Business Leadership Series Continues with Reputation MADE

Registration is now open for Reputation MADE, the third statewide event in Connecticut’s MADE Leadership Series.

Hosted by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in partnership with CBIA, WTNH, WICC, and the Hartford Business Journal the series brings public and private sector leaders together to explore how to create economic opportunity across the state.

Featuring leading voices in marketing and communications, Reputation MADE will take place on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at UConn Stamford from 11:30 am to 3 pm

The event is designed to equip businesses, nonprofits, and public officials with the tools they need to stand out in today’s nonstop, 24/7 media ecosystem, state officials said.

“Connecticut is a state of bold ideas, but bold ideas only matter if people hear them,” said Gov. Ned Lamont.

“We’ve seen that in our own state, which is standing tall lately with recent national recognition, whether for our world-class education system, quality healthcare, basketball, and yes, even apizza.”

Program Overview

“In today’s crowded and fast-changing media environment, standing out requires more than a good story—it requires strategy, authenticity, and the ability to connect,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima.

“We appreciate the state’s approach to bringing together businesses, nonprofit, and government leaders to foster collaboration and advance our common interests.”

DECD Commissioner Dan O’Keefe added that “marketing and quality communication are some of the most valuable assets an organization or individual can have.”

“Standing out requires more than a good story—it requires strategy, authenticity, and the ability to connect.”

CBIA’s Chris DiPentima

“With our ongoing MADE program, we’re creating a platform where everyone can learn the skills necessary to lead their team, organization, and community into a crowded national and international marketplace and get ahead with actionable strategies,” he said.

Reputation MADE opens with nearly an hour of lunch and high impact networking, followed by an hour-long general session hosted by WTNH’s Kathryn Hauser.

The session will include a keynote on navigating the media landscape—how shifting news cycles, influencers, and the demand for authenticity are reshaping how brands and leaders earn attention today.

A panel discussion of top Connecticut-based chief communications and marketing officers will focus on strategies for standing out in the media.

Specialized Breakout Sessions

After the general session, attendees can then “pick their own adventure” through specialized breakout classes, with practical workshops on topics such as:

• Behind the Headlines: How to do PR on Any Budget, led by Michelle Bonner, three-time Emmy Award winning journalist from Adams and Knight.
• Resonance > Reach: How to Connect More Deeply with Audiences, led by Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer.
• Building Effective Influencer Partnerships, led by Kathleen Roche, content creator and founder of Connecticut Bucketlist.
• Making a Difference One on One: Community Impact, led by Brandon McGee, CEO of the Connecticut Social Equity Council.
• Turning Experience Into Influence: Leading Through Advocacy, led by Paul Mounds, Jr., vice president of community, corporate, and government relations at Yale New Haven Health.

Launched earlier this year, the quarterly MADE Leadership Series is open to the public.

Previous MADE events—Talent MADE in East Hartford at Rentschler Field and Innovation MADE at the Yale Innovation Summit—included statewide leaders across industries who focused on workforce and innovation.