Investors

Help Shape Connecticut's Economic Future

Becoming an investor in the CBIA Foundation means joining a select group of business leaders who are actively influencing the policies, workforce strategies, and economic conditions that determine the future of Connecticut Businesses.

Connecticut’s business environment is changing rapidly—workforce shortages, rising costs, regulatory pressure, and demographic shifts are redefining what it takes to stay competitive.

Your investment supports:

  • Forward-looking research that informs smarter policy decisions

  • Workforce development initiatives that strengthen the talent pipeline

  • Data-driven insights business leaders use before changes become mandates

  • Long-term economic strategies that protect and grow Connecticut employers

While others wait to see what happens next, investors help shape what happens next.

Your investment doesn’t just benefit your organization. It strengthens the entire business ecosystem Connecticut employers rely on.

CBIA Foundation initiatives help ensure:

  • A skilled, ready workforce for years to come

  • Policies grounded in real-world business data

  • A competitive climate that attracts and retains employers

  • Long-term economic growth across industries and regions

When Connecticut businesses thrive, investors are the ones who made it possible.

Foundation Steering Committees

The CBIA Foundation advances Connecticut’s economy through three steering committees: Business Climate, improving the state’s regulatory and tax environment; Workforce & Education, connecting employers with skilled talent; and Housing, addressing availability and affordability. These committees bring leaders together to guide research, shape policy, and drive long-term growth.

Dustin Nord, as director of the Foundation, oversees each committee, guiding their work, coordinating research, and ensuring their recommendations align with the Foundation’s mission to drive long-term growth.

Wyatt Bosworth
Manager

Amazon

Chuck Bunnell
Deputy Chief of Staff

Mohegan Sun

Foster Charles
Founder & CEO

Charles IT

Shawn Coyne
VP, Human Resources

Electric Boat Corp.

Kathryn Dias
President

Connecticut Education Association

Michele Etzel
CEO & Founder

National Enterprise Solutions

Thomas Haynes
Owner/President

Haynes Group

Tariq Islam
Chief of Staff

AI Engineers

Luke Kettles
President & CEO

Windsor Federal

Kevin Leahy
President & CEO

Connecticut Wealth Management, LLC

Steve Nocera
Senior Manager

Accenture LLP

Russ Stevens
President & CEO

EMCOR Services New England Mechanical

John Turgeon
Managing Director

Cohn Reznick LLP

Jeff White
Partner

Robinson+Cole

Jennifer Widness
President

CT Conference of Independent Colleges

Questions?

For more information or to get involved, please contact foundation director Dustin Nord

Dustin Nord, 2024
Dustin Nord
Foundation Director

WE WORK TO BOOST THE STATE'S COMPETITIVENESS AND ITS ABILITY TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND TALENTED PEOPLE.