A Message from our President |
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Dear Chamber Member,
I'm so grateful for everyone who helped to make our Naugatuck Chamber and Naugatuck YMCA Golf Outing on June 27 such a great success. You can see some photos from the event and learn more about the day from our Board of Directors Chairman, Kevin McSherry, below.
Our next Out for Business networking event will take place this Wednesday, July 20 at Develomark in Plantsville. Come enjoy some food, beverages, networking with other Chamber Members, and get the chance to win one of several door prizes. including a $100 Amazon gift card thanks to Develomark! Additional details are below; you can register here.
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to me and share how we can support your business at lward@waterburychamber.com or (203) 757-0701.
Thank you for your continued membership,
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- President's Note
- Chairman's Corner
- Naugatuck Chamber and YMCA Golf Tournament Recap
- Member Benefit Highlight
- Upcoming Events
- HR Corner Corner by Carmody, Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP
- Hiring and Training Programs Available
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Naugatuck Board of Directors Chairman's Corner |
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28th Annual Naugatuck Chamber & YMCA Golf Outing Recap |
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The winning team consisted of Spencer Korona, Mike Bronko, Adam Bronko, and Dan Bronko. Congratulations! |
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Dear Chamber Members,
Thank you to everyone who attended the 28th Annual Naugatuck Chamber and Naugatuck YMCA Golf Outing at the Watertown Golf Club on Monday, June 27. Despite some passing rain showers, everyone had a wonderful day out on the course!
I am especially grateful to the Golf Committee, especially co-chair Ron Pugliese of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation, as well as Sherri Beck of the Naugatuck YMCA; Timothy Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini PC, Mark LaFortune of the Naugatuck YMCA; Kathy (McPadden) Brocchausen of Ion Bank; Laurie Rogers; William Mis of The Arthur G. Russell Company; and Pedro Pires of Chittenden Group, for all of their efforts to make the day a great success.
Thank you also to our generous sponsors: Breakfast Sponsor, The Watermark at East Hill; Lunch Sponsor, ION Bank; Gift Sponsor, Diversified Financial Solutions; and Cart Sponsors: Re/Max Rise and We Do Life…Together, A Division of ICES, Inc. and Air Cannon Sponsor McSherry Law Office.
Thank you also to the Drink Tent Sponsors: Drew International, Festo USA, The Rubber Ducky, and Stutsky Law LLC; Snack Bar Sponsor, Luso Cleaning Services, and Putting Green Sponsors: Ferrari’s Appliance, Attorney Timothy Fitzpatrick, HESCO, McCormack Insurance Agency – State Farm, Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers, and Zackin, Zimyeski, Sullivan, CPA, LLC.
We are also grateful to the Hole-In-One Prize Sponsors, Chittenden Group and J&M Automotive Sales & Service; Sign Sponsor: Corporate Display Specialties, Inc.; and to all our Tee and Green sponsors!
Your support will benefit both the Naugatuck Chamber and our ongoing efforts, as well as the Naugatuck YMCA in providing Naugatuck families with the Y’s wide array of services.
The Naugatuck Chamber benefits tremendously from being part of the Waterbury Regional Chamber. Lynn Ward, President of the Waterbury Regional Chamber and the Naugatuck Chamber and her staff provide Naugatuck's businesses with information pertaining the issues facing Connecticut businesses, work with other chamber members to help find services within our organization and provide great assistance helping businesses move into the future better prepared to meet the next challenges.
The Naugatuck Chamber serves as a conduit to bringing business people together and advance our community. I hope to see you at an upcoming event! Be sure to save the date for Thursday, September 22, when we will be hosting an Out for Business networking event at Ion Bank (1432 New Haven Road) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Stay tuned for additional details!
Kevin H. McSherry
McSherry Law Office
Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board
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Health Care Council - Health Matters Special Supplement Coming September 2022 |
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Are you a member of the Health Care Council? The mission of the Health Care Council is to provide healthcare resources and information to our employers, employees, individuals, and healthcare professionals. The Council also provides networking opportunities, the opportunity to hear directly from leaders from within the industry and works as an advocate to identify issues and establish a healthcare legislative agenda for presentation to the Public Policy Committee of the Waterbury Regional Chamber.
When you are a member of the Health Care Council, your organization will be listed in our Health Matters supplement, which is printed twice a year. The next Health Matters will be published on September 18 and distributed to more than 30,000 households and businesses in the region. The cost to join the Council is $50 per year. For more information, contact Mandy Allen-Fischer, Finance and Member Relations Director at 203-757-0701, Ext. 306.
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The Waterbury Regional Chamber invites both Chamber members and potential new members to its next Out for Business networking event, taking place on Wednesday, July 20 at Develomark in Plantsville.
The event, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., gives attendees the opportunity to mingle, network, and enjoy food from Café Bravado and drinks in the historic Clark Brothers factory that’s located in the Plantsville section of Plainville. Attendees will also have the chance to win some door prizes. Also, as part of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with Develomark’s digital marketing experts for a free, five-minute website audit to gain on-the-spot insight on the design, content, and functionality of your company website.
