Meriden Based Protein Sciences Corporation & BL Companies, Inc. Named Business Champions

MetroHartford Alliance and the Hartford Business Journal honor six Greater Hartford Companies

Hartford, Conn. (June 6, 2013) – On June 6, 2013 the 11th Annual Business Champions Awards Breakfast kicked-off the Connecticut Business Expo. Produced by the MetroHartford Alliance in partnership with Hartford Business Journal, Business Champions recognizes the Hartford Region’s fastest growing private companies who have experienced phenomenal revenue or job growth, workforce development and sustainability.

“This year’s honorees demonstrate the strength and vitality of the Greater Hartford Region’s business community,” said Oz Griebel, President and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance. “Their successes are outstanding and we congratulate them on achieving the distinction of Business Champion.”

The 2013 Business Champions, include:
• Overall: Protein Sciences Corporation (Meriden)
• Revenue: NorthStar Wealth Partners (West Hartford)
• Workforce: BL Companies, Inc. (Meriden)
• Sustainability: Kenai Sports, LLC (New Britain)
• Innovation: Advanced Copy Technologies, Inc. (Cromwell)
• Best Start-Up: Hartford Denim Company (Hartford)

Hartford Business Journal and the MetroHartford Alliance received a record-setting number of nominations for this year’s Business Champions Awards. Winners were required to be a privately-held business or a stand-alone division of a privately-held company; a for-profit organization; and located in one of the 61 towns of Greater Hartford.

“This year’s Business Champions have made significant contributions to the Greater Hartford Region,” said Gail Lebert, publisher of the Hartford Business Journal. “We are proud to have them as part of our business community and wish them continued success.”

The 2013 Business Champions Awards was presented by: MetroHartford Alliance and Hartford Business Journal. Sponsors were: Webster Bank (presenting sponsor); Cox Business, Pita Group, Shipman & Goodwin, The Walker Group, Goodwin College and GrantThronton (event sponsors). Event partners, include: Co-Communications, Event Resources, Keep In Touch Media, J. Fiereck Photography, The Perfect Promotion, Panera Bread, and R2 Graphics.

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About Hartford Business Journal

Hartford Business Journal is the only audited weekly, subscription-based business publication in Connecticut. Whether it’s market trends, the latest merger news or an update on state government, this award-winning weekly is the “must read” for area business leaders. Hartford Business Journal has a total readership of 25,000 affluent and educated business decision makers in the 61 towns that make up Metro Hartford. For more information, please visit www.hartfordbusiness.com or call 860.236.9998.

About MetroHartford Alliance

As the Region’s economic development leader and the City’s Chamber of Commerce, the MetroHartford Alliance ensures that the Hartford Region competes aggressively and successfully for jobs, capital and talent so as to ensure that the Region remains a premier place for all people to live, work, play and raise a family. An advocate for the continued employment growth of Hartford and the surrounding Region, the Alliance is actively engaged in executing its current strategic plan which builds upon the significant accomplishments of the past plan's four years. Among the current plan’s areas of focus are: fostering a climate for job creation and infrastructure investment; retaining, developing, recruiting and engaging a diverse and talented pool of employees and entrepreneurs; promoting the stability and expansion of specific industry sectors with a link to support small business growth; marketing the Region’s assets to retain and attract businesses; and, ensuring that the Capital City is the dynamic urban core of the region. For more information, visit www.metrohartford.com.

Media Contact: Judith Weir | Co-Communications | 860.676.4400 | Judith@cocommunications.com