For Immediate Release
Dec. 11, 2008

 

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ALINABAL HOLDINGS IN MILFORD ELECTED TO CHAIR CBIA BOARD

 

Samuel S. Bergami Jr., president and CEO of Alinabal Holdings Corp. in Milford, was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) yesterday. He will serve a one-year term, succeeding Charles W. Shivery, chairman, president and CEO of Northeast Utilities.

CBIA's board also elected Peter B. Kent, chairman and CEO of Bicron Electronics, in Canaan, as vice chairman.

"We are very pleased to have Sam and Peter lead our board,” said John R. Rathgeber, CBIA president and CEO. “During these tough economic times, their knowledge and experience handling fiscal challenges at their own companies are greatly needed. They will help lead the board in advancing policies to restore fiscal responsibility in state government and promote a state business climate that allows businesses to continue to compete and create good jobs.”

Samuel S. Bergami Jr.

Bergami began his career at Alinabal in 1965 as a tool and die apprentice. He held many positions over the years, and in 1992 became president, CEO and co-owner of Alinabal Holdings Corp. Alinabal Holdings Corp. is the parent company of Alinabal Inc. (which consists of two strategic business units - the Motion Transfer Device Group and the Engineered Products Group), Practical Automation Inc., Daco Instrument Co. and Sterling Screw Machine Co.

Prior to joining Alinabal, Bergami founded two small businesses in Milford, Saber Electrical Supply and Milford Electrical Contractors.
Over the past 35 years, Bergami has been involved in numerous community organizations and activities. Presently, he is a trustee of the Milford Bank, chairman of the board at the University of New Haven, a member and treasurer of the board of directors at Milford Hospital, chairman and co-founder of the Milford Columbus Committee, treasurer of Milford Progress Inc., and vice chairman of the Milford Finance Board. He is a past president and member of Milford Kiwanis, the Milford Chamber of Commerce, and the Milford United Way.

Bergami has received many awards for his contributions to the community and his work with the business community. In 1993 he was named “Businessperson of the Year” by the Milford Chamber of Commerce and “Small Business Person of the Year” in 1996 by the Connecticut Small Business Administration. In 1998, Success magazine ranked Bergami's Alinabal Holdings Corp. 48th out of 100 top entrepreneurial organizations in the country. In 2007 Bergami was inducted into the Southwest New England Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

He earned an executive M.B.A. from the University of New Haven. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in business by the University of New Haven . Bergami and his wife, Lois, live in Milford.

Peter B. Kent

Kent worked in all areas of the business before becoming vice president of sales at Bicron. He was named president and CEO in 1989, and chairman in 2003. Prior to joining Bicron Electronics in 1972, Kent worked at G&C Merriman Co., in Springfield, Mass.

Kent received a B.A. degree from the University of Vermont. He took additional educational courses at the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College; the Business School at Stanford University; and Northwestern Connecticut Community and Technical College. Kent also participated in programs offered through the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), the American Management Association (AMA), and the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS).

Kent currently serves on the board of directors at the Canaan Community Trust and CBIA's Manufacturers Advisory Council. He is a trustee of the Bicron Foundation, and the president of the Transformer Association, and has been a member of the industry trade association since 2004. He is a past board member of Sharon Hospital, Manutech Inc., the Canaan Foundation, the Northwestern Hills Partnership for Progress, and the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

Kent received the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce “Person of the Year” award in 1995, for community involvement, and contributions to the business environment and to the overall improvement in the quality of life in northwest Connecticut.

He lives in Lakeville with his wife, Alice, and has two children.

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CBIA is the state's largest business organization, with 10,000 member companies.

Editor's Note: High resolution JPEG photographs are available by contacting Nancy Andrews, CBIA Media Relations Manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

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