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08/22/2018 08:30 AMRichard LoPresti loves to keep busy. He spent 32 years working in the housing and economic departments at the state level before returning to North Haven to become the chairman of the town’s Economic Development Commission in 2011.
In the interim, Richard worked at United Illuminating (UI) in the economic and community development unit. This involved providing grants for regional nonprofits on behalf of UI. His career has been characterized by a theme of development and outreach.
When Richard retired from his position at UI at the end of June 2018, he didn’t quit.
“I have a lot of experience in the area and I enjoy what I do,” Richard says.
“When you get to retirement, you’ve got to have a plan,” Richard continues. “If you don’t have a plan, it could get boring very quickly.”
While some people turn to their sports or hobbies in retirement, Richard returned to his career.
Already the chairman of the Economic Development Commission, Richard presented an offer to First Selectman Mike Freda for him to take on additional duties on a volunteer basis. Richard will do more to recruit new companies to North Haven such as following up on communication and finding new prospects.
He already has a few projects to work on over the coming months.
“Since I have the expertise, I want to give back to the community,” he says, “because the community has given me a great life in North Haven.”
Richard will execute these new responsibilities in addition to attending regular Economic Development Commission meetings and putting on biannual breakfasts for local and prospective businesses.
In his new position, Richard has a chance to pursue initiatives of his own conception. For instance, he’s been looking into adding business incubators to North Haven.
Incubators are shared spaces for start-up businesses. They have been used to launch large companies like Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which started in New Haven’s Science Park incubator in the 1990s.
“Towns and states will create these incubators, because small business are what drive the economy,” he says.
Other towns in the area, like East Haven and Wallingford, have introduced incubators to their towns. Some towns partner with high schools for these purposes.
Richard’s expertise and his other work with the commission, he says, provides support for the town’s ability to draw in big businesses like the Amazon fulfillment center as well as some smaller, privately funded housing projects.
His extra duties beyond that of the commission allow him to bring more new ideas to North Haven in addition to working on the first selectman’s specific goals.
But Richard’s focus is spread beyond economic development. He also chairs the North Haven Housing Authority, and is a board member for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) and an ex-officio member of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce.
While he is big on planning, he admits not everything follows a program.
“Sometimes you get involved in things by accident,” Richard says.
He was drawn into working with NHSO because of his sons, Michael and Stephen. Both played instruments in high school.
His work with UI led him to cross paths with Elaine Carroll of NHSO. After hearing about Stephen’s degree in French horn performance, she offered Richard a position on the board.
“My plan was to focus more time towards those organizations that I couldn’t focus when I had a full time job,” he says. “And I love to golf, so now I have more time to golf.”
Richard actually began his career in development with the housing department at the state level before that department merged into the department of economic development.
During his 32 years working for the state, Richard handled the needs of five communities while based in Stratford and then as many as 21 when he was moved to Bridgeport
He joined North Haven’s Housing Authority in 2013.
“Initially it was more observations, but as I observed there were some things that I thought would make the housing authority a lot stronger,” he says.
In some ways, Richard says, he was the project manager for North Haven’s Parkside Manor and Temple Pines apartments. His work with the authority now focuses on adding new units to these sites as well as renovating the existing units.
“When I was ready to retire financially, then I knew I would be able to keep busy by volunteering my time,” he says. “I’m volunteering my time here and at the Housing Authority because I enjoy what I do.”
Even retired from full time employment, Richard keeps himself busy working for the town of North Haven and beyond.
“Before you know it, your day is over,” he says.