Gov. Ned Lamont has appointed Kristin Urbach, executive director of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative, to the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Port Authority.

In her role as the first leader of the Wind Collaborative, Urbach leads the charge in advancing the state’s offshore wind industry. Urbach will be part of the Human Resources Committee, which is currently involved in the search process for an executive director to replace outgoing the interim appointee Ulysses B. Hammond.

“Since being hired as executive director of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative in April, Kristin has kept up a whirlwind pace, representing Connecticut at conferences as a thought leader in the industry,” said Paul Lavoie, chairman of the Wind Collaborative and the state’s Chief Manufacturing Officer.

Gov. Lamont cited Urbach’s “unwavering dedication” to the wind industry, and Hammond praised her “deep experience.”

Before her role in Connecticut, Urbach served as an executive for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Washington, D.C. She then led the North Kingstown, R.I., Chamber of Commerce and launched WindWinRI, an offshore wind career pathway training system. In 2023, Urbach was one of 34 leaders selected nationwide and the first from Rhode Island to be named a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Business Leads Fellow.

A free SCORE webinar on “Market Your Small Business Using Podcasts”will be available on Zoom from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. To register, visit https://www.score.org/easternct.

Podcasts have quickly become as important to businesses as websites were just a few decades ago. This in-depth webinar with popular podcast producer Jason Connell, founder of Just Curious Media, offers a step-by-step guide to creating a podcast for your business.

For questions, email Anne Driscoll, anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org.

People & Places

Kenneth P. Levy of Mystic was appointed as a director at CorePlus Credit Union to fill the unexpired term of former director Selma Ward.

Levy has been a director of procurement and contracts for over 35 years, working for multinational firms in the biopharma, insurance, logistics, defense contracting, and high-tech manufacturing areas. Since retiring from Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi Company, Levy has been active with various multiple myeloma research and support organizations and is on the board of Waterford Country School, serving as its treasurer and the chairman of the finance committee.

Levy and his wife, Joanne, have been active volunteers in the Mystic community, including 25 years with the Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival. He has also served on CorePlus Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee since 2016.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce spotlighted Jean Michael Coronado in the latest installment of the Community Proud series sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union.

Coronado is a nutritionist and dietitian with over 14 years of experience in the Groton and Mystic area; working with the Incredible Weight Loss Center, he is currently diving into the psychology behind eating patterns and exploring red light therapy for weight loss in his practice.

Beyond nutrition, Coronado has a passion for interior design, and partnered with Chef Tai Au in 2016 to create popular Keto and gluten-free menus at Pink Basil and Spice Club, and in 2021 helped create a mural in New London’ to celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride.

An active supporter of Mystic Aquarium, Global City Norwich, United Way in New London, Spark Makerspace, and the New Haven Pride Center, this local influencer has helped companies promote events and experiences with a personalized touch.

Four interns successfully completed the CorePlus Credit Union Summer Internship Program on Aug. 9. This year, CorePlus hosted Shelbie Desir and Iris Tang from Norwich Free Academy and Mercy Reynoso Germosen and Claudy Baron from New London High School.

CorePlus has hosted students from two of the area’s largest high schools for 18 years. The program began in 2006 when the Director of Diversity at NFA and the CorePlus president at the time had a casual conversation about the lack of diversity in Norwich area financial institutions. They decided on the spot that an internship program could be the way to change that.

For more information, visit coreplus.org.

The Nordson Corporation Foundation has awarded Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s $15,000 to integrate visual and performing arts into TVCCA’s early childhood education curriculum.

Debbi Poirier is director of the Little Learners year-round program for children ages birth through 5, with sites in Norwich, New London, and Groton. “Expanding our students’ artistic and cultural horizons with the enrichment activities funded by the Nordson Foundation will pay a lifetime of dividends,” she said in a release.

For more information about TVCCA’s early childhood education programs, call (860) 889-1365 or visit tvcca.org.

All Paws on Deck, a Griswold-based animal rescue organization, has been selected as the only Connecticut recipient of a $5,000 grant from the MuttNation Foundation. This award, established by country music star Miranda Lambert and her mother Bev Lambert, will significantly bolster the rescue's mission to save pregnant dogs from high-kill shelters.

Susana Burgess, executive director of All Paws on Deck, said the grant will cover veterinary expenses, provide necessary resources for expecting mothers, and ensure that each dog and her puppies find loving, forever homes.

