Rep. Gail Lavielle named 2012 'Woman of the Year' by Homebuilders & Remodelers of Fairfield County

The Homebuilders & Remodelers Association (HBRA) of Fairfield County, an association that represents and advances the interests of the home building, remodeling and land development industries in Fairfield County, has named State Rep. Gail Lavielle 2012 Woman of the Year.

The selection criteria for HBRA’s Woman of the Year Award include support for the mission of the Home Builders & Remodeling Association and the advancement of the industry, and reputation as a businesswoman.

“Gail has supported our HBRA with her open door policy, which includes attending our meetings on a regular basis, meeting us at the State Capitol during our Business Industry Day, and listening and helping with an open mind,” said HBRA President Peter Fusaro. “Gail has supported many proposals to make Connecticut’s government more efficient by reducing the tax burden on people and businesses across our state, which contributes to making it a better place to live, work and raise a family. HBRA has deep respect for Rep. Lavielle for her reputation as a business leader who delivers real-world skills and expertise to our building industry and community.”

“In our current economy, there is no doubt that many businesses, especially those in the housing industry, have been hurt,” said Lavielle. “At a time when the legislature should be helping businesses cut costs by lowering the taxes we impose on them, Connecticut’s taxes remain among the highest in the nation.  For the past two years, I have fought to reverse the policies that have made Connecticut a tough place to do business, and I will keep promoting business-friendly values in Hartford so we can jump-start Connecticut’s economy again. I am honored by this recognition from the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association, and I thank the Board and members for the strong support they provide for businesses here in Connecticut.”

In the Connecticut House of Representatives, Rep. Lavielle was a member of the budget-writing team that developed and proposed a fully vetted no-tax-increase biennial budget in 2011 and a set of no-tax-increase midterm budget adjustments in 2012.

Rep. Lavielle has an extensive business background. Before her election to the General Assembly, she worked for more than 25 years in finance, marketing, and communication, holding numerous executive leadership positions with Fortune 500 companies. As CEO of a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group, she turned a company around, managed it through a severe recession, and doubled revenues while running it for five years at a substantial profit. She also served as Senior Vice President of Suez Environment, the world’s largest water and wastewater services company, managing people in more than 30 countries and working closely with the financial community to build its understanding of complex government contracts. She has shared the lessons of her real-world business experience with students at UConn, where she taught upper-level courses to undergraduates.

The 143rd district includes parts of Wilton and Norwalk and, following redistricting, will also include part of Westport.