HARTFORD—Dena Castricone has been named one of Connecticut Magazine's “40 Under 40” leaders in their March 2011 issue for her trailblazing work establishing the first chamber of commerce in the state for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender-owned businesses and their allies.

Casticone founded the group—Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities (CABO)-- in 2007 and it has grown to 150 businesses, with monthly member networking events in Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield. Major corporate members include Aetna, Foxwoods, Murtha Cullina, Comcast, Clear Channel Radio, Bearingstar Insurance, Yale University, United Illuminating, Frito Lay, The Hartford, UTC, the CT Sun WNBA team, and many more. 

CABO received the Rising Star Chamber award in 2009 from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for being the fastest growing chamber with the most potential in the country.

Jenn Tracz, Executive Director of CABO said, “It’s fantastic to see Dena recognized for her drive and passion in creating business opportunities for individuals and corporations in Connecticut who not only are extremely talented, but who walk the walk for equality and justice for LGBT people. Thanks to her voice and countless hours of organizing, CABO is becoming an economic force in the state, and our member businesses are reaping the rewards.”

Castricone is an attorney at Murtha Cullina LLP in New Haven (CABO’s founding sponsor), where she works primarily in construction and business litigation. She currently is the Board President of CABO.

She said, “It’s a thrill to be recognized by Connecticut Magazine. I’m so gratified to live in a state where top-notch, fair-minded businesses are enthusiastically connecting with each other to benefit the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and that CABO has been the spark for those relationships.”

Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40” piece can be read in its entirety here.

Businesses interested in joining CABO can visit www.thecabo.org.     

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The Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities (CABO) promotes the economic prosperity of Connecticut’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender businesses and their allies.