For more information, visit allpawsondeck.org, email donations@allpawsondeck.org or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/allpawsondeckctrescue.

As of July 24, Eastern Connecticut’s Agency on Aging has supported older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities for 50 years.

As a private non-profit established under the Older Americans Act of 1965, Senior Resources responds to needs of adults ages 60 and over throughout 56 towns of eastern Connecticut and beyond. The agency's many programs include Senior Nutrition, Medicare Counseling, Benefits Enrollment, Money Follows the Person, National Family Caregiver Support, Alzheimer’s Respite, Congregate Housing Services, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Fraud & Abuse Prevention, Information & Referral, Service Navigation, Veterans Directed Care, and Healthy Living.

If you or someone you know has questions about aging, call 860-887-3561. You can also use the website www.seniorresourcesec.org or the recently launched Aging CT https://agingct.org/.

Professionals who work with older adults are advised about the AgingCT Summit on Nov. 19 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. For information, visit https://agingct.org/agingct-summit/.

The Sportsbook Live from Mohegan Sun Podcast launches on Thursday, Sept. 5. It’s a weekly live sports betting podcast at 6 p.m. featuring Mike “Mut” Mutnansky, Eytan Shander and Mohegan Sun FanDuel’s Sportsbook GM, Brad Bryant.

Timed with the opening of the pro-football season, this all-new podcast will be live-streamed on YouTube every Thursday through Nov. 7 in the Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook and will be distributed on all major podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music and more. The show will include game analysis, expert picks, and general sports talk, and can be accessed at mohegansun.com/sportsbooklive. Fans interested in viewing the live show can make reservations through UrVenue.

Sportsbook Live from Mohegan Sun will also cover the MLB playoff stretch, the NBA and other major sports.

Chamber News

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its First Friday Meet & Greet hosted at Foundry 66 from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at 66 Franklin St., Norwich. To register, visit https://web.norwichchamber.com/atlas/events/11035/register.

For more information, email email info@norwichchamber.com (or call 860-887-1647).

Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut and Ocean Beach Park have been named recipients of the 2024 Military Community Support Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. The award is presented annually to businesses or organizations that go above and beyond to support and recognize the contributions of military personnel in the community.

Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut has consistently provided support to the military community through projects like the R.E.D. Friday Veteran’s Build, launched in September 2023. This initiative honors the anniversary of Sept. 11 and has grown into a monthly event, with volunteers from the U.S. Navy Sub School and other military organizations participating in various projects.

Ocean Beach Park, under the leadership of General Manager Dave Sugrue, hosts a Military Appreciation Day each year, offering free admission to over 550 military personnel and their families. This year marked the 7th Annual Military Appreciation Day, a special occasion that brings together active-duty service members, veterans, and their loved ones for a day of fun, relaxation, and recognition.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut also presented the Service Person of the Year award to MU1 Robert Durie, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Band who has volunteered over 60 hours recently with local school music programs.

A Military Appreciation Breakfast is planned Friday, Sept. 27, at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton. To attend, visit https://info.chamberect.com/events/details/13th-annual-military-appreciation-breakfast-12786 or contact the chamber at 860-701-9113.

State News

As teachers and students head back to class, a new Connecticut Education Association Back-to-School Survey highlights persistent and worsening challenges plaguing educators, students, and public education.

The survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction among educators related to teacher shortages, low pay, stress, lack of respect, and growing concerns about student mental health and behavior, according to CEA President Kate Dias.

Top concerns heading into the 2024-2025 school year were:

• Stress and burnout (97% of educators surveyed)

• Lack of respect/educators not treated as professionals (91%)

• Problems with student discipline (89%)

• Student mental health issues (88%)

• Low educator salaries (85%). That number jumps up to 98% in urban districts.

Overall, 69% of teachers express dissatisfaction with the conditions in public education and among special education teachers and in urban areas the percentages are higher, at 81% and 85% respectively.

The majority (70%) of teachers overall and 93% in urban districts say their current salary is not commensurate with their level of education. Forty percent report having second jobs, most either to cover everyday expenses or to manage extra costs such as their student loans or their children’s college education.

To view complete survey results, visit cea.org.

The Buzz is a weekly roundup of business news compiled by Business Editor Lee Howard. To get in The Buzz, email businessbriefs@theday.com. To easily access urls cited in print, go to www.theday.com and type “The Buzz” into the search bar.