reSET and Cooperate Connecticut Announce Beyond Business as Usual 2024

awalsh • September 5, 2024

Sustainable CT Crowdfunding Campaign Launches to Support BBAU 2024, Gathering Innovators and Leaders to Explore Cooperative Economic Principles

HARTFORD, CT - [September 4, 2024] - reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, in collaboration with Cooperate Connecticut, an emerging statewide network committed to advancing cooperative economic principles and practices, is proud to announce the return of the Beyond Business as Usual Conference (BBAU).

This year's event, themed "Beyond Business as Usual 2024: Co-Ops and the Next Economy," is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the 224 EcoSpace in Hartford, with an online attendance option available.

"We are thrilled to bring back the first in-person Beyond Business as Usual conference since 2019,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “As our state faces economic challenges that require innovative solutions, co-ops offer a model that prioritizes people and planet alongside sustainable growth. This conference provides a crucial platform for exploring how cooperative principles can shape Connecticut's economic future and foster resilience in our communities."

varun khattar sharma, co-founder and lead organizer of Cooperate Connecticut and who serves as reSET’s Co-Op Navigator Fellow, sponsored by the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, highlighted the global significance of cooperatives: "This conference is coming at a crucial time for us locally, nationally and globally. With the United Nations designating 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, we’re riding a wave of global recognition for the cooperative model. BBAU 2024 serves as a springboard for Connecticut to learn from and contribute to this global movement. It's an opportunity for us to showcase how co-ops are an important strategy to address local challenges as part of a larger, transformative economic vision."

BBAU 24 Conference Highlights

One-Day Event: Beyond Business as Usual 2024: Co-Ops and the Next Economy will take place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at The 224 Ecospace, 224 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, with an online attendance option.
Registration: Visit www.connecticut.coop/bbau for more information, including the conference program and a growing list of speakers, vendors, and partners.
Diverse Attendees: The event aims to convene participants in local and regional co-op movements, including co-op members, developers, funders, investors, technical assistance providers, worker self-directed non-profits, grassroots collectives and coalitions, and the co-op curious.
Networking Opportunities: Attendees have the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals to strategize around building businesses and an economy that prioritizes people and the planet over profit.
Inclusive Environment: Childcare, Spanish interpretation, coffee, light refreshments, and lunch will be provided.

BBAU History and Funding Support

reSET held the first Beyond Business as Usual conference in 2010, offering an opportunity for business and community leaders to convene to discuss topics relevant to businesses beyond the usual frameworks. Over the years topics have ranged from impact investing and sustainable business models, to regenerative finance and more. The 2024 conference advances the Beyond Business as Usual theme by focusing on cooperative business models in housing, food and other sectors, to further develop Connecticut’s nascent cooperative business ecosystem.

reSET and Cooperate Connecticut are committed to making BBAU 2024 accessible to all, and to support this goal have launched a fundraising campaign with Sustainable CT, who will be matching all donations up to $7,500 through October 26.

To learn more and make a contribution that will help support growing knowledge about cooperatives in Connecticut, please visit: bit.ly/bbau2024 Funding support for BBAU 2024 to date comes from the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, the 224 Ecospace, and individual contributions. Contact vksharma@resetco.org for more information on sponsorship.

About the Organizers

About Cooperate Connecticut

Cooperate Connecticut is an emerging statewide network for people, businesses, and organizations interested in building, growing, and sustaining our local and regional cooperative ecosystems. The network exists to strengthen movements to build worker and community power and to increase local democratic control-or stewardship- over the resources we need to survive and thrive: land, farming, food, housing, healthcare, arts, education, and transportation.

Cooperate Connecticut is made possible by the Co-op Navigator Fellowship, a project of The Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, in partnership with reSET. Learn more at connecticut.coop

About reSET

reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org).

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Leadership Transition Announcement: reSET Executive Director to Step Down in 2026

By awalsh • February 13, 2026

Dear reSET Community, The Board of Directors today announces the departure of Sarah Bodley as Executive Director of reSET in a planned transition later this year. The Board has immense gratitude for Sarah and all her contributions over the years. Over the last seven years, Sarah has built an amazing foundation for the organization and she leaves reSET in a strong position for continued growth and service. Sarah joined reSET in 2018 and over the past seven years has solidified and expanded reSET’s mission of supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs throughout Connecticut. Here are a few key highlights from Sarah’s time here: Facilitated the acquisition of Collab New Haven, expanding reSET’s footprint to a statewide geography and further enhancing our mission Developed and implemented new core programs including the award-winning Food Incubator, as well as the Food Accelerator, Retail Incubator, Measure What Matters, and Digital Marketing Mastermind Established reSET as a founding partner of the Hartford Culinary Collaborative, enabling greater connectivity and cooperation among food-centric support organizations in our region Doubled the organization’s budget to over 1 Million Dollars, securing multi-year State government grants Won the prestigious Neighborhood Builders Award from Bank of America, and the Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Community Award in 2022 Established an endowment fund thanks to support from the Zachs Family Foundation to support the long term sustainability of reSET’s mission Over the coming months, we will be continuing our search to find reSET's next Executive Director. Sarah will stay onboard through June to ensure a smooth handoff to our next leader, and will be available as a resource throughout 2026. It is the Board of Directors’ priority, along with Sarah's, to make this transition as smooth as possible to continue the great work Sarah has helped us do over her tenure. The Executive Director’s Job Posting can be found at this link, and we invite you to keep in mind any potential candidates in your community or network that you think might be a great fit. The Board of Directors wishes Sarah the best of luck in her future endeavors. We are appreciative of the dedication and enthusiasm she has given to reSET over the last seven years, particularly navigating our organization seamlessly during the historic times of the pandemic, changes in administration, and an ever-evolving landscape of opportunity for entrepreneurs. We are confident that with Sarah’s support, this transition will be a smooth one for our Connecticut entrepreneurs, partners, and generous supporters. We look forward to continuing our growth and to serving our mission of supporting the social enterprise sector. If you have any questions or concerns during this transition, please don’t hesitate to reach out via contacting admin@resetco.org to get in touch with the board. Sincerely, Ali Lazowski + Dave Menard, co-chairs, reSET Board of Directors

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July 7, 2025

Listen in to the replay of John Voket of Connoisseur Media's interview of reSET Food Program Manager Katrice Claudio and Program Manager Ndubisi Okeke that aired on Sunday July 6, 2025. They talked about the reSET programs that are enrolling for the fall--the Food Accelerator for food businesses looking to scale, and the Retail Incubator for early stage product-based businesses looking to ramp up for holiday markets in Connecticut. Listen here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8745230-reset-fall-program-preview The interview aired on the award-winning "For the People" show on Sunday, July 6 on WEBE 108 FM, STAR 99.9, WPLR FM and THe VOICE of Connecticut and on the podcast.