NEW HAVEN, CT — The Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Connecticut) in coordination with Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA), Hartford County Bar Association, CFA Society Hartford, Connecticut Young Insurance Professionals and Connecticut Bar Association announces the launch of a Connecticut Professionals’ Leadership Academy.

The academy aims to inspire emerging leaders by strengthening leadership skills, building relationships, cultivating talent and creating a collaborative community among several professions for the next generation of business leaders.

This six-month program brings together 42 professionals to help develop and improve their professions, their professional association groups, their companies and their personal career growth.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the other Connecticut professional associations and to offer our members a channel to build leadership skills and to foster talent,” said Gina Calabro, Executive Director and CEO of AIA Connecticut. “I appreciate the year-long work all the organizations put into developing this exceptional program.”

Seven young professionals of AIA Connecticut are taking part in this new joint venture that kicked off recently at the CTCPA office in Rocky Hill:

Catherine Young, Associate AIA with George Penniman Architects, LLC, Essex; Emily Ky, AIA with The SLAM Collaborative, Glastonbury; Jieun Bae, Associate AIA with Newman Architects PC, New Haven; Kevin Levesque from Babbidge Construction, New Haven; Max Ballardo, Associate AIA with Patriquin Architects, New Haven; and Susan Odell, AIA with Point One Architect LLC, Old Lyme.