CBIA Membership Elects New Board Members

11.16.2023
Media Center
CBIA’s newly elected board members bring a wealth of expertise and “a passion to see our state thrive and grow.”

The membership of CBIA, the state’s largest business organization, has elected 15 new members to its board of directors.

The group is composed of business leaders from across the state, representing a wide range of industry sectors and sizes.

The election results were announced at CBIA’s annual meeting in Hartford on Nov. 15. The new directors begin serving their four-year terms Dec. 1.

“Unlocking Connecticut’s incredible potential means leveraging all our competitive advantages, building on successes, and addressing challenges head on,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima.

“These business leaders bring a wealth of expertise and a passion to see our state thrive and grow.

“Having the perspectives, insights, and ideas from such a diverse and engaged group is critical to driving our efforts to build a sustainable economy that provides meaningful opportunities for all current and future Connecticut residents.”

New Directors

2024 CBIA Board of Directors
Top Row, from left to right: Chris Allen, Alison Avery, Michael Brooder, Jennifer Collier, Shawn Coyne. Middle Row: Michele Etzel, Meg Galistinos, Aida Habtezion, Molly Kellogg, Chris Levesque. Bottom Row: Gina Luari, Brian Montanari, Pablo Prieto, Glendowlyn Thames, Emily Wiper.

The new directors are:

  • Chris Allen, CEO, iCleanse
  • Alison Avery, President and CEO, BYK USA Inc.
  • Michael Brooder, Hartford Office Managing Partner, Marcum LLP
  • Jennifer Collier, President, Health and Risk Solutions, Sun Life
  • Shawn Coyne, Vice President, Human Resources, General Dynamics Electric Boat
  • Michele Etzel, CEO, National Enterprise Solutions; SVP and CFO, National Graphics Inc.
  • Meg Galistinos, Partner, Connecticut Office Leader, Mercer
  • Aida Habtezion, Chief Medical Officer and Head, Worldwide Medical and Safety, Pfizer Inc.
  • Molly Kellogg, Chair, President, and CEO, Hubbard-Hall Inc.
  • Chris Levesque, Principal, Forecuity LLC
  • Gina Luari, Founder and CEO, The Statement Group
  • Brian Montanari, President and CEO, HABCO Industries Inc.
  • Pablo Prieto, Partner, McKinsey & Company
  • Glendowlyn Thames, Head of Economic Development and Public Policy, Connecticut and New York, Amazon
  • Emily Wiper, Vice President and General Manager, New England, AT&T

The board will elect a new chair to succeed JPMorgan Chase executive Matt McSpedon at its Dec. 6 meeting.

McSpedon will remain on the board as the immediate past chair. He is also joining the board of CBIA affiliate ReadyCT.


CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state. For more information, please contact Scott Beaulieu (860.244.1929).

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