Careers combines con-
textualized classroom and online learning to increase critical
thinking, basic math, and applied technology skills. Twenty
individuals completed the program in 2012, and 19 have
earned the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate.
Thirteen certificate-holders completed a subsequent eight-
week electric/gas utility training program at Northeast
Utilities and earned their commercial driver’s license. Within
16 weeks of completing training, 10 participants secured
full-time jobs with an average salary of $41,000.
Two additional Academic Skills Enhancement classes for
50 adults are planned for fall 2012 and spring 2013.
Energy Workforce
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers this year
announced the formation of a Manufacturing Caucus to
ensure that manufacturing, a major driver of economic
activity in Connecticut, continues to thrive.
Connecticut manufacturers are more sophisticated and
productive than ever, and significant global changes are
presenting new economic opportunities for those able to
maintain a skilled workforce, research and development
capability, and technology-driven production.
To strengthen Connecticut’s pipeline of skilled manufacturing
workers, the Education Foundation organized guidance
counselors’ workshops and career expos under contract to
the Connecticut Community Colleges’ Regional Center for
Next Generation Manufacturing (RCNGM), funded by the
National Science Foundation. The expos, which were held at
Gateway Community College in North Haven and Tunxis
Community College in Farmington, highlighted manufactur-
ing career pathways, featuring workshops, exhibits, and
demonstrations of green technology and advanced manufac-
turing processes. Expos drew 550 high school, technical
school, and community college students and instructors.
The Foundation also administered a teacher externship
program for the RCNGM. Now in its eighth year, the
externship program places high school and community
college instructors with local manufacturers for four
weeks each summer, bringing teachers up to speed on
new technologies and processes. Teachers integrate these
experiences and information into their curricula and
work-based learning projects for students.
In 2012, the Foundation placed seven teachers, bringing
the eight-year total to 79.
Manufacturing Workforce
By the NumBers
more than 5,000 Connecticut companies participate in CBIA health Connections.
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Employee Benefits Choice, Price & Unmatched Customer Service
CBIA Health Connections is a nationally acclaimed
health insurance exchange that provides small
businesses (three to 50 employees) with a choice of
insurance carriers and plans at affordable prices.
Our main program, CBIA Health Connections 2 (HC2), offers 30
plan options from two leading insurance companies: ConnectiCare
and Oxford Health Plans (UnitedHealthcare). In addition to medical
coverage, CBIA Health Connections offers life and disability insur-
ance through The Hartford and dental benefits through Aetna. A
similar program, Health Connections 51+, is available for compa-
nies with 51 to 100 employees.
25
A Year of TransitionCBIA’s Health Connections program contin-
ued to gain national recognition as a leading
example of a private-sector health insurance
exchange.
With the passage of the landmark Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act and
anticipated changes to the health insurance
marketplace, we followed through on
planned investments and development in sev-
eral key areas.
Our focus on product development, integrat-
ed service enhancements, staff reorganiza-
tion, and the initiation of an administration
system upgrade this past year positions us
well for future growth. Continued strategic
development of our enhanced private-sector
exchange means increased value to CBIA
member companies now and in the future
and enables us to explore and capitalize on
emerging opportunities in the changing land-
scape of group health insurance.
AdditionalBenefitsWorkers’ compensation insurance: The CBIA Comp Services workers’ compensation program is
available to member manufacturers of metal, plastics, and electronic products. This valuable self-
insured program includes integrated loss control, managed care, and claims administration services.
Surplus is returned to members through lower rates and experience refunds. The program currently
has 183 participating companies.
cBia retirement Plans: This program brings cost-effective retirement plans to small and midsize
members through ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company. Currently 3,285 employees from 99
companies participate, with $151.1 million in invested assets.
cBia eyewear Savings Plan: This popular program offers members substantial discounts on pre-
scription and nonprescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and laser corrective surgery. Currently, 8,000
employees and dependents from 600 companies participate. Sponsored by EyeMed Vision Care, the
plan costs just $12 per year per employee (including coverage for spouses and dependents).
cBia Home & auto insurance: Through CBIA’s Home & Auto Insurance program, member compa-
nies offer their employees high-quality, competitively priced personal insurance products provided
through Travelers, Middlesex Mutual (MiddleOak), and Progressive. More than 140 employers partici-
pate in this members-only program, representing over $1.3 million in written premium.
InsuranceServices
coBra & State continuation administration: CBIA COBRA and state continuation administration
continues to help employers maintain compliance with evolving healthcare regulations. CBIA handles
all the administrative details, including required notifications, billing, premium collection, and pay-
ment to carriers. More than 3,500 CBIA Health Connections members are enrolled in this no-cost
benefit. In the past year, CBIA handled COBRA administration for more than 620 individuals.
Hra administration: This year CBIA provided no-cost HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement)
administration for nearly 270 employers enrolled in CBIA Health Connections. By implementing an
HRA with a corresponding HC2 plan, members achieved immediate savings in their healthcare costs.
