Christine Traczyk
Chris Traczyk has a knack for bringing people together. As both community development manager and executive director of Farmington Bank, she is the bridge that connects the bank to nonprofits for the betterment of the community.
Women of FIRE
Regina van der Heyden
Regina “Regi” van der Heyden has been selling real estate in the greater New Canaan area for almost 20 years. In that time, she has sold nearly $500 million worth of property through what she calls “her tireless work ethic and consistent professionalism.”
Diane Whitney
Diane Whitney got used to being the only woman in the room in the legal world. Only one woman in her college graduating class went on to law school, she recalls. It wasn’t until 15 years, a marriage and two children later, that she set out for the University of Connecticut School of Law, from which she graduated with honors.
Celebrating Women
The Commercial Record asked its loyal readers to nominate deserving women in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors for our 2014 Women of FIRE awards. From dozens of nominations, our judges narrowed it down to 13 women who stood out from the crowd. They have shown substantial success in their field, they have demonstrated a commitment to professional and personal growth, and their work has enriched and advanced their fields of endeavor.
Deborah Abildsoe
Deborah Abildsoe took her college year studying abroad a little further than most. After finishing her degree while studying overseas, she was offered a job working for Den norske Creditbank in Oslo, trading fixed-income securities.
Dana Chapel
Dana Chapel joined the banking world in 1989 as a part-time teller at New England Savings Bank. She worked hard and earned several promotions at the bank, which later became part of Citizens Bank, until she found herself in a back-office job in the training department, where she missed being able to work with and help customers.
Jean Cherni
Jean Cherni had a “commuter marriage” before the term was invented. And at age 85, she is still working, by choice.
Beth DiLoreto
Many people move into real estate from another career, but Beth DiLoreto started in the business at just 18 years old, after finishing a year of college and feeling a little undecided about her future.
Jessica Dornelas
After graduating from law school in Boston during the Great Recession, Jessica Dornelas returned to her native Connecticut, where she set up a solo practice.
Lynn K. Giroux
Lynn K. Giroux came to Essex Savings Bank 15 years ago as manager of human resources and branch administration.
Nanette Pastore
As an industry, real estate has a reputation from attracting an eclectic mix of professionals from other industries, eager to launch a second career. But its own executive ranks tend to be filled from those who got their start as agents – which makes Nanette Pastore’s...
Mary Reynolds
When Mary Reynolds first joined Rockville Bank, she was tasked with processing loans for a woman who was not only the top loan officer in the office, but one of the top loan officers in the country.
Sandra Senich
As an energetic force behind the revival of Waterbury’s Palace Theater, Sandra Senich considered it the perfect location for one of the most important occasions of her life: her wedding ceremony.
Darcy Sledge
Darcy Sledge could tell you stories that would make your skin crawl. Fresh out of school and working in the oil industry, Sledge’s new coworkers never let her forget that it was a man’s world.
Filomena Soyster
“When Filomena is determined to get something done, she gets it done,” said Bobbie Bartucca, who has firsthand experience trying – and – to resist the passion, commitment and energy of Filomena Soyster.
Deborah L. Stevens
Deborah L. Stevens, vice president of special assets and special assets manager at Liberty Bank, says helping people get to the other side of a problem loan can be challenging, but also very rewarding.
Shirley Theriault
It was a baptism by fire, recalls Shirley Theriault. As mortgage underwriting standards first loosened in order to attract business, and then tightening after the financial crisis, Theriault has used her sense of action-reaction dynamics to bring a sense of consistency to underwriting. Her four nominators for this year’s Women of FIRE Awards consistently recognize her acumen.
Super Women: The 2013 Women Of Fire
Several months ago, The Commercial Record asked its readers to nominate deserving women in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors for our Women of FIRE awards.
Deborah Bochain
Deborah Bochain jumped into an advertising director’s position at Middletown’s Liberty Bank out of college after just nine months of management training.
Ann Braunagel
Ann Braunagel had an OK job, but something was missing. Ten years ago, she was working in the corporate world selling technology, when she decided it was time for a change.