The Out for Business is sponsored by the event host: Develomark, a full-service design, search, and advertising agency that was founded in 2017. Over the last five years, the company has grown from a one-man operation into a robust team that includes expert graphic designers, content writers, account managers, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) specialists. The company offers a comprehensive approach to digital marketing to enable local businesses to build their brand and attract customers in their communities. Develomark has helped small and medium-sized businesses across the country hone their digital strategy through website design, SEO, content marketing, and paid advertising. In 2021, the company moved in a newly-renovated, open concept office space in Plantsville. The building also houses The Network Salon and Yoga, Kinsmen Brewing Company, Brooke Team at eXp Realty, and others. For more information about the company, visit: www.develomark.com
The cost for members to attend is $25. Potential members are welcome to visit one Out for Business as a guest of the Chamber. Please contact the Chamber to register.
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2022 Honorees:
Leadership Award: Joan Doback, Chief Physician Assistant, Bone Health Coordinator, Waterbury Hospital
Unsung Hero Award: Derri Hamilton, RN, MSN, Program Director of Behavioral Health, Saint Mary’s Hospital/Trinity Health of New England
and April Waterman, RN, Head Nurse, ICES, Inc./We Do Life… Together
Award for Organizational Excellence: Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center
Health Advocate Award: Mayor N. Warren (Pete) Hess, Borough of Naugatuck, for his efforts to to re-invigorate the Naugatuck Ambulance, Inc., a non-profit organization that was previously in financial distress, short staffed, and using unreliable vehicles. Under his leadership, the organization is now operating one year later as a world-class EMS agency.
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Share your business events, news and announcements with your fellow Chamber members! Email David Huck with your latest news to share in an upcoming newsletter or on social media.
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HR Corner: Time to Revisit Policies and Practices to Prevent Workplace Violence |
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One the most important obligations that employers have is to provide a safe workplace and preventing workplace violence is at the top of the list. In fact, according to the federal OSHA, acts of violence are the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States.
Sadly, there have been numerous incidents of workplace violence recently that have involved gun violence. These incidents have garnered significant media attention. Regardless of any employer’s personal views on how society should address gun violence, taking steps to prevent any form violence in the workplace—whether involving guns or not—is not debatable. It is not only a moral obligation, but also a legal one as both federal and Connecticut laws require every employer to provide a safe workplace.
Now is a good time for every employer to revisit their workplace policies and practices regarding workplace violence. Below is a checklist of some critical steps that employers should consider:
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Have a Written Policy: Every employer should have a written policy stating that workplace violence will not be tolerated. The policy should properly define what constitutes the “workplace” (e.g., parking lots, business trips, etc.) and provide diverse examples of violent behavior, including physical and verbal acts of violence (e.g., assault, threats, verbal harassment, etc.). The policy should state prohibit acts of workplace violence from any source including employees, customers/clients, vendors/contractors and visitors. And the policy should encourage employees to report their concerns utilizing a clear process for doing so and with assurance that employees will not be subject to retaliation.
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Investigate Claims of Violence. Employers must promptly and thoroughly investigate concerns or incidents of workplace violence, and in some cases, contact local authorities.
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Consider Criminal Background Checks For New Hires. Employers should strongly consider conducting criminal background checks for new hires. In doing so, employers must be mindful that the EEOC discourages employers from being overly aggressive in banning applicants with a criminal history. Instead, the EEOC encourages employers to make an individualized assessment of all the facts and circumstances in making a hiring decision.
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Ban Weapons in the Workplace. Employers have a right in Connecticut to ban weapons in the workplace.
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Review Workplace Practices and Physical Security Measures. Consider having an alarm system and specific policies and practices surrounding building access (e.g., electronic badges, tracking visitors and limiting workplace access for non-employees, use of surveillance cameras, communication system for emergencies, and well-lit perimeter and parking areas).
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Recognize Warning Signs. Be aware of some recognized warning signs (e.g., employees who excessively discuss weapons, appear despondent, and/or expresses anger), but not prejudge someone without an adequate basis.
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Employee Assistance Provider (EAP). Many employees are under a great deal of stress for a variety of reasons. Referring an employee to an EAP could be helpful in promoting employee mental health and wellness and addressing personal issues that could impact the workplace.
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Training. Provide training to key managers on the Company’s policy and tips for spotting and addressing incidents of workplace violence.
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Terminating a Potentially Volatile Employee. Employers who have a reasonable basis to believe that an employee may become violent should take extra security precautions, such as having a security firm present or putting local authorities on notice. In some cases, it may be prudent to conduct an employee meeting by video or phone.
While these points provide common guidance, each employer must evaluate their specific circumstances in determining the steps they should take to provide a safe workplace. To this end, it may be helpful to establish a committee to provide reasonable recommendations.
If you have questions about what you can do to improve your employee retention, contact a member of Carmody’s Labor and Employment team.
This information is for educational purposes only to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.
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Hiring & Training Programs Available |
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Do you need help finding qualified workers for your business? Could you use some financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring and training new workers, or training your existing workforce?
The Waterbury Regional Chamber is working with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investments Board to help businesses in Greater Waterbury learn more about the available hiring and training programs and whether they qualify for them. This includes providing information on posting jobs on the states CThires.com website, as well as information about Manufacturing Innovation Fund Incumbent Worker Training, the apprenticeship program, hiring veterans and on-the-job training programs.
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