More than 300 people crowded into Hotel Zero Degrees in Norwalk June 20 to pay tribute to some of Fairfield County”™s most successful young professionals.
The 8th annual Fairfield County 40 Under 40 awards ceremony, presented by the Fairfield County Business Journal in partnership with 10 of the region”™s chambers of commerce, honored 41 individuals under the age of 40 and featured local success stories Linda McMahon and Bobby Valentine.
McMahon, former CEO of Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and a two-time candidate for U.S. Senate, said passion is no guarantee of success but nonetheless called on this year”™s honorees to take chances and fight for their beliefs.
“I am proof that hard work and passion for what you”™re doing don”™t always guarantee your success,” McMahon said with a laugh. “Believe me, if passion and hard work were all that it would take to be elected, I”™d be addressing you tonight as Senator McMahon.”
Emphasizing that the award winners”™ careers had only just begun, McMahon said she was inspired to be among the group of promising young individuals who, like her, weren”™t satisfied with sitting on the sidelines.
“I ran for Senate because I believe we need people who are willing to step up to the plate and swing for the fences; it”™s the only way to get anything done,” McMahon said. “This is not a room full of people who sit on the sidelines and yell at the TV, and who don”™t take chances and who don”™t get involved. It gives me such great hope to look at your faces of such young leaders. Your skills and commitment to get things done, create jobs and build in your communities, give me hope that the American dream is alive and well.”
The Business Journal and the chambers selected the winners based on nominees”™ business accomplishments, leadership qualities and personal business -improvement efforts.
To be considered, nominees had to be between the ages of 21 and 39 and had to work in Fairfield County.
Valentine, a former Major League Baseball player and manager of the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, said he was also happy to address the winners, advising they keep in mind the three Rs ”” responsibility, respect and reality ”” to “keep you successful in life, when your world is spinning quickly.”
To be successful, people must be responsible to themselves and others but also respectful toward those two groups as well, Valentine said.
“Everyone says respect is a reflective word; the more you give the more you get it,” he said. “But also understand, because it is a reflective word, that person you see reflected in the mirror is the person you have to respect most in life. When you”™re making a deal, doing your thing ”¦ make sure when you look in the mirror, the image you see is an image you respect.”
If you do, Valentine said, the reality you”™ll be face with will be a joyous and successful one.
In February, Valentine, a Stamford native, was named the executive director of intercollegiate athletics at Sacred Heart University.
“You”™re having a great ride,” Valentine said. “I want you to enjoy that ride.”
