At its 12th Annual Business Breakfast – “Connect-Grow-Influence: Women with Impact,” – on October 24, 2013, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) presented Nancy Coffey, CEO of KTT Enterprises of Hamden, with the Deb Ziegler Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
As CEO of KTT Enterprises in Hamden, Nancy Coffey has a personal tenacity, belief in her product, and willingness to grow and evolve as an entrepreneur. In 2007, she founded KTT Enterprises, a custom latex foam manufacturer and supplier producing a variety of products ranging from cosmetic applicators to foam mattresses. Nearly 100 percent of KTT’s foam products are made it its 14,000 square foot factory in Hamden. The latex foam is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable.
Like so many entrepreneurs, immediately after forming her business Coffey realized she needed help. She turned to WBDC for small business training, education, and counseling and over a period of six years took more than 10 training courses resulting in more than 174 hours of small business education and counseling.
“Prior to taking WBDC’s small business education courses, I was not business savvy enough to create a concrete business plan,” says Coffey. “My WBDC experience gave me the knowledge I needed to succeed through every stage of my business.”
In particular, Coffey credits WBDC for teaching her the importance of understanding personal and business finances and holding herself completely accountable. Through WBDC’s Beating the Fear Factor! course Coffey learned how to create, and thoroughly understand her financial statements and use them as strategic tools to grow her business. Since coming to WBDC, Coffey has doubled the number of employees and increased her revenue by 15 percent.
“WBDC was critical in the evolution of my business and gave me the knowledge I needed to help create strategies to make our business operations more nimble and responsive to a rapidly changing environment in the various industries we serve,” adds Coffey.
After years of building a successful manufacturing business in Connecticut, Coffey is a proud entrepreneur and continues to enjoy her role as CEO and watch her business flourish as she contributes to Connecticut’s economy by creating jobs and taxpayers.
“In her work and life, Nancy Coffey embodies the spirit and legacy of Deb Ziegler,” says Fran Pastore, chief executive officer of Connecticut’s WBDC. “Her drive and tenacity are an inspiration and we’re not at all surprised by the many successes we’ve watched her enjoy as an entrepreneur.”
Deb Ziegler was a WBDC board member who represented the organization with an incomparable entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence. An ardent volunteer, she raised funds and awareness for WBDC in addition to working directly with clients as a business counselor. After Ziegler’s passing in 2005, WBDC created the Entrepreneurial Excellence award to memorialize her as a dedicated leader who believed in the economic advancement of women through education.
About WBDC
Established in 1997, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women achieve economic equity through entrepreneurial training, financial education and professional development. WBDC provides education, training, resources and connections to women (and men) at training sites throughout Connecticut, offering a continuum of programs and services to clients in need while fostering influential relationships for successful business women at the other end of the spectrum. More information can be found at www.ctwbdc.org.
