Month: December 2019 (Page 2 of 3)

Art Gottlieb, US Pacific Fleet Subs, February 26, 2020

Art Gottlieb

Art Gottlieb

One of our most popular speakers returns to talk about WWII submarines and the men who sailed them.

DARIEN MEN’S ASSOCIATION

Announces a Special Presentation by:

Arthur N. Gottlieb, LCSW, CSA

 

US Pacific Fleet Subs   

of World War II

 

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, US submarines made the hazardous journey to the shipping lanes off the coast of Japan, only to have their torpedoes bounce harmlessly off the sides of enemy ships without exploding.  Only after two years of bureaucratic wrangling was the “Silent Service” finally supplied with reliable torpedoes that would lead to the virtual elimination of Japanese shipping.

Josh Geballe, Streamlining the State’s Business Functions, February 19, 2020

Josh Geballe is the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for the state of CT.

DAS houses a number of distinct programs that comprise the business functions of state government, including information technology, human resources, procurement, facilities and real estate, construction services, fleet, workers compensation and the state’s website ct.gov.

Our divisions are united in a common mission:

• Support Connecticut’s Growth – To serve our citizens, businesses, state agencies and other branches of government by providing the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost.

• Drive Continuous Innovation – To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of state government using best practices from the public and private sectors.

• Provide Rewarding Careers – To attract and retain a workforce of talented, dedicated public servants committed to leading our great state forward.

 

BIOGRAPHY

Josh Geballe brings 18 years of experience in the technology industry as a business executive, investor, advisor and teacher. He was most recently Vice President and General Manager of Digital Science at Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), a global scientific technology company. His business unit provided a cloud-based software platform that helped scientists generate insights that improve human health and our quality of life, and helped lead the company’s overall digital strategy.

Josh joined Thermo Fisher when it acquired his software company, Core Informatics, LLC, in March 2017. As CEO, he led that company through a period of substantial growth, investment and value creation for its stakeholders. Under Josh’s leadership the company was recognized multiple times as one of Connecticut’s fastest growing companies and best places to work.

Josh joined Core Informatics in 2013 after 11 years at IBM, where he held multiple international executive roles spanning general management, finance and strategy. Josh served as Vice President of a market-leading division of IBM Global Technology Services, with full responsibility for a half billion dollar business. Earlier in his IBM career Josh served as Chief Financial Officer for two multi-billion dollar IBM business units, including serving as Vice President and CFO for IBM’s Global Technology business in Europe.

Josh has served on the Board of Directors of the Guilford Savings Bank, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), the United Way of Greater New Haven, the Connecticut Technology Council, and the State of Connecticut Tech Talent Advisory Committee. He holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management, where he has also served as a visiting lecturer, and a BA from Yale University. Born and raised in Branford, CT, Josh currently lives in Guilford, CT with his wife and two children.

Arranged by Gary Banks

Warren Tuttle: Open Innovation, February 12, 2020

For those familiar with the television direct response mega-hit Smart Spin, Warren Tuttle was the person behind the scenes helping to orchestrate its overnight success. Teaming with a Boston based inventor, Tuttle selected an explosive path to market. With almost 10 million units sold so far, SmartSpin continues to be prominently featured at major retailers throughout America. Warren also teamed to initiate the market launch of several other innovative kitchen products including MISTO, The Gourmet Olive Oil Sprayer, which has sold over 5 million units around the world to date, and The Toss and Turn Pan, one of the best selling cookware frypans in the US in 2005. Warren has also helped numerous housewares product patent holders obtain licensing agreements with major U.S. manufacturers and has counseled many inventors who went on to start their own small businesses.

Warren currently serves as the President of the United Inventors Association, the nation’s largest 501c3 non-profit dedicated to inventor education and advocacy.

Warren focuses on external product development for Lifetime Brands of Garden City, New York, the world’s largest manufacturer of kitchen utensils and a major supplier of food prep and tabletop products to America’s major retailers. Lifetime Brands manufactures and markets over 30,000 products under multiple brand names including Farberware, Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Pedrini, Mikasa, Towle and Pfaltzgraff; introducing over 4,000 new products each year. There is great enthusiasm for looking outside the company for innovation, particularly patented new products. Warren has initiated almost 100 new product licensing agreements with Lifetime Brands.

Additionally, Warren helps with the Open Innovation program at Techtronic Industries NA of Anderson,South Carolina, manufacturers of Ridgid and Ryobi power tools and Hart hand tools. As an outside contractor, he screens and serves as a liaison for innovative external product submissions for the mutual benefit of both the companies and inventors. He also works closely with Direct Response Television stalwart Merchant Media of Marlborough, MA who has launched many successful TV products over the past 20 years.

