SENATOR JORGE CABRERA

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS • AWARD RECIPIENT

In 2020, Jorge Cabrera was elected to represent the 17th Senate district which
covers parts of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge. Jorge has been fighting for working families in the district and across the country for more than 25 years. Jorge’s father came from Puerto Rico in the 1960s
to look for a better life. With no formal education but immense worth ethic, he and Jorge’s mother persevered to give Jorge and his brother opportunities they never had. Jorge’s father worked the graveyard shift as a foreman at an electrical fittings factory. He frequently had to work a 2nd or 3rd job to make ends meet. Due to the sacrifices and hard work of his parents, Jorge became the first in his family to attend college. During his time at Quinnipiac University, he met his future wife Rebecca. In 1998 he graduated, earning a degree in Political Science with high honors. After two years as a legislative aide to then-Speaker of the House Moira Lyons, Jorge spent nearly a decade as a researcher, wage enforcement specialist, and organizer for the Carpenter’s Union. His work focused on ensuring prevailing wage laws were followed by employers and protecting members from wage theft. Jorge eventually moved to the 1.3-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International and worked as an international representative. Jorge traveled around the country helping workers preserve their respect and dignity on the job. In 2008, Jorge was loaned out to President Obama’s campaign to organize in battleground states like Ohio and North Carolina. Jorge then served as a business representative and Director of Organizing for UFCW Local 919 in Farmington. In 2019, Jorge was one of the key leaders in the historic Stop and Shop strike. Over 35,000 workers
throughout New England walked off the job to demand better treatment— and won. Today, Jorge works as a Field Representative for AFT Connecticut focusing on contract negotiations, mediation, arbitration and overall strategy for a variety of local union leadership.” Jorge and his wife Rebecca, a public-school principal, live in Hamden with their twin nineteen-year-old sons, Jorge and Gabe, both of whom attended Hamden public schools.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIZ LINEHAN

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS • AWARD RECIPIENT

In 2016, Liz Linehan was elected to represent the 103rd District of the Connecticut General Assembly, which includes Cheshire, Wallingford, and Hamden. She currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Children and as a member of the Public Health and Public Safety & Security Committees, as well as a member of the Manufacturing Caucus,
the Fire/EMS Caucus, and co-chair of the Moderate Caucus during the 23-24 sessions. Since her election, Liz has emerged as a creative problem solver, writing legislation designed to both solve issues facing her constituents, while also creating programs designed to enhance the quality of life of Connecticut residents, and the success of CT businesses and industries.

Notably, Liz created the first-ever Manufacturer ConneCTion Fair, pairing high school students with high-tech manufacturers to inspire the innovators of tomorrow through work programs, internships, and pre apprenticeships. This education-to-career pipeline initiative was born out of a meeting with an aerospace manufacturer in her district, after their causal mention of a need to engage students outside of traditional college fairs. From there, the Manufacturer ConneCTion Fair was born. It is now the largest annual event held at the State Capitol, with over a thousand high school students from every county in CT bussed-in to meet with 50+ manufacturers, trade unions, and tech colleges.

In 2024, the event was opened to middle schoolers to further pack the manufacturing pipeline and steer course study toward STEM, as well as to college students for on-the-spot job interviews, all under the gold dome of our state capitol. Liz’s successful initiatives also include bills protecting homeowner investments, autism training for police, fire, and EMTs, pregnancy protections in the workplace, sexual harassment laws, and the transformative Children’s Mental Health bill of 2022. Liz is also known as a fervent defender of children, strengthening punishments for child sex abusers and creating numerous prevention modalities.

Liz was awarded the National Female Legislator of the Year Award in 2019 by the National Association of Female Legislators, and has received numerous other awards including the Visionary Voice Award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, YMCA Legislative Champion Award, NARAL Champion Award 2017-2020, the Distinguished Service Award from the CT Association for Behavior Analysts for work for autistic children and adults, and the Champion Award from the New England Association of Marriage and Family Counselors for her work in children’s mental health. Prior to becoming a state representative, Liz served two terms as a member of the Cheshire Town Council. Linehan attended Central Connecticut State University, and has worked as a Synergistic and Relationship Marketing Specialist for two decades. As a lifelong Cheshire resident and outspoken advocate, Liz is proud to serve the residents of the 103rd District. She lives in the west end of Cheshire with her husband Brian and their three children.

Outstanding Leadership in Government Affairs Winners – 2023

State Representative Chris Aniskovich is an American politician who serves in the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 35th district. The district is composed of Chris’ hometown of Clinton, as well as neighboring Killingworth and the northern half of Westbrook. Chris has also served as Chair of the Clinton Town Council since its introduction in 2019.

State Senator Catherine Ann Osten is an American politician and member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the residents of the 19th state Senatorial District communities of Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich and Sprague.

Outstanding Leadership in Government Nominee Criteria

• Has made themselves available to ManufactureCT by attending meetings or being responsive to communications.
• Has supported legislation advancing the cause of manufacturing in Connecticut.
• Provides clear and tangible leadership on manufacturing related issues.
• Active participation in the manufacturing caucus.
• Introduced, co-sponsored or worked on legislation that would be beneficial to the manufacturing community.
• Can be from the Connecticut House or Senate – one winner from each chamber may be chosen.

Past Winners – 2022

State Representative Jennifer Leeper was elected in November 2020 to represent the 132nd Assembly District, proudly serving the residents of Fairfield and Southport. Jennifer currently sits on the Aging, Commerce, and Education Committees.

State Representative Jeff Currey Jeff Currey, is currently serving a fourth term representing the 11th Assembly District and is a Deputy Majority Leader, chairing the Screening Committee and serving on the Appropriations, Education, and Judiciary Committees. Starting in the 2022 legislative session, Jeff will serve as House Chair of the Commerce Committee.

Past Winners – 2021

State Representative Kara Rochelle is serving Ansonia and Derby’s 104th district. In her second term, State Representative Rochelle served as Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee and serves on the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee, and Insurance & Real Estate Committee. She also serves on the Manufacturing Caucus. Representative Rochelle has been a friend to manufacturing having written and passed legislation to create a pilot program to expand the community college Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program to more high schools across the state and she secured funding for Ansonia High School students to take advantage of Derby’s Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program.

State Senator Joan Hartley is Senator of the 15th district representing Waterbury, Naugatuck and Middlebury. Prior to that, she was a representative for 16 years representing the 73^rd district. Senator Hartley serves as Chair of the Commerce Committee and Manufacturing Caucus. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and on the Banking; Executive & Legislative Nominations committee senator Hartley is a huge friend to Manufacturing having sponsored many key manufacturing bills and being a great partner to the CMC.

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