FAIRFIELD COUNTY
BUSINESS JOURNAL YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR REGIONAL BUSINESS NEWS | westfaironline.com
FCBJ this week ARTFUL EXIT Ryan Odinak departs the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County … 6
June 16, 2014 | VOL. 50, No. 24
STAMFORD TAPS NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
A WINNING LINEUP
TOSSED ABOUT Pizza Post’s famous pizzas possess a dash of olive oil … 14
BY CRYSTAL KANG ckang@westfairinc.com
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PopShop Market L.L.C., founded by three ultra-hip Fairfield County women, nearly doubled the number of vendors and sales profits at its second annual pop-up event in Fairfield this year. About 50 small business vendors
fter serving 10 years on Greenburgh, N.Y.’s Department of Community Development and Conservation as deputy commissioner and commissioner, Thomas Madden assumes the role of Stamford’s economic development director in July. The Fairfield County Business Journal asked him about his goals and expectations. You are stepping into a city that has seen tremendous growth. Which is more important: maintaining current momentum or striking out boldly for new developments? Madden: “It is a combination of both. You need to make sure that Stamford’s existing economic base remains strong and diverse while looking for companies and development opportunities that will help enhance and strengthen this base. It is important to make sure that each development works as a puzzle piece that fits into the future of Stamford’s picture.” Stamford has been a leader in mixeduse and mixed-income development. Do you see Stamford as a national model? How does Stamford accomplish what other cities fail to do? “Stamford is a national model when it comes to mixed-use and mixed-income development. The 2002 Master Plan laid the foundation for transit-oriented development around the train station. This has been key in developing the ‘Work, Live, Play’ environment you are seeing around the downtown and South end areas. Another aspect of this has been Stamford’s ability to create a ‘Complete Community’ in the rest of the city. This is where the city has improved walkability, proximity to services and jobs/housing balance in areas where there is reduced access to mass transit. “Many communities have been afraid
» PopShop, page 13
» Stamford, page 6
RIDERS UP The sport of polo has a friend in businessman Peter Orthwein … 16 NEWSMAKERS Moving, shaking and on the rise … 24
greater norwalk chamber of commerce president and ceo ed musante and Td bank senior vice president maureen hanley-bellitto, far right, join winners of the chamber’s PAGE 8 small business awards recently in norwalk.
POP ’N’ ROLL
MEDIA PARTNER
a place To eaT and neTworK offers a mobile TwisT
BY CRYSTAL KANG ckang@westfairinc.com
THE BUSINESS-ON-WHEELS MOVEMENT is gaining momentum in Connecticut, especially with the help of a Fairfield-based startup that organizes pop-up conventions.