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For Immediate Release
CBIA NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) Board of Directors today announced the promotion of John R. Rathgeber to president and CEO of the state’s largest business organization, effective Jan. 1, 2006. The announcement was made at the Board of Directors’ December meeting. Rathgeber succeeds Kenneth O. Decko, who after 35 years with CBIA - 26 of them as president - announced his retirement last year. “John has provided exceptional and dedicated leadership during the transition, which has been going on since Ken’s retirement announcement last year,” said John Klein, outgoing chairman of the CBIA Board of Directors and chairman, president and CEO of People’s Bank in Bridgeport. “The board felt it was time to make the transition final and put John in the top position, and lead the state’s business community into the new year,” said Klein. “Having worked with John for many years, I am pleased that my final role as CBIA board chairman is to make this announcement and help move CBIA into a new era of leadership. I am confident that John and his team will continue their great work to help make businesses successful and competitive in Connecticut,” said Klein. Rathgeber, who lives in Kensington, joined CBIA in 1977 as a staff attorney, and has served in a number of positions for the organization. Last year, Rathgeber added chief operating officer to his executive vice president role, and has been in charge of CBIA’s overall operations including public policy, Service Corp. and administration. He also served as corporate secretary of CBIA, the association’s Service Corp. and the CBIA Education Foundation. He received a political science degree from Colgate University in 1972. He then earned his law degree with honors at Suffolk University Law School in 1976, and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar that same year. Rathgeber has also served on legislative and executive branch study committees on state tax policy, tort reform, campaign financing and the environment. “This is a time of great change and challenges for Connecticut’s business community,” said Rathgeber. “I am looking forward to building on the legacy left by Ken and hope to play a significant and influential role in fostering innovative partnerships between state government and businesses to help meet the needs and challenges of Connecticut businesses in today’s global economy.” CBIA’s new board chairman, Roger Joyce, vice president of engineering at The Bilco Co., in West Haven, said John is the ideal person to take the business community to the next level. “John has a wealth of experience, strong leadership skills, and a clear strategic vision for CBIA and its members ,” said Joyce. He has been instrumental in providing policies for the association. As the new board chairman, I look forward to working with John as we broaden and strengthen business objectives and shape Connecticut’s future.” The Board of Directors also elected Joseph F. Brennan, CBIA’s senior vice president of public policy, to secretary of CBIA and the CBIA Education Foundation, positions formerly held by Rathgeber. He was also named secretary of the CBIA Service Corp. by its board. The Board of Directors also named Decko senior adviser to the president and CEO. He will remain with CBIA until his retirement on Oct. 31, 2006. “I will miss the organization and the many wonderful people that I have had the opportunity to work with and the important public policy work we do at CBIA,” said Decko. “The association is in good hands with John. He has a clear understanding of business needs as well as the workings of the legislature and can help move us into the future.” “For nearly four decades Ken has been a tireless advocate for Connecticut’s business community. He has been a driving force in the success of CBIA, and responsible for the tremendous growth of CBIA’s products and services, which Connecticut companies have come to rely on. We are grateful for his service and dedication, and we are confident that John will follow his footsteps and continue serving the needs of Connecticut businesses in the years to come,” said Klein. CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members. ### For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com. 350 Church
Street · Hartford, CT 06103-1126 · cbia.com/newsroom
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