Lynch Toyota-Scion
Michael Lynch, Jr., President
This award-winning auto dealership - today known as Lynch Toyota-Scion - has been part of the business landscape in this community for almost forty years. Located on Tolland Turnpike in Manchester, it is now under the leadership of Michael Lynch, Jr. who was born and raised in this community and whose father founded the company.
Lynch has followed in his father's footsteps not just in business, but in community support and involvement as well. "My Dad served on the Board of Trustees of Manchester Hospital for years," he states. "He understood the importance of giving back and making a difference." Lynch recently completed a term as secretary of the ECHN Community Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees, where he was involved in developing and launching the Business Alliance for Community Health (BACH) program and opted to be an active, ongoing participant as well. "BACH is a valuable partnership for both ECHN and the participating businesses - it's a win-win," Lynch explains. "I enjoy working to recruit other businesses. In addition to partnering to provide support to our local hospital system, BACH member companies and their employees can benefit from wellness presentations by ECHN professionals, by working together to address issues of health and safety, and from valuable business networking opportunities as well."
Lynch recalls a 2009 quarterly breakfast meeting of BACH members at which Mr. Michael Hudson of Aetna laid out the facts and answered questions about the national healthcare reforms being proposed. "That presentation was so timely and relevant for business owners," he explains.
On a more personal note, Lynch expressed his appreciation for ECHN's facilities and services and for the care and compassion demonstrated by their staff members. "My daughter Kylie, who's 13, is an avid athlete," says Lynch, "and we've been to the emergency room at Manchester Hospital...well...pretty often. A while ago, she suffered a very mild concussion, and we headed to the ER again. While we were there, I realized something. Her caregivers were talking to her, explaining things to her - not just to me. They weren't ignoring her or talking over her head. I was so struck by the way they treated her that I wrote a letter to the hospital commending the ER crew."
Asked if there is one message he wants to be sure to deliver to those considering getting involved with BACH or any other ECHN support or volunteer program, Mike Lynch says, "I've seen ECHN emerge as a very strong and effective hospital system that our community can depend on and be proud of. ECHN needs continued community involvement to help it remain strong. Get involved...volunteer...that's my message."
To learn more about Lynch Toyota-Scion, go to www.lynchtoyota.com.
Connecticut Business Systems
Wilson Vega, President
Founded in 1986 in greater Hartford as a copier sales and service company, Connecticut Business Systems (CBS) quickly earned a reputation for quality and reliable service. In 1998, the company had been bought by Global Imaging Systems. Then, in 2007, Global Imaging Systems, including CBS, was purchased by Xerox. During this evolution, Connecticut Business Systems has retained its name and locally focused, independent approach to sales, service and customer support. At the same time, it has expanded product offerings and advanced its technical expertise in digital imaging, audio-visual systems and print management solutions. Today, CBS has more than 200 employees and eight regional offices, serving businesses, schools, and local governments throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.
A central figure in the growth of the company is Wilson Vega, who joined the company in 1990 and has been its President since 2002. In the course of business, Vega got to know the CEO and Vice President of ECHN. "I met Peter Karl and Kate Sims," he says, "and I was really impressed with the culture of their organization and their commitment to improving health care."
Manchester engineeering company Fuss & O'Neill is a CBS client, and Vega got to know company CEO Jeff Heidtman, who is also Chairman of ECHN's Board of Trustees. "Jeff made a very compelling case as to why I should get involved, too," says Vega. He was convinced, and when invited, decide to join the Business Alliance for Community Health (BACH), an ECHN Community Healthcare Foundation membership program, to promote positive health-related education for businesses and the community. "Now my employees have access to all the programs and seminars that ECHN has to offer," says Vega. "It's a healthy partnership."
CBS and Global have always focused as a company on employee health and wellness, reports Laurie Rozenfeld, company VP of Marketing and Business Development. "And with today's growing concerns about the cost and accessibility of good medical care, it's more important than ever that we all get healthy and stay healthy," she states. "That's why our company launched our 'Wellness at Global' program for all of our employees, their spouses and dependents in January 2009." The program, enriched by the BACH connection, includes a variety of activities throughout the year, including a wellness assessment, quarterly health challenges, online seminars, and six-week healthy living programs targeting areas of improvement noted in the wellness assessments.
Rozenfeld further reports, "Over 60% of CBS employees participated in various activities offered in its first year, and many employees have continued the healthy habits they developed during the program. Several now have personal trainers, joined their local gyms, and lost weight." With this encouraging beginning - and their partnership through BACH with ECHN - the company will continue their wellness program in 2010.
To learn more about Connecticut Business Systems, go to www.cbs-gisx.com.