This week on Pulse of the Region, Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Executive Director Lauren Zevetchin hosts a reunion of HYPE leaders from across the past 20 years—founder Julie Daly Meehan, former Executive Director Kim Bishop (2016-2018), 2015 Chair Adam McLaughlin, and current Ambassador Saskia Butler.

Tune in as the group revisits HYPE’s evolution and shares exciting details about the 20th Anniversary Celebration coming up on July 16 on Pratt Street.

Purchase tickets for HYPE's 20th Anniversary Celebration

This celebration is the largest Get HYPED to come to Pratt Street!

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we discuss Hartford's thriving arts scene with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and TJ Noel-Sullivan, Founder and Director/Producer of the Hartford Film Company. We dive into what the state's burgeoning film industry looks like today, its workforce development potential as the ecosystem continues to disperse across the country, and ways to watch CT-made films during the Long Weekend celebration happening in Hartford on July 1-5.

Learn more about Hartford Film Company at https://www.hartfordfilm.com/, and view a schedule of film screenings and other events part of the Long Weekend at https://longweekendhartford.com/.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at ⁠The Swift Factory⁠ and produced in partnership with the ⁠North Hartford Partnership⁠.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we are joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers; Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship; Robin Kulasekararaj, Portfolio Head of the Insurance Business Unit at Cognizant; and David Griggs, President and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance.

Andy and Nathan return to discuss the Travelers Championship, joined by Robin and David for a deeper look at the tournament’s economic impact. Robin highlights why Cognizant, a Founding Partner for Travelers Championship, continues to invest in the event every year, while the group explores how the tournament’s growing scale elevates both the Hartford region and the state of Connecticut on a national stage. They also discuss how the region can continue leveraging major events like the Travelers Championship to drive economic growth and vibrancy.

Learn more about Travelers Championship

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North Hartford Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers, and Nathan Grube, Tournament Director of the Travelers Championship.

Andy and Nathan take us inside what to expect at this year’s Travelers Championship, returning June 22–28 to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. They share updates that will elevate the fan experience—including a redesigned wayfinder map to help visitors navigate the course with ease—and reflect on how the tournament has grown into a signature PGA Tour event. We also explore how the Travelers Championship has become a powerful showcase for Connecticut’s talent, hospitality, and community spirit, drawing national attention to the region.

Learn more about the Travelers Championship

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

On this week’s bonus episode of Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Brenda Watson, Executive Director of the North Hartford Partnership, and Patrick McKenna, the Partnership’s Director of Sustainability & Real Estate.

Brenda and Patrick share updates on major initiatives underway at the North Hartford Partnership, including the new Climate Resiliency Hub, expanded sustainability projects, and the launch of Grounds for Change—a social‑enterprise coffee shop at The Swift Factory. They also discuss the Partnership’s recent purchase of three multifamily homes that are being renovated to reduce environmental impact and lower rental costs for residents.

The group also offers a preview of what to expect at the upcoming Sustainable Homes & Careers Expo on June 13 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Get tickets for The Sustainable Homes & Careers Expo here.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, and Joe Gianni, President of Bank of America Greater Hartford.

Jason shares a closer look at food insecurity across Connecticut and why summer can be especially challenging as children lose access to school meals and volunteer availability declines.

We also explore Bank of America’s long-standing partnership with Connecticut Foodshare, including both financial support and hands-on employee volunteerism.

Plus, learn how you can get involved and support Connecticut Foodshare year-round—from volunteering at local pantries to helping with mobile food programs across the state.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Jeannette Dardenne, Owner and Creator of Opportunity at INgroup Creative; Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO at Connecticut Foodshare; and Matt Bannister, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Sponsorships at PeoplesBank.

Jeannette, Jason, and Matt share a preview of what to expect at Hartford Taste—from food and music to art and community experiences designed to bring more people downtown and support local businesses. They also break down how advance ticketing works and explain how ticket sales directly support Connecticut Foodshare’s mission.

Learn more about Hartford Taste

Purchase Advance Tickets for Hartford Taste

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Taneisha Duggan from the City of Hartford’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, and Shannon Frost, the city's Director of Marketing Operations, Special Events, and Special Projects.

Taneisha and Shannon share an inside look at Hartford’s upcoming Long Weekend celebration, taking place July 1–5 in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The multi‑day event highlights film, art, music, culture, and technology—offering something for everyone.

The conversation also explores how the Long Weekend is expected to boost the local business community by bringing more people downtown, increasing foot traffic for shops and restaurants, and encouraging visitors to keep coming back to Hartford.

⁠Learn more about Long Weekend⁠

Pulse of the Region is recorded at ⁠The Swift Factory⁠ and produced in partnership with the ⁠North End Partnership⁠.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Lauren Zevetchin, Executive Director at Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE); Bruce Soltys, Vice President of Emerging Talent at Travelers; Angela Pannesco, Engineering Development Program Manager at Travelers; and Kaleigh Scarfo, HR Specialist at Nassau.

With summer approaching, the Hartford Region is preparing to welcome thousands of interns. Our guests share how Nassau Financial Group and Travelers structure their internship programs and how these initiatives help strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. We also highlight HYPE’s Summer Intern Mixer on June 11, where interns from across the area will have the chance to connect, network, and experience the community. Together, these programs play a vital role in attracting and retaining young professionals in the region.

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.

This week on Pulse of the Region, we’re joined by Leadership Advisor, Speaker, and Coach Andi Campbell. Andi also recently founded SELENE, a women's leadership collective for experienced women leaders in Connecticut.

In this episode, Andi breaks down the concept of imposter syndrome, a topic she has been researching for her upcoming book set to be released this fall.

She explores how imposter feelings often take root early in life, shares practical strategies for managing them, and explains how confronting imposter syndrome can ultimately lead to meaningful personal growth.

Visit Andi's website: andi-campbell.com

Pulse of the Region is recorded at The Swift Factory and produced in partnership with the North End Partnership.