Pulse of the Region

This week on Pulse of the Region, we're joined by Paul Savas, Vice President of Comcast Business for New England.

Paul shares insights into Comcast's presence, partnerships, and investment in the Hartford Region, including its support of The Swift Factory's podcast studio, where Pulse of the Region is recorded. We also discuss the wide range of services Comcast provides to businesses, from high-speed internet solutions to cybersecurity and threat protection services, as organizations navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Learn more about Comcast Business

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

The Connecticut River is at the heart of the Hartford Region, and this week on Pulse of the Region, we explore how Riverfront Recapture brings it to life.

President and CEO Michael Zaleski and Director of Development Deborah Baker discuss the organization’s impact, future plans for its parks and riverfront spaces, and the events that connect thousands of residents to the river each year. They also offer a preview of The Big Mo’, Riverfront Recapture’s signature fundraising event, taking place November 18 at 111 Founders Plaza in East Hartford.

Click here for The Big Mo' information and tickets.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we sit down with Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Josh Hershman to explore the department’s new Be Weather Ready: Preparedness & Resiliency Center. Learn what inspired the launch of this online resource, how residents and businesses can use it to prepare for severe weather, and the important role the insurance industry plays in helping communities build resilience before disaster strikes.

Explore the Be Weather Ready Center.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re taking you inside Experience Hartford, the Hartford Chamber of Commerce’s signature celebration of the businesses, restaurants, nonprofits, and organizations that make the city a vibrant place to live, work, and explore. This year's event will be held on October 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Parkville Market.

Julio Concepción, Executive Director of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, and Joe Ploof, founder and owner of The Upstate Lounge & Cafe (one of more than 20 vendors participating in this year’s event!), join us to share exclusive details on the complimentary food and drinks you can expect to enjoy, as well as how the evening introduces attendees to some of the people and places that make Hartford unique, all under one roof.

Experience Hartford is made possible thanks to our event sponsors, Liberty Bank, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo, and the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation.

Click here to purchase Experience Hartford tickets.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory⁠ and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

We’re celebrating the start of Greater Hartford Theater Week with a special bonus episode of Pulse of the Region! Amanda Perry Roy, CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and Cynthia Rider, Managing Director at Hartford Stage, join us to share everything you need to know about Theater Week, running October 1–18.

From BOGO ticket deals and giveaways to spectacular performances across the region, there’s plenty to look forward to! Amanda also shares what’s ahead for the Greater Hartford Arts Council, while Cynthia gives us a look at upcoming productions at Hartford Stage.

Learn more about Greater Hartford Theater Week.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re previewing Insuring the Future, taking place October 29 in Hartford, Connecticut—the Insurance Capital of the World. Hosted by Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services (CT IFS) and the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), the summit will convene industry leaders to discuss what’s next for insurance.

Joining us are Commissioner Josh Hershman from the CID; Susan Winkler, Executive Director and Vice President of CT IFS; Craig Weber, Head of Insurance Strategy at Cognizant (ITF's Title Sponsor); and Jim Bedard, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at RVI Group (ITF's Future Talent Sponsor).

Tune in for an inside look at what attendees can expect from this year’s summit.

Click here to learn more about Insuring the Future or visit insuringthefuturect.com.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on the MetroHartford Alliance’s Pulse ofthe Region podcast, we’re joined by Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Executive Director Lauren Zevetchin and HYPE Leadership Committee members Malaika Dewes from Trinity Health of New York, Sam Tapper from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and Melina Floyd from United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.

The group discusses how HYPE is connecting young talentacross the Hartford Region and helping them build meaningful networks. They also share insights into what young professionals are looking for in the workplace, their experiences serving on the HYPE Leadership Committee, andwhat’s coming up on HYPE’s event calendar.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at ⁠The Swift Factory⁠ and produced in partnership with the ⁠North Hartford Partnership⁠.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Major Donald Spencer, Greater Hartford Area Services Coordinator; Michael Baldelli, Public Relations and Marketing Manager; and Erin Sieczkowski, Advisory Board Chair of The Salvation Army of Greater Hartford.

The group provides an overview of The Salvation Army’s services within our city and highlights the Marshall House Family Shelter in Hartford, which was established in 1974 to help local families overcome poverty and is currently undergoing renovation. They discuss the benefits of the project, including increased shelter capacity, modernized amenities, and other improvements. The conversation also addresses the shelter’s funding needs and explores ways the community can support the effort.

Learn more about the Marshall House.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factoryand produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Tiffany Morrissey, Executive Director of the Connecticut Health Council (CHC), and Paula Greenberg, President and CEO of Women’s Health Connecticut.

Tiffany and Paula discuss CHC’s annual summit, The Changing Landscape of Women’s Health, taking place September 16 at the 1635 Club at Hartford Athletic. Women’s Health Connecticut is serving as a Presenting Partner of the event along with Deloitte.

The conversation explores why women’s health was chosen as the focus of this year’s summit, highlights leading services and innovations available to women across Connecticut, and examines how healthcare has become a major economic driver in the state.

Learn more about the CHC Summit.

