SUPPORTING SOUTHERN ■
A Well of Generosity A powerful partnership forwards a commitment to community, sustainability, and “business for good.” By Eric Butterman
THEY SAY
WATER IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE. At Southern’s School of Business it’s also a source of inspiration and commitment. Larry Bingaman, president and chief executive officer of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA), is a longtime contributor to Southern’s business school; he and his wife have made leadership-level gifts to initiatives ranging from the university’s annual Day of Caring to the establishment of the Larry L. and Martha J. Bingaman Scholarship Fund. The latter, named in their honor, benefits Connecticut residents who are majoring in business administration at Southern. Building on this history, Bingaman recently pledged $150,000 to the SCSU Foundation to support the School of Business Experiential Education Fund. The gift affirms Bingaman’s belief that students “learn by doing” and forwards initiatives such as internships, students’ participation in business competitions, student research, and more. In recognition, the executive conference room in the new home of the School of Business has been named the Larry L. Bingaman Experiential Education Conference Room. While Bingaman isn’t a Southern graduate, his support of the university’s students is ironclad. He is a longtime member of the School of Business Advisory Council and is now lending guidance to the ongoing development of the Experiential Education Platform, which also will be named in his honor through June 2027. “I believe we need to support the community where we work, and education is one of the most transformative ways to do so,” says Bingaman, who has led the establishment of new operating and productivity initiatives that have saved customers millions of dollars annually while sharpening the company’s focus on environmental sustainability. Previously, he spent almost two decades at Aquarion Water Company, his last role as senior vice president, operations (Massachusetts and New Hampshire). Bingaman is known as a thought leader and change agent in the community-at-large as well. His involvement is far-reaching and includes being a founding member of the Greater New Haven chapter of Social Venture Partners and the Connecticut chapter of Conscious Capitalism. The latter has a goal of “elevating humanity through business,” which is reflected in the university’s social justice mission. “Southern is committed to its students and the region, and it continues to move in a positive direction as a center of learning. I’m a strong believer that we have an obligation to lead and serve — to improve lives and make the community a better place,” says Bingaman, who has received numerous accolades for his commitment to service. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Southern during the 2021 commencement exercises for the School of Business. This recognition and the naming of the executive conference room have both been humbling and unexpected honors. “You just intrinsically understand the difference education can make in people’s lives,” he says. “And I’m still at it myself, pursuing a doctorate in leadership and change. It’s exciting to be immersed in education.”
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