Westfair Communications hosted its nineteenth annual 40 Under Forty at The Point in Norwalk on June 13.
The event saw the best and brightest young leaders from across Fairfield County celebrated for their outstanding contributions to both their businesses and their communities.
FOX 61 Morning News meteorologist and cohost Matt Scott served as the event’s emcee. Scott kept the atmosphere light. He also took credit for the atmospheric lighting, which saw a picturesque sunset over Long Island Sound unfold just outside the tent where the ceremony took place at The Point in Norwalk.
Scott has long served as the master of ceremonies for Westfair events.
“This crowd gets bigger and bigger every year, I’m floored by everybody’s support of the 40 Under Forty,” Scott said.
“We have a number of people at the conference who I have had the pleasure of working with for a number of years as the host of this event. You are going to meet some of the brightest and up and coming stars of Connecticut.”
Judges Nelson Merchan and Dr. Nikki Wingate chose the award recipients.
Wingate is an associate professor of marketing at the Welch College of Business and Technology at Sacred Heart University. Merchan is a business advisor for the Connecticut Small Business Development Center.
“A friend recently described feeling unstoppable, and that word perfectly embodies all of you winners,” said Merchan in an address to the recipients and their guests. “You are forces of change, driven by a strong desire to make a difference. Keep sharing your energy and keep sharing your knowledge and your leadership. Together, as a community of unstoppable individuals we can lead not only ourselves but also those who need it most.”
“You winners not only excel at your jobs, but also share your heart and brain to have a positive impact in our communities. Your dedication to others is priceless. Keep trying. We are rooting for you,” Merchan added.
Each award recipient received both a statuette commemorating their achievement and a “chocolate diploma” personalized by Noteworthy Chocolates.
After receiving their awards each recipient was asked a question about an aspect of their business background or worldview that helped them reach where they are today.
The awards were distributed to each recipient by the heads of their respective chambers of commerce. Participating chambers included the Bridgeport Regional Business Conference, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, the Darien Chamber of Commerce, The Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, the Wilton Chamber of Commerce, the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, and the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce.
Audi of Fairfield served as a Silver Sponsor for the 40 Under Forty. Bronze sponsors of the event included CironeFridberg, Deloitte, M&T Bank Corporation, Vacheron Disabato and Associates, Noteworthy Chocolates, ONTHEMARC, RXR, Sacred Heart University, Yale New Haven Health, Merrill, Shar Creative, Events to Remember and the New York Yankees.
The 40 under Forty for 2024 are:
- Stephen Abramson, Director of Service at Kyber Security
- Nicholas D’Addario, President of Hi-Ho Energy Services
- Jenny Delorbe, Operations Manager and Adjunct Professor at Yale University & Sacred Heart University
- Amanda Miller, Chief of Staff, Program Director of Strategic Operations at Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital
- Timothy McDermott, Vice President of Operations at Noble House Media Group
- Brian Cimbak, Pre-need Specialist/Consultant at JG Advance Planning
- Noor Deeb, Senior Wealth Associate VP at Wilmington Trust
- Priscilla Nannariello, Account Executive for HUB Private Client
- Sara Sharp, Counsel at Hurwitz, Sagarin, Slossberg & Knuff LLC
- Adam C. Stevko, CPWA, First Vice President – Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch-Bank of America
- Raghib Allie-Brennan, State Representative for the Connecticut General Assembly
- Jacqueline Cabrera, Community Organizer for the Working Families Party
- Brent Dean, Director of Academy Partnerships at Danbury Public Schools
- Louis A. Giannini, Senior Director of Product Management at Orion
- Candy Murias, Bilingual clinician at the CT Healing Center
- Alexandra Silva, Deposit Services Manager at Union Savings Bank
- Anna Breault, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Norwalk
- Matthew Glennon, Attorney for Pullman & Comley, LLC
- Andrew Hollis, Director of Operations at Stew Leonard’s
- Laura Krauss, Vice President and Business Banking Relationship Manager at M&T Bank
- Matthew Seebeck, Senior General Manager at Brookfield Properties
- Bryan Bostic, Employee Wellness Navigator Griffin Health
- Tiffany Ottani, CPA, Supervisor at CironeFriedberg, LLP
- Luis Penichet, Vice President at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Karissa M. Peters, Mortgage Banker at Newtown Savings Bank
- Christine Vidmosko, Area Manager at Hartford Health Care
- Sophia Gilkes, First Vice President at Morgan Stanley
- Raymond Carta, Associate at Robinson and Cole LLP
- Jennifer Chiarella, Senior Legal Counsel at Valitana LLC and Adjunct Professor at UConn
- Yvette Cole, Author at YC Creations LLC
- Joseph Graziose, Executive Vice President at RXR
- Vincent Socci, Co-President and COO at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
- Dimitri Tournas, Attorney for Wiggin and Dana LLP
- Maxxwell Crowley, Vice President at SCA Crowley Real Estate
- Susannah Crowley, Director, Corporate Communication for Bumble Inc.
- Matthias Sportini, Attorney for FLB Law
- Christina Dufour, Founder & President of Carnelian Connection
- Richard Flahive, Chief Investment Officer and Partner at Hightower Westchester
- Anthony Bacarella, Vice President of Sales in Connecticut for BTX Global Logistics
- Abi Naparstek, Financial Representative for Forest Hills Financial Group
