New Haven Independent

Those who only knew him as the CEO of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and not too much about his background and education could not imagine why he would choose to leave that high-profile job for a position with an interactive technology company on the shoreline. Some remembered his real estate investment and development days; others thought about earlier entrepreneurial pursuits. Well, the Dish has located our subject and is happy to report that he has managed to utilize his wealth of experience and knowledge in his position as President of the Connecticut Technology Council. He is aptly located at the confluence of government, academia and the private sector.

(He’s pictured here in between Attorney Isaiah Cooper and Tom Burmeister.)

The mission of the Connecticut Technology Council is to build an interactive community of innovators and their supporters that can leverage advantages to create a thriving economy, job growth, a global reputation for entrepreneurial support. Matt operates based on the premise that Connecticut has the necessary combination of factors to be a major contender in today’s global marketplace: an educated workforce, the availability of wealth and risk capital, some of the world’s best academic institutions, and an intense history of success and invention that runs through every part of the state. It is actually not a job for him; it is more like a “calling.” It is an opportunity to affect economic change in the turbulent transition from a manufacturing economy.

The New Haven Lawn Club was, yet again, the venue for CTC’s Innovation Pipeline Accelerator Awards to honor companies that have exhibited high potential ideas in advanced technology.

It was a mutual admiration society of angel investors, lawyers, bankers, economic development professionals, venture capitalists and exhibitors, hoping to attract their interest and attention. Awards were presented for First Time Patent, Most New Patents, Alternative Energy, Incubation to Investment and Commercialization, FastTrack and various types of Software. These were not the folks you would have anticipated meeting in the Grand Ballroom.

To find those, you had to look on the other side of the building. The Bisno cabaret audience was full of NHLC regulars. Barbara Pearce, Robin Sauerteig, and Myrna Baskin were among those looking for Lenny Bruce.

Debbi Bisno has really produced some great cabaret entertainment in the area, but the intimacy and ease of the Lawn Club have managed to make each of her shows sold-out performances.

New York actor Steve Cuiffo, who is said to have “channeled” the late, controversial comedian, satirist and social commentator, was on the playbill. His show at Joe’s Pub in the Public Theater in New York was acclaimed. As President of the Club, Doug Rae has teamed with catering whiz Darin Bahl and Bisno to bring new life to the place by introducing new audiences and enticing old membership. The search for people and things lost , forgotten, or overlooked will continue as the Dish seeks out…ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!