Bonnie Del Conte, President of CONNSTEP, Named one of "Eight Remarkable Women"

March 16, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Rebecca Mead, 860.513.3217 (o); 860.539.4915 (m)

(Rocky Hill, Connecticut) - Bonnie Del Conte, President and CEO of CONNSTEP, Inc., was named one of eight remarkable women in business by the Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) in their Women in Business 2011 supplement released Monday. Del Conte will receive the award at the Annual Women in Business luncheon at the Connecticut Convention Center on Thursday, May 5, 2011.

Del Conte was nominated by the CONNSTEP staff for her strong leadership, positive impact and significant role in transforming the organization over the past four years. Setting a clear strategic direction with goals and objectives and with an open door policy, she created a more positive work environment that promotes and encourages the CONNSTEP team to create and share solutions. "In CONNSTEP's sixteen year history, six people have occupied the corner office - but Bonnie is the first to lead. When Bonnie became President in 2006, employee morale was down, staff turnover was high and the metrics, by which CONNSTEP is measured by its stakeholders, were far too low. In the past four years, Bonnie has re-built relationships with key stakeholders, re-established partnerships with like-minded organizations and re-invigorated the CONNSTEP staff through inspiring leadership," said Rebecca Mead, Manager of Marketing and Communications at CONNSTEP, who submitted the nomination on behalf of the organization.

CONNSTEP is Connecticut's leading consulting organization that works with small and midsize manufacturers, healthcare organizations and local state agencies providing solutions in the areas of process efficiency, enterprise growth, continuous improvement, environment and quality.

Del Conte's nomination was endorsed by Chris DiPentima, President of Pegasus Manufacturing of Middletown, Connecticut, "I have participated in conferences, lectures and events with Bonnie and have witnessed her deep passion for both her organization, the businesses that they support, and manufacturing as a whole in Connecticut. In addition, as further evidence of Bonnie's creative & long term thinking and desire for Connecticut businesses to be second to none, she has now elevated CONNSTEP so that it is not just a nationally recognized Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) but a business partner for the health care industry and government sector as well. To realize that she has accomplished such an incredible turn around and expansion in just four (4) short years is amazing."

The Hartford Business Journal has honored eight of the region's most talented women from central Connecticut for the past eight years. Winners are nominated by readers and chosen by a panel of independent judges. This year, the judges were: Nancy Bernstein, President of Women's Health Connecticut in Avon; Jennifer Smith Turner, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut; and Mary Ellen Dombrowski, President of the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce.

The honorees demonstrate a business savvy, a confidence in themselves and their organizations, and a strong track record of success in the business world. "We are pleased that again this year the winners' career span industries including manufacturing, marketing, healthcare, social services, insurance and financial services "stated Gail Lebert, Publisher, Hartford Business Journal.

About CONNSTEP
CONNSTEP's mission is to help Connecticut manufacturers apply advanced technology and modern management methodologies to become more competitive. Since 1994, CONNSTEP's innovative programs have helped hundreds of manufacturers annually, and have assisted in the creation or retention of thousands of jobs. CONNSTEP's team of manufacturing specialists provides business growth, technical and process improvement assistance. Core service areas include Lean Solutions, Enterprise Growth Services, Environmental Management/Clean Manufacturing, Quality Management Systems, Business Assessments and Culture and Change Management Solutions. CONNSTEP is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce through the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  

###   

Printable Copy (.pdf)