Goodroot chief growth officer Michelle Frank was recognized by the Connecticut Technology Council at the 18th annual Women of Innovation® awards in the category of Entrepreneurial Innovation & Leadership.
As the third member of the Goodroot team, which now numbers over 100, Michelle has been instrumental in launching ten startup companies under the Goodroot umbrella, each tackling healthcare access and affordability from a different angle. Collectively, these companies have saved patients and the health plans and employers that cover them over $1 billion, as part of healthcare programs and benefits that reach 1 in 10 Americans. These results don’t happen without Michelle.
Broadcaster Sarah Cody of WTNH News 8 described Michelle at the awards gala:
As an accomplished sales leader and entrepreneur for over 20 years, Michelle is instrumental in identifying new business opportunities and implementing innovative commercial strategies for solutions and technologies created within the Goodroot community. As Chief Growth Officer, she is responsible for recruiting top talent, developing market strategies, and building successful sales and marketing strategies. Michelle is committed to empowering and arming the industry with products and solutions that make healthcare more affordable and accessible for every American.
See the press release from CTC below, as well as the full write ups on the 2023 winners here.
Connecticut’s current and future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – and their contributions to innovation and breakthroughs, career opportunities and advancement, economic growth and the state’s future – were highlighted at the 18th annual Women of Innovation® awards, presented by the Connecticut Technology Council.
The 2023 Women of Innovation finalists were recognized in an awards ceremony held Wednesday at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Nine award winners were announced from among 34 finalists in seven innovation and leadership categories.
The event (first in-person since 2019) brought together CTC members, sponsors, partners and supporters, government representatives, as well as finalists’ colleagues and families. A lively networking reception was followed by a short ceremony recognizing all finalists and announcing the winners.
In addition to CTC host and lead sponsor Medtronic welcoming remarks, the program included remarks by Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Dr. Christine Broadbridge, SCSU’s Executive Director of Research and Innovation. Dr. Dwayne Smith, interim president of Southern Connecticut State University, and Colleen Bielitz, Million Women Mentors CT State leader, were also in attendance. Congratulatory remarks, by video, were shared by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy provided congratulatory certificates to the winners and finalists.
The winners, by category, were: Academic – Laurie Caines – Associate Professor of Medicine, UConn Health Center; and Ivana Milanovic – Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace & Acoustical Engineering, University of Hartford; Community – Dana Gilland – Senior Vice President, Environmental Social Governance, ApiJect Systems Corporation; Corporate – Nancy Miller – Director, Project Engineering, Triumph Group; Entrepreneurial – Michelle Frank – Chief Growth Officer, Goodroot, Inc.; Research – Elise Courtois – Director, Single Cell Biology Lab; Senior Research Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory and Akiko Iwasaki – Sterling Professor, Immunobiology & Professor, Dermatology & Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University; Collegian – Fei Dou – Ph.D. Candidate, University of Connecticut; and Youth – Ana-Lois Davis – Student, CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering.
There were co-winners in two categories, Academic Innovation and Leadership, and Research Innovation and Leadership. Lead event sponsors Medtronic, Day Pitney LLP and Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced and presented the awards. Scholarship sponsors presented awards and checks to the youth finalists.
“I am extremely impressed with the great contributions these outstanding women have had and continue to have on the technology ecosystem and our society. The class of 2023 certainly have earned this distinction,” said Giovanni Tomasi, President/Chief Technology Officer of RSL Advanced Lighting Technologies and Board Chair of CTC.
“The Connecticut Technology Council is proud to host the Women of Innovation event back in person and with the generous support of our members, sponsors, and partners,” said Milena Stankova Erwin, CTC’s Executive Director. “The energy in the room was palpable. We were thrilled to welcome our guests, honor our finalists and celebrate their impressive accomplishments and noteworthy contributions.”
The award-winners and 34 finalists – selected from a field of over 80 nominees – are scientists, researchers, academics, manufacturers, student leaders, entrepreneurs, and technicians who are catalysts for scientific advancement throughout Connecticut.
The 18th annual Women of Innovation® sponsors were led by long-time supporter Medtronic (Platinum); Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP and Day Pitney LLP (Gold); University of Connecticut (Silver); and Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development; FuelCell Energy, Inc.; and McCarter & English (Bronze). Supporting sponsors are Bento Engine, Carillon Technologies, Empowering Pathways LLC, HyAxiom Inc., iCleanse, KeyBank, Nassau Financial Group, NBT Bank, Nel Hydrogen, Precision Combustion, Inc., RSL Advanced Lighting Technologies, Thorney Advisors, and Visual Technologies Inc. Scholarship funding was provided by Carillon Technologies, FuelCell Energy, and The Jackson Laboratory, supplemented by individual contributions and CTC funds. Media Sponsor was WTNH News 8.
Additional information about Women of Innovation and the Connecticut Technology Council can be viewed at www.ct.org/womenofinnovation. A copy of the Women of Innovation event program can be seen there.
About the Connecticut Technology Council: The Connecticut Technology Council is a statewide member-based trade association focused on uniting and growing Connecticut’s technology community by connecting leaders and organizations and providing tech companies access to resources for growth. With a diverse member and partner network, CTC is a hub that brings together the state’s technology community, public sector, and service providers to network and advance Connecticut’s reputation as a tech-centered state. www.ct.org
