Chamber Recognizes Business All-Stars

From businesses with generations of contributions in the region and state to those who just opened their doors last spring, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce sought to honor them all at its annual Business Leadership Awards Thursday.

More than 500 people filled the grand ballroom of the Omni Hotel to honor heroes of the Greater New Haven business community for their contributions to their industries but also for the ways they give back to their neighbors.

“Today is a fun day,” said chamber President and CEO Garrett Sheehan (pictured). ​“It’s important to bring the business community together to help us stay strong.”

The chamber’s highest honor of the day — the Community Leadership award— went to the Tagliatela family. Helmed for years by patriarch Louis F. Tagliatela Sr., the family created the Franklin Construction and Franklin Communities which is responsible for providing thousands of housing units in the Greater New Haven area over the last 50 years. In addition to housing, the family owns several businesses throughout New England including the Saybrook Point Inn, Spa & Marina, and a four-star restaurant called Fresh Salt.

The family is also known for its generosity. The family has given its name and its money, through the Louis F. and Mary A. Tagliatela Foundation including to The Tagliatela School of Business and Leadership at Albertus Magnus and The Tagliatela School of Engineering at the University of New Haven.

Louis Tagliatela Sr. passed away about four years ago. Granddaughter Lauren, who accepted the award on the family’s behalf, said Thursday’s recognition ​“validates all the lessons passed on by my grandfather and grandmother.”

Kimberly Pedrick has owned the downtown New Haven boutique Idiom for 13 years. She recently expanded her presence to a second store that specializes in unique home goods. She was recognized for her contributions to the vibrancy of the Elm City’s downtown and her active leadership in the small business community.

She said she believed in the importance of the ​“shop local, dine local, live local” philosophy that keeps downtown thriving. It’s a philosophy shared by another familiar face in New Haven, that of developer Juan Salas-Romer of NHR Group.

Salas-Romer has made a name for himself developing apartments in the Downtown and Dixwell sections of the city. He also added the New Haven Village Suites on Long Wharf to his portfolio and has plans for building more apartments along the river in Fair Haven Heights. He was recognized Thursday for his work trying to serve a niche that he has found to be underserved in the city — the middle-income renter.

The annual luncheon also recognized New Haven Public Schools and Key Bank with the Community Partnership award for an innovative mentoring program that started back in 2017.

Jeff Hubbard, Key Bank’s market president, said that the program has been so successful that they’re ready to branch out and teach other businesses how to implement it in their workplaces.

Businesses and people with New Haven ties walked away with many of the awards Thursday. Health Haven Hub, a tech business that provides support to digital health startups, took home the Technology Innovation award. Kyle Ballou, vice president for community and government relations for Yale New Haven Health, was recognized as a ​“distinguished alumnum of the Leadership Center.” Assa Abloy took home the Achievement in Manufacturing Award.