Prior to developing and marketing products for the housewares industry, Warren owned 5 of his own gourmet specialty kitchenware stores (The Complete Kitchen of Southern CT), a prepared food and catering business (The Good Food Store of Darien, CT), a nationally recognized cooking school and a partnership in a kitchen design business. Food and Wine magazine once described The Complete Kitchen as “one of the finest gourmet stores in America”. Warren began his career as a department store buyer of cookware and small appliances in New York City (Abraham and Straus of Brooklyn, NY).

Locally, Warren served in the 1980’s and 90’s as both the President of Darien Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Darien Downtown Revitalization Task Force.

Arranged by Bob Howe

Video of his presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvVDuyB_sQI

Daryl Hawk, “Into the Heart of Cuba”, February 5, 2020

International documentary photographer Daryl Hawk will present his latest photo journal and lecture, “Into the Heart of Cuba,” illustrating his 2700-mile trip – in a 1953 Chevrolet – through the entire country.  From Havana through the Vinales region and east through cities like Cinfuegos, Santa Clara, Camaguay and Santiago de Cuba – as well as many villages in between – Hawk captured stunning architecture, colorful cars from the 1950s, remote caves, environmental portraits of people from all walks of life, and dramatic landscapes.

For the past twenty-five years, explorer and international documentary photographer Daryl Hawk has traveled alone to some of the most remote places in the world telling stories with his camera. Places where time stands still and powerful nature and solitude reigns supreme. Hawk spends weeks at a time documenting and immersing himself in different cultures and landscapes. He is a passionate defender of the world’s remaining wilderness areas and uses his photography to shine a light on why we need to protect them. Also, one of his main goals with his documentaries is to show the universality of all people from all countries world-wide.

His articles and images often appear in magazines and newspapers worldwide. He has also been featured several times on NBC’s Today Show and FOX 5 television. He is a member of the Explorers Club, founded in New York City in 1904 promoting the exploration of land, sea, air and space. He is also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Professional Photographers Association.

He is the owner of “Unconventional Travelers”, a small personalized tour company that focuses on inspiring travelers to see the world in a new way by experiencing first hand other cultures and lifestyles. These stimulating photographic explorations inspire and connect travelers with some of the world’s most beautiful places.  Upcoming trips include Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Patagonia and Costa Rica. For more information, please go to “Tours and Workshops” page.

Additionally, Hawk has published five books. The first, “Distant Journeys”, consists of his favorite 250 color photographs and poems taken from some of the most remote places around the world. The second book entitled “Quiet Moments” is a compilation of 120 black and white nature, nautical, New York City, and miscellaneous travel images. His third book entitled “White Pond” combines both his photography as well as his poetry. This book is a tribute to a small lake in southern New Hampshire where he has spent his entire life enjoying solitude and nature. His fourth book “Manhattan” is an in-depth documentary spanning every area in the city that he has spent so much of his life wandering around and always inspired by the endless photographic possibilities. His most recent book “Into the Heart of Cuba” is a 250 page book with images from his circumnavigation around Cuba in the spring of 2016.

He is the former producer and host of the Cablevision television show “The Unconventional Traveler” which features some of the world’s leading explorers, travel photographers and filmmakers sharing their work from various expeditions and documentaries. He has produced over 100 shows over the past 10 years. Some of his guests have included Buzz Aldrin, Jane Goodall, Reinhold Messner and George Schaller.

In 2004 Hawk had the unique distinction of carrying the historic Explorers Club flag across the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan (“Bhutan West to East Traverse”, flag #73). A guest of the Royal family, he was hired to produce and host an in-depth documentary for both American and Bhutanese television as well as international magazines. An Explorers Club flag expedition must further the cause of exploration and field science.

He also runs a full service studio in Wilton, Connecticut specializing in portrait, corporate, wedding, and advertising photography. Some of his clients include General Electric, Nikon, Fuji, IBM, Deloite and Touche, The Travel Channel, Apple Computer, Chesebrough-Ponds, Olin and tourist boards worldwide.

Arranged by Gary Banks

Video of his presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwfg0L9FKYA&t=18s

David Fitzpatrick: North Korea:  The Last Stalinist State, January 29, 2020   

NORTH KOREA:  THE LAST STALINIST STATE        

 North Korea has been the object of President Trump’s international desires for more than two years.  He and the North Korean leader, Kim Jung Un, have met twice in elaborately staged sessions that have on the surface been devoted to the so-called “denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula.