26
2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In addition to the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors includes:
JohnE.AdamouHead, U.S. Strategic Transactions & Alliance Management Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation Ridgefield
EricD.AlbertPresident Albert Bros. Inc. Waterbury LouisJ.Auletta,Jr.President & CEO Bauer Inc. Bristol JoelS.BeckerChairman of the Board & CEO Torrington Supply Company Inc. Waterbury SamuelS.Bergami,Jr.CEOAlinabal Holdings Corporation Milford
AmeliaCaporaleOffice Managing Partner & Assurance Partner Ernst & Young LLP Hartford
MicheleA.CaulfieldVP Administration & CFO Stevens Company Inc. Thomaston TonyCeciOffice Managing PartnerConnecticut McGladrey Stamford KevinJ.CunninghamPresident-CT Bank of America Hartford
NicolaDiBartolomeo,Ph.D.CEO Memry Corporation Bethel StephenJ.FarrellCEOUnitedHealthcare of New England Hartford and Warwick, RI
MaryKayFentonSenior Vice President & CFO Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. New Haven
CharlesV.FirlottePresident & CEO Aquarion Company Bridgeport MaryP.FitzgeraldPresident Acme Wire Products Co. Inc. Mystic GeorgeJ.FrantzisIICo-Owner Lake Quassapaug Amusement Park Inc. Middlebury JohnA.GreenPresident & CEO Lux Bond & Green West Hartford EileenC.HassonPresident The Computer Company Inc. Cromwell KeithHubertOffice Managing Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Hartford PeterF.Hurst,Jr.President and CEO The Community’s Bank Bridgeport NealJ.KeatingChairman, President & CEO KAMAN Corporation Bloomfield
RichardA.LaurenziPresident Prospect Machine Products Inc. Prospect WilliamP.LennonVice President, Engineering & Design Programs Electric Boat Corporation Groton DavidLewisCEO OperationsInc LLC Stamford FrankP.LongobardiManaging Partner J.H. Cohn LLP Glastonbury JohnB.Lynch,Jr.Managing Partner Robinson & Cole LLP Hartford
MichaelS.MarcinekManaging Principal & CFO Fletcher Thompson Inc. Shelton
VickiA.O’MearaExecutive Vice President & President PBMS, Government& Postal Affairs Pitney Bowes Inc. Stamford KimberleePitaManaging Principal The Pita Group Rocky Hill DavidV.RingPresident, New England Region, Head of Enterprise Banking First Niagara Financial Group Inc. New Haven DavidA.RothbergChairman & CEO Laticrete International Inc. Bethany JosephS.SchechterPresident, MSS Americas Computer Sciences Corporation New York RobertD.ScintoChairman R.D. Scinto Inc. Shelton CharlesW.ShiveryChairman of the Board Northeast Utilities Hartford JoeSinghExecutive Vice President PCC Technology Group LLC Bloomfield CraigL.SylvesterPresident and Managing Partner Reid and Riege PC Hartford WilliamA.TeedIIPresident of Construction Travelers Hartford
MarthaR.TemplePresident, New England Region Aetna Hartford
JeffreyJ.TengelSenior Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking People’s United Bank Bridgeport
AndrewE.UhlVice President, Medical Ahlstrom Nonwovens LLC Windsor Locks ChrisUlbrichChief Operating Officer Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals Inc. North Haven
RichardH.WheelerPresident Capewell Components Company LLC South Windsor MichaelR.WisePresident ConnectiCare Inc. Farmington
CBIA EXECUTIVE STAFF
JohnR.RathgeberPresident & CEO
JosephF.BrennanSenior Vice President, Public Policy; Secretary
PhillipJ.VogelSenior Vice PresidentCBIA Service Corporation
StephenJ.MarcouxSenior Vice President, Administration; Chief FinancialOfficer & Treasurer
2012 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIR
ThomasS.SantaPresident & CEOSanta Energy CorporationBridgeport
VICE CHAIR
DonaldR.Droppo,Jr.President & CEOCurtis Packaging CorporationSandy Hook
VICE CHAIR
JamesP.TorgersonPresident & CEOUIL Holdings CorporationNew Haven
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
RamonaCarlowVice President, Public Policy & Strategy AT&T Inc. New Haven
PRESIDENT & CEO
JohnR.RathgeberCBIA Staff
J.DennisChalkPresident & General Manager RSCC Wire & Cable LLC East Granby
JohnR.CiullaExecutive Vice President Middle Market Banking Webster Bank Stamford
DonnaR.Galluzzo,Ph.D.President & CEO HMS Healthcare Management Solutions Inc. Wallingford
ChandlerJ.HowardPresident & CEO Liberty Bank Middletown
RichardT.MasonPresident, Retirement Services Corporate Markets ING Windsor
RobertS.SobolewskiPresident & CEO ebm-papst Inc. Farmington
MaureenM.WeaverPartner Wiggin and Dana LLP New Haven
27