Pulse of the Region

We’re celebrating the start of Greater Hartford Theater Week with a special bonus episode of Pulse of the Region! Amanda Perry, CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and Cynthia Rider, Managing Director at Hartford Stage, join us to share everything you need to know about Theater Week, running October 1–18. From BOGO ticket deals and giveaways to spectacular performances across the region, the...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re previewing Insuring the Future, taking place October 29 in Hartford, Connecticut—the Insurance Capital of the World. Hosted by Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services (CT IFS) and the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), the summit will convene industry leaders to discuss what’s next for insurance. Joining us are Commissioner Josh Hershman from the C...

This week on the MetroHartford Alliance’s Pulse ofthe Region podcast, we’re joined by Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Executive Director Lauren Zevetchin and HYPE Leadership Committee members Malaika Dewes from Trinity Health of New York, Sam Tapper from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and Melina Floyd from United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut . T...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Major Donald Spencer, Greater Hartford Area Services Coordinator; Michael Baldelli, Public Relations and Marketing Manager; and Erin Sieczkowski, Advisory Board Chair of The Salvation Army of Greater Hartford. The group provides an overview of The Salvation Army’s services within our city and highlights the Marshall House Family Shelter in Hartford...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Tiffany Morrissey, Executive Director of the Connecticut Health Council (CHC), and Paula Greenberg, President and CEO of Women’s Health Connecticut. Tiffany and Paula discuss CHC’s annual summit, The Changing Landscape of Women’s Health, taking place September 16 at the 1635 Club at Hartford Athletic. Women’s Health Connecticut is serving as a Pres...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Hartford Public Library (HPL) President and CEO Bridget Quinn, Hartford History Center and Digital Library Lab Manager Leon Ha, and HPL Studios Manager Aaron Hillard. Bridget, Leon, and Aaron provide an overview of Hartford Public Library and discuss how HPL serves as much more than a traditional library. They also highlight innovative spaces withi...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Will Wilkins, Executive Director, and Winnie Wong, Director of Marketing and Communications at Real Art Ways. Will and Winnie discuss Real Art Ways’ role as a cultural anchor in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, reflect on its 50-year history, and share updates on the organization’s expansion project, set for completion in mid-2027. Pulse of the R...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director of  Hartford Stage . Melia shares a preview of the 2026/2027 lineup of plays and discusses how theatre serves as both an economic driver and a powerful way to bring people together, regardless of background. Pulse of the Region is recorded at  and produced in partnership with the .

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by BJ Kito, President and CSO of Rebellion Group, and Grant Flannery, Head of Strategy. BJ and Grant explore how AI is transforming the workplace, from using tools to better understand customers more efficiently to applying strong judgment in asking the right questions and expanding what AI can do. They also discuss the AI tools currently in developme...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Rob Ruggiero, Artistic Director at TheaterWorks Hartford. Rob reflects on the success of the 25/26 Season as it comes to a close—a milestone year that marked TheaterWorks’ 40th anniversary. He also offers a preview of the 26/27 Season, which opens October 8 and features a diverse lineup of stories centered on family dynamics. Learn more about Theat...

This week on Pulse of the Region, Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Executive Director Lauren Zevetchin hosts a reunion of HYPE leaders from across the past 20 years—founder Julie Daly Meehan, former Executive Director Kim Bishop (2016-2018), 2015 Chair Adam McLaughlin, and current Ambassador Saskia Butler. Tune in as the group revisits HYPE’s evolution and shares exciting de...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we discuss Hartford's thriving arts scene with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and TJ Noel-Sullivan, Founder and Director/Producer of the  Hartford Film Company . We dive into what the state's burgeoning film industry looks like today, its workforce development potential as the ecosystem continues to disperse across the country, and ways to watch CT-made...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we are joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers; Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship; Robin Kulasekararaj, Portfolio Head of the Insurance Business Unit at Cognizant; and David Griggs, President and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance. Andy and Nathan return to discuss the Travelers C...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers, and Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship. Andy and Nathan take us inside what to expect at this year’s Travelers Championship, returning June 22–28 to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. They share updates that will elevate the fan experie...

On this week’s bonus episode of Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Brenda Watson, Executive Director of the North Hartford Partnership, and Patrick McKenna, the Partnership’s Director of Sustainability & Real Estate. Brenda and Patrick share updates on major initiatives underway at the North Hartford Partnership, including the new Climate Resiliency Hub, expanded sustainability projects, and...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, and Joe Gianni, President of Bank of America Greater Hartford. Jason shares a closer look at food insecurity across Connecticut and why summer can be especially challenging as children lose access to school meals and volunteer availability declines. We also explore Bank of America’s lo...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Jeannette Dardenne, Owner and Creator of Opportunity at INgroup Creative; Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO at Connecticut Foodshare; and Matt Bannister, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Sponsorships at PeoplesBank. Jeannette, Jason, and Matt share a preview of what to expect at Hartford Taste—from food and music to art and com...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Taneisha Duggan from the City of Hartford’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, and Shannon Frost, the city's Director of Marketing Operations, Special Events, and Special Projects. Taneisha and Shannon share an inside look at Hartford’s upcoming Long Weekend celebration, taking place July 1–5 in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The m...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Lauren Zevetchin, Executive Director at Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE); Bruce Soltys, Vice President of Emerging Talent at Travelers; Angela Pannesco, Engineering Development Program Manager at Travelers; and Kaleigh Scarfo, HR Specialist at Nassau. With summer approaching, the Hartford Region is preparing to welcome thousa...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Leadership Advisor, Speaker, and Coach Andi Campbell. Andi also recently founded SELENE, a women's leadership collective for experienced women leaders in Connecticut. In this episode, Andi breaks down the concept of imposter syndrome, a topic she has been researching for her upcoming book set to be released this fall. She explores how imposter...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by KeyBank's Michael Astorino, Home Lending Leader, CT/MA, and Elona Shape, Retail Leader, CT/MA. Michael and Elona discuss consumer sentiment and the results of KeyBank's financial mobility survey, how economic realities are impacting homebuyers, and tips on how to navigate finances and buying a home in an uncertain economy. Pulse of the Regi...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re taking a look behind the curtain with two of Hartford’s most influential creative forces: Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director at Hartford Stage, and Rob Ruggiero, Artistic Director at TheaterWorks Hartford. Melia and Rob will take us inside their upcoming spring productions—Circus Fire at TheaterWorks and Native Gardens at Hartford Stage—revealing the stories...

This week on the MetroHartford Alliance's Pulse of the Region Cast, we're exploring the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) and how they're celebrating 60 years of providing high-quality, integrated education for all students. We're joined by Executive Director Desi Nesmith and Superintendent of CREC Schools, Sasha Douglas. Learn more about The CREC Foundation Learn more about...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we're welcoming two women-owned businesses operating here in our capital city. Emily Walsh, Co-Owner of the first and only btone FITNESS in Connecticut, Emily Munoz, btone FITNESS instructor, and Chantell Boissiere Kelly, Owner, Capital Ice Cream . We discuss how these unique businesses have grown from their initial inception and how both entrepreneurs are cre...

This week on Pulse of the Region, we're discussing 860Gives, a 48-hour community-wide fundraising campaign powered by United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. Here to discuss 860Gives are Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, Corrianne Chipello, CEO of Hartford's Camp Courant, and Carolyn Jasper, Chief Development Officer of Pruden...