Pulse of the Region is recorded atThe Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Hartford Public Library (HPL) President and CEO Bridget Quinn, Hartford History Center and Digital Library Lab Manager Leon Ha, and HPL Studios Manager Aaron Hillard.

Bridget, Leon, and Aaron provide an overview of Hartford Public Library and discuss how HPL serves as much more than a traditional library. They also highlight innovative spaces within the recently renovated Downtown Library, including the Digital Library Lab and HPL Studios.

Pulse of the Region is recorded atThe Swift Factory and produced in partnership with theNorth Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Will Wilkins, Executive Director, and Winnie Wong, Director of Marketing and Communications at Real Art Ways.

Will and Winnie discuss Real Art Ways’ role as a cultural anchor in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, reflect on its 50-year history, and share updates on the organization’s expansion project, set for completion in mid-2027.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director of Hartford Stage. Melia shares a preview of the 2026/2027 lineup of plays and discusses how theatre serves as both an economic driver and a powerful way to bring people together, regardless of background.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at and produced in partnership with the .

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by BJ Kito, President and CSO of Rebellion Group, and Grant Flannery, Head of Strategy.

BJ and Grant explore how AI is transforming the workplace, from using tools to better understand customers more efficiently to applying strong judgment in asking the right questions and expanding what AI can do. They also discuss the AI tools currently in development at Rebellion Group, which combine behavioral intelligence with organizational knowledge, and share their perspective on what the future of business and marketing could look like as these technologies take shape.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Rob Ruggiero, Artistic Director at TheaterWorks Hartford.

Rob reflects on the success of the 25/26 Season as it comes to a close—a milestone year that marked TheaterWorks’ 40th anniversary. He also offers a preview of the 26/27 Season, which opens October 8 and features a diverse lineup of stories centered on family dynamics.

Learn more about TheaterWorks Hartford's 26/27 Season

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Executive Director Lauren Zevetchin hosts a reunion of HYPE leaders from across the past 20 years—founder Julie Daly Meehan, former Executive Director Kim Bishop (2016-2018), 2015 Chair Adam McLaughlin, and current Ambassador Saskia Butler.

Tune in as the group revisits HYPE’s evolution and shares exciting details about the 20th Anniversary Celebration coming up on July 16 on Pratt Street.

Purchase tickets for HYPE's 20th Anniversary Celebration

This celebration is the largest Get HYPED to come to Pratt Street!

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we discuss Hartford's thriving arts scene with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and TJ Noel-Sullivan, Founder and Director/Producer of the Hartford Film Company. We dive into what the state's burgeoning film industry looks like today, its workforce development potential as the ecosystem continues to disperse across the country, and ways to watch CT-made films during the Long Weekend celebration happening in Hartford on July 1-5.

Learn more about Hartford Film Company at https://www.hartfordfilm.com/, and view a schedule of film screenings and other events part of the Long Weekend at https://longweekendhartford.com/.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at ⁠The Swift Factory⁠ and produced in partnership with the ⁠North Hartford Partnership⁠.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we are joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers; Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship; Robin Kulasekararaj, Portfolio Head of the Insurance Business Unit at Cognizant; and David Griggs, President and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance.

Andy and Nathan return to discuss the Travelers Championship, joined by Robin and David for a deeper look at the tournament’s economic impact. Robin highlights why Cognizant, a Founding Partner for Travelers Championship, continues to invest in the event every year, while the group explores how the tournament’s growing scale elevates both the Hartford region and the state of Connecticut on a national stage. They also discuss how the region can continue leveraging major events like the Travelers Championship to drive economic growth and vibrancy.

Learn more about Travelers Championship

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers, and Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship.

Andy and Nathan take us inside what to expect at this year’s Travelers Championship, returning June 22–28 to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. They share updates that will elevate the fan experience—including a redesigned wayfinder map to help visitors navigate the course with ease—and reflect on how the tournament has grown into a signature PGA Tour event. We also explore how the Travelers Championship has become a powerful showcase for Connecticut’s talent, hospitality, and community spirit, drawing national attention to the region.

Learn more about the Travelers Championship

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

On this week’s bonus episode of Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Brenda Watson, Executive Director of the North Hartford Partnership, and Patrick McKenna, the Partnership’s Director of Sustainability & Real Estate.

Brenda and Patrick share updates on major initiatives underway at the North Hartford Partnership, including the new Climate Resiliency Hub, expanded sustainability projects, and the launch of Grounds for Change—a social‑enterprise coffee shop at The Swift Factory. They also discuss the Partnership’s recent purchase of three multifamily homes that are being renovated to reduce environmental impact and lower rental costs for residents.

The group also offers a preview of what to expect at the upcoming Sustainable Homes & Careers Expo on June 13 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Get tickets for The Sustainable Homes & Careers Expo here.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, and Joe Gianni, President of Bank of America Greater Hartford.

Jason shares a closer look at food insecurity across Connecticut and why summer can be especially challenging as children lose access to school meals and volunteer availability declines.

We also explore Bank of America’s long-standing partnership with Connecticut Foodshare, including both financial support and hands-on employee volunteerism.

Plus, learn how you can get involved and support Connecticut Foodshare year-round—from volunteering at local pantries to helping with mobile food programs across the state.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.