Gilda Serves as Emcee for WBDC's Women Owned Business Day

 It was an honor to serve as Emcee for the Women's Business Development Council's Women Owned Business Day in Hartford! It was a standing room only crowd - the largest ever!

Thanks to the leaders in our state who joined the Host Committee to lend their support to WBDC and the entrepreneurs they serve, including Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Honorary Co-Chairs Senator Patricia Billie Miller and Senator Heather Somers.

For the first time ever, this event also included an Accelerate Grant pitch competition, where seven women entrepreneurs presented to a panel of judges, for the opportunity to win one of four $25,000 Accelerate Grants!

Honorary Co-Chair Senator Patricia Billie Miller, WBDC CEO Fran Pastore, Governor Ned Lamont & Honorary Co-Chair Senator Heather Somers

Introducing Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff

Accelerate Grant Pitch Finalists: L to R: Donna LaFata, A&D Equipment, Guilford; Genna Riggi, Artlighten, Watertown; Kiara Matos, Kiara Matos Studio, New Haven; Rachael Wagner, Kinney Lane Foods, New Canaan; Lauryn Soden, STEMS + CO, Norwalk; Barbara Dune, OD, Serenity-I-Care, Hartford and Gleanna Doyle, Rhodes Collar, Stonington

A standing room only crowd - the largest ever!

Inside the Legislative Office Building

Photos courtesy of Aviva Maller
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