But those up-and-down efforts have been criticized by several experts as simply extended photo opportunities, a chance for both leaders to gain world wide exposure for one of the most intractable military and geo-political situations on the planet.

CNN’s David Fitzpatrick, who has traveled to North Korea twice and earned an EMMY Award for his role in a ground breaking CBS News report on the famine in North Korea, will examine the North Korea of today and of yesterday, which are in fact striking in their similarities.

Genuine progress may in fact occur between the United States and North Korea but the odds of success are slim indeed.

Fitzpatrick will explain why in detail and discuss his two trips to a nation that’s rightly been called The Hermit Kingdom.

 

DAVID FITZPATRICK BIOGRAPHY

A member of DMA and a Darien resident for 35 years, David Fitzpatrick is currently a Staff Writer for CNN’s flagship prime time newscast,  “Anderson Cooper 360.”   Fitzpatrick has been at CNN as an anchor producer, senior executive producer and investigative producer since 2001, with the exception of a year sabbatical in 2017.

Prior to joining CNN, he spent 25 years at CBS News in a variety of editorial positions, including service as a producer in the network’s Washington, Los Angeles and London Bureaus.  He has also served as the network’s Bureau Chief in Chicago and later, National Editor.   He joined the CBS Evening News as a producer in the late 1980s and subsequently joined “60 Minutes” as a producer attached to the late Morley Safer.   He also was a producer for two other CBS News newsmagazines, “Eye to Eye With Connie Chung” and “Public Eye With Bryant Gumbel.”  Upon leaving CBS News in 1998, he joined the staff of the ABC News prime time newsmagazine “20/20.”

During his career, he has worked for CBS News, ABC News and CNN on assignment across the world, including time in Iran during the hostage crisis, in Poland during the Solidarity uprising, throughout the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America.   He’s also been assigned to work in New Orleans during the Katrina disaster, in Indonesia for the devastating tsunamis of 2004/05 and in Malaysia for the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

He and his wife Adria Bates have three adult children, now scattered throughout the United States.

Arranged by Alex Garnett

Vide of his resentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdC_QNtcEsA&feature=youtu.be

 

Red Jahncke, A Conservative Journalist in a Deep Blue State, January 22, 2020

Red Jahncke

Red Jahncke is a self-trained, later-in-life conservative columnist writing in a deep blue state.  He will share how he evolved professionally and what it is like practicing his craft in CT.  The format we will use for his talk will be similar to what we use for some of our discussion groups.  Prior to his talk, read his articles posted below.  He will use them as a springboard for a lively and informative discussion.

Red Jahncke is a nationally recognized columnist, who writes about politics and policy. His columns appear in numerous national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Hill and USA Today, as well as many Connecticut newspapers. Red’s columns are featured on Real Clear Politics and CT Capitol Report, often leading to TV and radio interviews. He has appeared on national shows including Closing Bell on CNBC and Willis Report on Fox as well as The Real Story on Fox 61 in Connecticut.

Red is the founder and CEO of The Townsend Group International, LLC a business consulting firm headquartered in Connecticut. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at E.F. Hutton and J.P. Morgan Chase specializing in financial institutions.

Red was raised in Connecticut, where he and his wife have raised four children. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School.

 

His website is: The-Red-Line.com

Arranged by Alex Garnett

Presentation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu8cq6gIdfI

Jim Knox, Beardsley Zoo, January 15, 2020

Jim will speak on “Saving Animals From Extinction: Tales of Species Recovery in CT and Beyond”

Jim is the Curator of Education for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.  Jim is a TEDx Speaker with more than 3000 presentations to his credit. As a wildlife expert and keynote speaker, he revels in sharing his passion for working with the world’s most remarkable animals to transport audiences into his wild world.

He’s a graduate of Cornell University where he studied Animal Science, Applied Economics and Business Management .    He’s been a guest lecturer for the University of Connecticut.  A conservationist who has studied Black rhinos, lions and Great White sharks in Africa.  An adventurer who has conducted field research on Alaskan Brown Bears.  The former host of PBS television’s Wildzoofari.  A writer who has written for PBS television and The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  A wildlife expert who has appeared on: The Today Show, The CBS Early Show and Fox News and has been featured in The New York Times.

CRIKEY!

