Last week the Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) released its second annual Power 50 class, which brings together the Greater Hartford business community. The leaders selected come from a variety of backgrounds and industries. This year’s class showcases a few familiar members from the Department of Public Policy (DPP) network!

UConn President Thomas Katsouleas was listed as number eight for the 2021 class. President Katsouleas was praised for expanding innovation and entrepreneurship at the University during a pandemic. His actions contributed to his pre-pandemic plans for the University. 

Professor Sara Bronin, an affiliated faculty member of the DPP, was listed at number nine. HBJ highlight’s Professor Bronin as a Rhodes Scholar, Yale Law School alum and former chair of the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission. She is currently a professor at UConn Law and a licensed architect. Professor Bronin shares the number nine spot with her husband Luke Bronin who serves as Mayor of Hartford. 

Master of Public Administration (MPA) alum Melissa McCaw serves as the Secretary of the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. She moved up one spot to number twenty-three after being named to the 2020 Power 50 class. Over the next few months she will champion and lobby for Governor Lamont’s recent budget plan. 

HBJ highlighted the work of Connecticut nonprofits and sharing number thirty-four is Sam Gray Jr. the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and MPA alum Jason Jakubowski the CEO of Foodshare. Since the start of the pandemic, Foodshare has helped to feed tens of thousands of families under Jason’s leadership. Currently Jason is leading the merger between Foodshare and Wallingford-based Connecticut Food Bank. 

Congratulations to the class of 2021! We look forward to seeing your further impact in the Greater Hartford area in the months and years to come.