Fairfield County Newsmakers, 11.10.2014

Klaff”™s donates to Lockwood-Mathews

Norwalk-based Klaff”™s, a home design company, donated proceeds from the Klaff”™s Jerry Levine Charity Golf Outing, Aug. 11, to Norwalk”™s Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. A donation of $19,954 was presented by Joe Passero, Klaff”™s chairman and chief operating officer, Nov. 3, at the museum, 295 West Ave., Norwalk.

Westport-Weston chamber donates to Homes with Hope

The Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce donated $5,000 to Homes with Hope on Jesup Road in Westport for its Gillespie Center Food Pantry. The funds came from proceeds from the third annual Slice of Saugatuck festival run by the chamber in September. For more information, visit westportwestonchamber.com/Saugatuck.

Standard Motor Products taps TFI Envision

Texas-based Standard Motor Products Inc. (SMP) selected Norwalk-based TFI Envision Inc., a branding and communications company, to develop the SMP Parts App. With the app, users can access all SMP automotive aftermarket parts, as well as part number or year, make, model and engine type, via their smartphones.

Gallatin speaks at conference

Cynthia M. Gallatin of Newtown, associate vice president and chief operating officer of Quinnipiac University Online, was invited to speak at the Public Relations Society of America”™s 2014 international conference, “Leading the Way: A Fearless Future for PR,” in Washington, D.C.

Gallatin launched the online learning division for Quinnipiac University in 2001. She holds an MBA in marketing from the University of Bridgeport and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Fairfield University.

FCA to host ‘A Taste of Fairfield County’

Norwalk-based Family & Children”™s Agency”™s will host “A Taste of Fairfield County” to support its after-school program, 6-8 p.m., Nov. 13, Aitoro, 401 Westport Ave., Norwalk. The after-school program serves 50 Norwalk middle school youths on the campus of Norwalk Community College. Food vendors will include A Dash of Salt; DiMare Pastry Shop, Flipside Burger, Norwalk Community College, Nuestra Cultura LLC, Paella, Strada and Taco Loco. Event sponsors include CBP, Jones Lang LaSalle and FactSet Research Systems.

For tickets, contact Janina Serrao at 203-855-8765 or visit familyandchildrensagency.org.

Pacchioni and Huntley join Waveny

New Canaan-based Waveny LifeCare Network appointed Anthony Pacchioni as director of dining services and Dennis Huntley as director of facility operations.

Pacchioni will manage dining operations at both Waveny”™s Farm Road campuses, which include the Care Center, The Village, the Adult Day Program, Meals on Wheels and The Inn. Pacchioni has served prior positions as registered dietician, executive chef and director of food and nutrition for Wartburg Rehab of Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Huntley will manage the mechanical and facility operations for the main campus and serve as chairman of Waveny”™s Safety Committee. Prior to joining, Huntley directed maintenance for Long Ridge of Stamford.

Liberation Program”™s annual Recovery Climb

Liberation Program, a nonprofit dedicated to substance abuse prevention and treatment in Fairfield County, held its 2014 Recovery Climb Nov. 1, Chelsea Piers, Stamford. The event featured rock-wall climbing, batting cages, basketball, tug-of-war, dodgeball, football and a relay race. Sponsors included Darien Sport Shop, Malloy Insurance Agency Inc., Malloy Realty Group, The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery, Nestlé Waters, Fairway Market and Robeks.

Palace and community partners host ”˜Paint the Town Pink”™

Nearly 100 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends were recently honored with music and celebration at Stamford”™s Palace Theatre. Community partners that collaborated on the event included City Limits Diner, David”™s Soundview Catering and Café Oo La La, which donated the food; Tito”™s Handmade Vodka, which created a “Hot Pink” martini; and Bob Cappazzo Photography, which donated services. Frank Mastrone performed both classic and contemporary music with pianist and composer Patti Preiss-Harris and classical guitarist Annalisa Ewald.

