Business in Brief - Feb. 5

The Lisbon Wal-Mart has awarded $14,000 in grants to 30 local organizations during the past year and also raised more than $12,000 to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises money for children's hospitals.

All of the funds raised in Connecticut go to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, store officials said. Other local charitable groups also benefited during the past year from monies raised during their fund raising in front of the Lisbon retailer.

Among the various groups receiving grants during 2011 from the Lisbon Wal-Mart were St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich, which received $1,000, the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department, which also received $1,000, and various American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War chapters as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups and social-service agencies.

Dawn Quinn, the former assistant city clerk in New London, has fulfilled the requirements of the Certified Municipal Clerk Program of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Quinn, who retired in December and is now a consultant in the clerk's office, will receive a certificate and pin. Completing the program, which includes three years of college education, means a clerk is proficient and has demonstrated mastery of administrative skills critical to good government, according to a congratulatory letter Quinn received from IIMC's Education Department.

The process also included attending conferences and obtaining letters of recommendation.

CorePlus Federal Credit Union has joined the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Circle.

The move reflects CorePlus' increased commitment to the chamber and its important role in the community, and Chamber President Nancy Gray and Chairman Stacie Lambert have welcomed CorePlus to the Chairman's Circle.

As part of the Chairman's Circle participation level, CorePlus will also be a major sponsor of the Norwich Auto Show, held annually in September. CorePlus is in the midst of celebrating its 75th anniversary year. The credit union has branches in Norwich, Taftville, the William W. Backus Hospital, Groton, East Lyme, Waterford and Plainfield.

YPECT, the young professionals group of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, will host a members social event at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Garde Arts Center in New London.

The monthly event will feature a free admission to a showing of the Golden Globe-nominated film The Bridesmaids, which is part of the Garde's Winter film Festival. To obtain more information about YPECT or to reserve a place at the networking event, call the chamber at (860) 701-9113 or visit www.ChamberECT.com and click on chamber events.

Tickets are available to the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut's annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, where Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.

The dinner program will take place at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, beginning at 5:30 p.m. In addition to the governor's address, the program will include the 2011 year in review, projections and expectations for 2012, an introduction of new board members and the chamber's annual awards presentation.

Tickets are $55 for members and $75 for non-members. For additional information or to reserve a seat, call (860) 701-9113 or visit www.ChamberECT.com.

A QuickBooks users luncheon program will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, 914 Hartford Turnpike in Waterford.

The one-hour program starts at noon. The seminar will be presented by Greg Antipoff of Premier Business Services. There is no charge for members, but seating is limited, so registration is required by calling (860) 701-9113 or visiting www.ChamberECT.com and clicking on chamber events.

Fresh Connections' Groton chapter has announced Linda Lee is its new president, Kimballi Startz is vice president, Sue Aldridge is secretary and treasurer-banker is Charlotte Mattei.

In addition, Paola McGee from AOK Consulting Inc. will be the showcase presenter at the Fresh Connections Groton chapter meeting at the Webster Bank on Long Hill Road on Wednesday from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. Visit its website at www.freshconnectionsforwomen.org to learn more about freshconnections, a professional networking group for women.

Paul Valentin from Liberty Mutual will be the guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Thames River Chapter of BNI on Tuesday.

The local chapter meeting starts at 7 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El in Waterford. For more information, call Pete Roberts at (860) 444-1973.

Todd Cambio, Jeremy Ponte and Ron Hylton of Precision Fitness in Pawcatuck have passed all four testing protocols and are now Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification instructors.

Precision Fitness is the only facility in the area now that has certified kettlebell instructors. Kettlebells are used to develop strength, core, balance and flexibility.

Precision Fitness recently hosted a Russian Kettlebell training course, featuring senior RKC instructor Zar Horton from Albuquerque, N.M., who taught the challenging certification course. For more information, call Cambio at (401) 489-0551 or email him at tcambio@GoPrecisionFitness.com.

Freshconnections' Norwich chapter will meet Thursday at People's United Bank, 4 Broadway, in Norwich at 9 a.m.

The presentation will focus on "How to use LinkedIn to promote your business and other social networking." Kathy Kane of Bouvier Insurance will present the program. Freshconnections provides a forum for business women to make connections. For more information on freshconnections, call Kane at (860) 859-9821, extension 321, or send an email to kkane@binsurance.com. Visitors are welcome.

Press releases for this Business in Brief column, which runs each Sunday, should be sent to businessbriefs@theday.com.

Submit all items for consideration by Monday morning for publication in the following Sunday's business section. Generally, press releases should be no more than two to three paragraphs in length because of space limitations. Remember to include pertinent information, such as your company's telephone number, hours of operation and website address.

For general questions about Business in Brief submissions, call Anthony Cronin, The Day's business editor, at (860) 701-4326 or send an email to a.cronin@theday.com.