2023 Connecticut Women of Innovation® Honored at Awards Ceremony

Connecticut’s current and future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – and their contributions to innovation and breakthroughs, career opportunities and advancement, economic growth and the state’s future – were highlighted at the 18th annual Women of Innovation^® awards, presented by the Connecticut Technology Council.

The 2023 Women of Innovation finalists were recognized in an awards ceremony held Wednesday at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Nine award winners were announced from among 34 finalists in seven innovation and leadership categories.

The event (first in-person since 2019) brought together CTC members, sponsors, partners and supporters, government representatives, as well as finalists’ colleagues and families. A lively networking reception was followed by a short ceremony recognizing all finalists and announcing the winners.

Photo byCT Technology Council

In addition to CTC host and lead sponsor Medtronic welcoming remarks, the program included remarks by Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Dr. Christine Broadbridge, SCSU’s Executive Director of Research and Innovation. Dr. Dwayne Smith, interim president of Southern Connecticut State University, and Colleen Bielitz, Million Women Mentors CT State leader, were also in attendance. Congratulatory remarks, by video, were shared by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy provided congratulatory certificates to the winners and finalists.

The winners, by category, were: Academic - Laurie Caines - Associate Professor of Medicine, UConn Health Center; and Ivana Milanovic - Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace & Acoustical Engineering, University of Hartford; Community - Dana Gilland – Senior Vice President, Environmental Social Governance, ApiJect Systems Corporation; Corporate - Nancy Miller - Director, Project Engineering, Triumph Group; Entrepreneurial - Michelle Frank - Chief Growth Officer, Goodroot, Inc.; Research - Elise Courtois - Director, Single Cell Biology Lab; Senior Research Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory and Akiko Iwasaki - Sterling Professor, Immunobiology & Professor, Dermatology & Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University; Collegian - Fei Dou – Ph.D. Candidate, University of Connecticut; and Youth - Ana-Lois Davis - Student, CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering.

There were co-winners in two categories, Academic Innovation and Leadership, and Research Innovation and Leadership. Lead event sponsors Medtronic, Day Pitney LLP and Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced and presented the awards. Scholarship sponsors presented awards and checks to the youth finalists.

“I am extremely impressed with the great contributions these outstanding women have had and continue to have on the technology ecosystem and our society. The class of 2023 certainly have earned this distinction,” said Giovanni Tomasi, President/Chief Technology Officer of RSL Advanced Lighting Technologies and Board Chair of CTC.

“The Connecticut Technology Council is proud to host the Women of Innovation event back in person and with the generous support of our members, sponsors, and partners,” said Milena Stankova Erwin, CTC’s Executive Director. “The energy in the room was palpable. We were thrilled to welcome our guests, honor our finalists and celebrate their impressive accomplishments and noteworthy contributions.”

The award-winners and 34 finalists - selected from a field of over 80 nominees – are scientists, researchers, academics, manufacturers, student leaders, entrepreneurs, and technicians who are catalysts for scientific advancement throughout Connecticut.

The 18th annual Women of Innovation^® sponsors were led by long-time supporter Medtronic (Platinum); Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP and Day Pitney LLP (Gold); University of Connecticut (Silver); and Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development; FuelCell Energy, Inc.; and McCarter & English (Bronze). Supporting sponsors are Bento Engine, Carillon Technologies, Empowering Pathways LLC, HyAxiom Inc., iCleanse, KeyBank, Nassau Financial Group, NBT Bank, Nel Hydrogen, Precision Combustion, Inc., RSL Advanced Lighting Technologies, Thorney Advisors, and Visual Technologies Inc. Scholarship funding was provided by Carillon Technologies, FuelCell Energy, and The Jackson Laboratory, supplemented by individual contributions and CTC funds. Media Sponsor was WTNH News 8.

Additional information about Women of Innovation and the Connecticut Technology Council can be viewed at www.ct.org/womenofinnovation. A copy of the Women of Innovation event program can be seen there.