CBIA BizCast: Driving Connecticut Forward

Continuous improvement is a principle that’s shaped HABCO Industries president and CEO Brian Montanari’s career—one that spans driving forklifts to leading an aerospace company.

Today, as CBIA’s recently elected board chair, he applies that principle to strengthen Connecticut’s business community.

“I definitely have a lot of passion for Connecticut—for making Connecticut a better place for my employees, for their families,” Montanari tells the CBIA BizCast.

Montanari joined HABCO in 2007 and became president and CEO in 2012.

The company operates in the aerospace aftermarket, providing service and maintenance for commercial and defense partners.

Aerospace Legacy

“It’s really cool when you take a look at what we do,” Montanari said.

“Very rarely can you look at any aircraft—commercial or military—that we don’t touch in some way,” he said.

“It’s my responsibility to make sure that those employees continue to feel valued.”

HABCO’s Brian Montanari

Montanari is proud to lead a company with a 55-year legacy.

“When I look at some of the employees that have been there for longer than 40 years—at least half the business has been there longer than me, that means a lot,” he said.

“And so now it’s my responsibility, and it’s my team’s responsibility, to make sure that those employees continue to feel valued, provide value and make HABCO a place that they want to retire.”

Getting Involved

Montanari’s passion for his team and Connecticut drove his involvement with growing the next generation of the workforce.

That includes teaching classes at Eastern Connecticut State University and serving on the boards of organizations like CBIA and CONNSTEP.

“If I’m going to dedicate my time to an organization, I want to give it my all.”

Montanari

“If you’re gonna open your mouth, if you’re gonna say something, if you’re gonna have an opinion, then if you finally have a forum to be able to do something about it, do it,” he said.

It was that mentality that pushed Montanari to take a more active role on CBIA’s board.

“If I’m going to dedicate my time to an organization, I want to give it my all, and I want to make a difference,” he notes.

Continuous Improvement

As board chair, Montanari said his priorities include workforce development and housing.

Ultimately, he aims to make Connecticut more affordable for businesses.

“It doesn’t need to be legislation for companies versus employees, it doesn’t need to be in us versus them,” he said. “They can be one and the same.”

“It’s about continuous improvement.”

Montanari

Montanari said by the end of his term, he hopes to have helped move the state forward.

“You can’t win. It’s nothing to win,” Montanari said. “It’s about continuous improvement.

“If businesses grow, we create jobs. If we create jobs, then we help families flourish.

“If families flourish, then the communities are going to flourish, the communities flourish, then the state becomes a better place.”

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