Maiorinio heads asset-based trade group
Michael Maiorinio, president of People”™s United Business Capital in Bridgeport, was appointed president of the Commercial Finance Association effective Oct 1.
The Commercial Finance Association is the trade group of the asset-based lending and factoring industries, with nearly 300 member organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and the world. CFA provides education, networking opportunities and industry advocacy on a domestic and international basis to the commercial finance community.
“Mike”™s experience and respect in our industry will be a tremendous value to CFA,” said Robert Trojan, CFA”™s CEO. “Mike is a great leader and will help CFA effectively communicate the important role of asset-based lenders and factors in providing the essential working and growth capital to help get America working again.”
Former Ann”™s Place chief honored
Wilda Hayes, recently retired president and CEO of Ann”™s Place, The Home of I Can, will be presented with the 2013 Heart of Women Award by the Women”™s Business Council, an arm of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. The annual award recognizes women in the community who have made a difference. In addition to Wilda, the WBC will give honorary recognition to 
Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra and former Newtown Schools Superintendent Janet Robinson. The awards will be presented at a cocktail and dinner reception Thursday, Oct. 17, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury. For more information and to register call the chamber at (203) 743-5565 or online at heartofwomen.eventbrite.com.
Stayin”™ alive and 1 year old
Connecticut Challenge”™s Center for Survivorship, 250 Pequot Ave., Southport ”” part of the national Survivorship program ”” celebrated its one-year anniversary Oct 1. Connecticut Challenge is a statewide organization that maintains a hospital support network covering most of the state. It is the only survivorship center in the U.S. that is not affiliated with a specific hospital. The center”™s goals are working with survivors in the arenas of nutrition, exercise and psycho-social support. Phone: (203) 292-8722.
Webster largesse seeks affordable addresses
Webster Bank has awarded the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund (CHIF) with an operating grant for $8,000 to expand the organization”™s lending capacity.
Webster has been supporting CHIF since the 1990s and recently agreed to participate in a community loan pool with other banks to make funds available to CHIF in order to lend to various entities. The statewide goal is “to create and preserve affordable housing and to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods.” CHIF is a private, nonprofit in Hartford established to finance affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization projects throughout the state. Since its incorporation in 1968, CHIF has provided more than $128.5 million in financing to assist individuals and organizations purchase, rehabilitate or construct homes for low- and moderate-income families.
Gala highlights DiMatteo generosity
Kick off the fall social season in style and attend the Kennedy Center 49th annual Four Seasons Ball, billed as one of the most elegant, longest-running galas in Fairfield County.
This popular ball at the Patterson Club, 1118 Cross Hwy. in Fairfield, will honor the DiMatteo family Saturday, Oct. 19, for their generous support of the community, including The Kennedy Center, through their family foundation.
Each year the family foundation supports many area nonprofits through the proceeds of its annual golf tournament. The DiMatteo family founded the DiMatteo Group nearly 54 years ago, specializing in insurance, financial services, tax preparation and accounting. The family business, which is currently headquartered in Shelton, was started by Adeline DiMatteo and the late Anthony DiMatteo, seated center in the photo with their extended family.
Black tie optional; elegant attire is requested. Call (203) 365-8522, ext. 213, or visit thekennedycenterinc.org to order tickets ($200 per person) online.
Leibell strategizes for UBS
David T. Leibell has joined UBS where he will serve as the senior wealth strategist dividing his time between Stamford and New York City. He will focus on comprehensive strategies to assist UBS clients with their complex financial needs such as preservation, transfer and management of wealth. He will serve as an internal resource for UBS clients on all issues related to tax, estate planning, philanthropy and wealth planning.
Leibell joins UBS from Wiggin and Dana where he was a partner in the Private Client Services Dept. focused on representing wealthy individuals and families, business succession and charitable planning. Prior to Wiggin and Dana, he was a partner in the Private Clients Group at Cummings & Lockwood. He serves on the advisory board of the Central Park Conservancy and lives in Easton with his wife and two children.
Nielsen”™s grows an award
Third-generation florist Nielsen”™s Florist and Gifts in Darien received national recognition by its peers Sept. 20 when it was named the 2013 Annual Marketer of the Year by the Society of American Florists”™ Floral Management magazine in an Arizona awards ceremony. From right in the photograph are: Tami Whittier, owner; Raya Ward, marketing coordinator; and Sandra Nielsen-Baumann, owner and general manager, with Society of American Florists executives at left.
“We are immensely proud of this and even more proud of our incredible staff,” said Sandy Nielsen. “A special thanks to our marketing coordinator, Raya Ward, for bringing our business to this level of excellence and professionalism in marketing. We are thrilled with customer response to our efforts.”
Nielsen”™s received a $5,000 cash prize and its winning campaign is detailed in the cover story in the October issue of Floral Management, the association”™s monthly magazine.
