WBDC CEO Pastore named to Hartford HealthCare board

STAMFORD — Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) CEO Fran Pastore has joined the Hartford HealthCare Board of Directors. This appointment highlights her longstanding commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for women entrepreneurs across Connecticut, according to a statement from the board.

Joining Pastore on the Hartford HealthCare board is Chris Swift, chair of The Hartford.

“It is an honor to join the Hartford HealthCare Board of Directors, and I am eager to contribute ideas and energy to an organization that champions innovation and inclusivity,” said Pastore. “I am excited to be part of a board driving transformative innovation and advancing equity to strengthen healthcare and our communities.”

In addition to this new appointment, Pastore serves as chair of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority Board of Directors and is a member of the M&T Bank Connecticut Directors’ Advisory Council and the Webster Bank Community Advisory Council.

Previously, she served on the National Women’s Business Council, an independent advisory body to then-President Obama, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Pastore has been the CEO of WBDC since founding the organization in 1997.

Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeff Flaks praised Pastore’s leadership and dedication to economic empowerment.

“Fran Pastore brings a remarkable combination of leadership, vision, and a deep commitment to economic empowerment that will greatly enrich the Hartford HealthCare Board,” Flaks said. “Her expertise in fostering innovation and driving equity will help us continue to transform healthcare and strengthen the communities we serve. We are honored to have her insight and passion as part of our team.”

Since 1997, WBDC has educated and trained nearly 20,000 clients in all of Connecticut’s 169 towns — helping women to launch, sustain, and scale over 14,700 businesses, create and maintain more than 33,800 jobs in Connecticut, and access $63.7 million in capital.