Ciulla receives Hall of Fame Award

John Ciulla, executive president, commercial banking for Webster Bank, won the Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Connecticut”™s Dr. George R. Dunbar Free Enterprise Hall of Fame award at its 18th annual celebration, Oct. 8, Bridgeport Holiday Inn, Bridgeport. This award is given to business leaders from Western Connecticut who have made enduring contributions to their companies and communities.

Ciulla joined Webster in 2004 and has served in a variety of positions, including chief credit risk officer and senior vice president, commercial banking.

New associates to RHYS

Stamford-based RHYS, a commercial real estate firm, appointed two new associates to its team, Laura Manfro of Stamford and Ryan Stranko of Fairfield. Manfro joined as an associate in the investment sales division and Stranko as an associate in the retail leasing division.

Prior to joining, Manfro spent nearly three years at Westport-based Charter Reality and Development as a leasing agent. She has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Fordham University.

Stanko practiced as a student attorney at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County District Attorney”™s office and at the state of Rhode Island”™s office of the attorney general. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Manhattan College and a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law.

Boys & Girls Club appoints Frieser

The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford appointed Neil Frieser to its board of directors. Frieser has served as vice president for internal audits for Frontier Communications Corp. since June 2008.

LogicSource appoints Walton

Norwalk-based LogicSource appointed Bruce Walton as its chief operating officer. Walton works out of the company”™s Norwalk office, where he leads its sourcing and procurement operations center.

Walton holds a Master”™s in Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Bucknell University.

Jacob and Quiles donates to food bank

Jacob and Quiles, a law firm with offices in Bridgeport and New York, recently donated $818 to the Connecticut Food Bank to support its mission to feed the hungry. Using social media to pledge $1 for every follower, “like,” “share” and other activity, the firm provided more than 1,900 meals.

Pullman & Comley places 24 on top lawyers list

Twenty-four attorneys from  Pullman & Comley LLC were recently named to the Thomson Reuters-published Connecticut Super Lawyers list for 2014, including the the top spot and top woman’s spot, the Bridgeport-based law firm reported. In addition, seven of the firm”™s attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers “Connecticut Rising Stars 2014” list.

The Pullman & Comley attorneys on the Connecticut Super Lawyers 2014 list include David P. Atkins, professional liability: defense; Elizabeth J. Austin, bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights; Morris Banks, tax; Colin P. Baron, health care; Deborah S. Breck, estate planning and probate; Eliot B. Gersten, business litigation; Irve J. Goldman, bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights; Nancy A. D. Hancock, securities and corporate finance; Joshua A. Hawks-Ladds, employment and labor; Alex V. Hernandez, criminal defense: white collar; Lee D. Hoffman, energy and resources; Robert L. Holzberg, alternative dispute resolution; Thomas F. Maxwell Jr., civil litigation defense; Christopher P. McCormack, environmental litigation; Michael P. McKeon, schools and education; D. Robert Morris, tax: business; Gary B. O”™Connor, environmental; Jonathan B. Orleans, employment and labor; Elliott B. Pollack, health care; Michael G. Proctor, real estate; Richard C. Robinson, business litigation; James “Tim” Shearin, business litigation; Alan J. Sobol, criminal defense; and Diane W. Whitney, environmental.

Those named to the Rising Stars list include Steven J. Bonafonte, business/corporate; Megan Y. Carannante, business litigation; Cara A. Ceraso, business litigation; Jonathan A. Kaplan, business litigation; Brion J. Kirsch, real estate: business; Adam S. Mocciolo, business litigation; and Steven J. Stafstrom Jr., business litigation.

In addition, Gary O”™Connor, Tim Shearin and Diane W. Whitney were named to the 2014 “Top 50 Connecticut Super Lawyers” list for receiving the highest point totals in the Connecticut nominator, research and blue ribbon review process. Shearin and Whitney were also named to the “Top 10” list, with Shearin named as the highest ranked attorney and Whitney named as the highest-ranked woman attorney on the list.

Super Lawyers bills itself as a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rating process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third-party research.

Information for these features has been submitted by the subjects or their delegates.