Arranged by Gehr Brown

Video of presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sLTpNQJeZ0

James Canton, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, January 8, 2020

JAMES CANTON

Chief Executive Officer

James H. Canton has had a relationship with The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp since it began in 1988. During that time he has been a counselor, unit leader, assistant director and for eight years, camp director. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in the Spring of 2002.

As camp director, Mr. Canton led the development of various programs to extend the healing touch of Camp throughout the year. Fall and spring weekend programs were created to serve the previous summers’ campers, as well as family retreats for children who might not have the chance to experience a summer session.

Under his leadership as CEO, the Camp’s Hospital Outreach Program was commissioned to bring Camp to hospitalized children. What began as a summer camp in 1988 serving 288 children has grown, under Mr. Canton’s leadership, to a year-round center serving more than 20,000 children and family members annually. He continues to volunteer during two sessions at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., participating actively with campers in the Camp program.

Mr. Canton has played a part in programmatic development of many SeriousFun Children’s Network camps. He has also assisted with the launch of sister camps around the world, including those in France, Italy, Hungary, Japan, and the Network’s first camp programs in Africa. He has helped to advance the SeriousFun Children’s Network accrediting criteria throughout the world and participates as a site visitor in the accreditation process.

Mr. Canton graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in humanities and received a master’s degree in theology from Yale Divinity School.

RYAN THOMPSON

Chief Development and Communications Officer

Ryan Thompson began volunteering as a cabin counselor at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in the summer of 2009 and joined the staff in 2011. In his current role, Ryan oversees all Camp communications and development initiatives. Most recently he served as Hole in the Wall’s Chief Communications Officer

He previously served as director of development and the East Coast Regional Office at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Ryan spent several years at Fordham University, serving as a media relations specialist, editor and assistant director of corporate and foundation relations.

Ryan holds two degrees from Fordham, a B.A. in communication/media studies and an M.A. in public communications. He also has taught as an adjunct professor at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, where he designed an experiential public relations course for undergraduate students.

 

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded in 1988 by Paul Newman with one simple premise in mind: to provide opportunities for children with serious illnesses to experience the transformational spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp.

Paul Newman, while a successful actor, was also a visionary with the heart of a child. His personality, playfulness and mischievousness are infused within every corner of Camp, from the pirate flag he raised on the tree house to the days he spent on the lake fishing with campers. It was Paul’s dream that Camp, with its unobtrusive expert medical care, would provide seriously ill children with a fun-filled experience defined by compassion, laughter and acceptance.

A Little History

Newman announced his plans to build The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1986, and in June 1988, Camp opened. When the campers arrived, they found a kid-sized old west setting inspired by “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” and filled with traditional summer camp programs adapted so that children with physical and medical limitations could participate. The accessibility of the programs along with a significant, yet unobtrusive medical presence allowed campers to embrace possibilities and safely challenge perceived limitations. Among kindred spirits facing similar challenges, they escaped isolation and found a community defined by acceptance.

Aerial View of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
June 18, 1988: The first campers arrive

In 1989, the healing power of Hole in the Wall extended to families with the introduction of a summer session for the healthy siblings of campers. In 1992, parents got in on the fun when the Camp introduced the first Change of Pace Experience (COPE) weekend. Then in 2002, one charismatic counselor, armed with paints and craft projects, ventured into a Connecticut hospital and proved that the fun and friendship experienced at Camp were portable. That is how the Hospital Outreach Program began and today more than 30 full-time specialists are serving nearly 40 locations from Boston to Philadelphia. Then in 2013, CampOut was launched, bringing the fun and friendship of Camp directly into camper homes and communities.

For more go to:https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/

Arranged by Gary Banks

Presentation video: https://youtu.be/vJ60J66hswE

 

Hockey & Dinner, Saturday, February 8, 2020, 4:45

This year’s version of our annual hockey outing will take place on Saturday, February 8th.  The game starts at 7:00.  Prior to that, we will once again have a family style dinner at 4:45 at Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s—which is an approximate 5 minute walk from the Webster Bank Arena.  Dinner will include a salad (gorgonzola if you wish), three different entrees (veal parmesan, chicken francaise and salmon piccata), cookie and pastry tray, coffee, tea, soft drinks and wine.  Price, which includes a center ice ticket to the game and dinner, is $65.  Parking is free at the restaurant.  Car pools can be arranged.
Last year we had 24 people join the fun—including 8 wives/significant others.  This year we will cap the attendance to the first 26 who sign up and pay.  Sign up will begin at our first meeting in January.
Tom Lom & Gehr Brown
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