An uncategorized listing of all posts.
The Blue Notes, a group of women who volunteer to bring the joy of music to the community both as a form of entertainment and as a form of therapy. The Blue Notes has been part of the Darien Community Association since 2004. The Blue Notes Group take pride in providing high quality entertainment and enjoyment to audiences and the SMA takes pride in asking them back year after year to sing for us.
Contact: W. Pugh
Our featured speaker will be Ken Roman, formerly CEO of Olgivy Mathers Worldwide, who will speak on the recent history of business in America, with an emphasis on the role of advertising.
In addition, Tom Lom will describe a program to be undertaken by the SMA on revitalizing and rejuvenating our organization, with a special emphasis on attracting what we are calling “young seniors”. We will be asking for your support and participation in this important effort.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Michael Mauboussin, chief strategist for Legg Mason Funds and author of “Success Equation”. new book that explains how we can enlarge the “arc of skill” vs luck in various activities, including investing.
Cindi Bigelow, SVP of Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea Co, describing family’s entrepreneurial success story in tea business.
Contact: M. Skala
Art Gottlieb, historian; speaking on Civil War
Ken Roman is a former Chairman/CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, the highly regarded advertising and communications firm founded by David Ogilvy. He joined the agency in 1963 as an assistant account executive, and served as its Chairman from 1985 to 1989. In his 26 years with the company, he helped build the business of major clients (including American Express, Unilever, Kimberly-Clark and General Foods), expanded Ogilvy & Mather’s global network into China, Korea and Russia, and grew its creative reputation. Before O&M he worked in several corporate communications positions. Kevin Roman will speak on the history of advertising and how it has impacted our lives.
Contact: W. Ball
Philip Berns is an Immigration lawyer in Stamford will debunks immigration “lies, myths and urban legends.” He will speak on the lastest immigration laws and how they will affect us.
Contact: W. Ball
The group will be rehearsing for a joint venture with the Blue Notes.
Contact Joe Holmes if you are interested in joining this stout-hearted group.
Dr. Sherman Bull, noted local surgeon, is an avid mountain climber and has conquered mountains all over the world. He will talk to us about his climbs in the Himalayas with disabled soldiers and their life changing experiences.
Contact: W. Ball
Burdin Hickock
Burdin Hickok will talk about his experiences as Economic Development Section Head, Senior Banking and Finance Advisor, U.S. Department of State, US Embassy; Kirkuk PRT, IRAQ.
From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Hickok was a senior member of the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), which designed and implemented over $100 million in development assistance for infrastructure projects. His accomplishments earned the State Department’s Superior Honor Award, for “sustained, outstanding performance.”
The PRTs in Iraq are civilian-led organizations that partner with the U.S. military and Government of Iraq in the provinces to help create political progress and economic development as a way of providing long-term stability for Iraq.
Kirkuk has been a particularly important province due to its status as a disputed province between Kurds and Arabs. Outside of the Oil & Gas industry, agriculture and agribusiness comprise over 80% of the economic activity in Kirkuk province.
Prior to his State Department assignment, Mr. Hickock had a long career in global capital markets as an investment strategist and fixed-income trader on Wall Street. He will describe some of his team’s successes in a presentation entitled, “Planting Seeds of Hope: Stories of U.S. Success in Iraq.
Contact: M. Skala
Captain Drew Bissett, a Navy SEAL in the Vietnam War, is currently engaged in the training and development of SEALs using a “mentoring” program to facilitate the preparation of candidates to succeed in the challenging Seals’s training program. Before the mentoring program, which Drew was key in the initiation and development, the success rate was in the 20-30% range and the use of mentoring raised it to the 60-70% range.
Contact: W. Ball
Christopher “Kip” Bergstrom, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development, will talk about Connecticut’s new tourism initiative. Kip is the Executive Director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism. Upon the consolidation of this function into the Department of Economic and Community Development, Kip assumed additional responsibilities as part of DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith’s team. Bergstrom was the Executive Director of the Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission, a position he has held since 2008.
Contact: M. Skala
© 2026 Darien Mens Association
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
