2023 Induction Ceremony

It’s our 3oth Anniversary! Join us for an evening of inspiration as we honor 4 new Inductees to the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame, as well as celebrate those who built the Hall 30 years ago!

Event Program Book

2023 Inductees

Lisa Cortés

Award-winning director and producer Lisa Cortés generates bold, explosive art that shines light on important stories hidden from view. From helping launch the revolutionary artists RUN-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys to executive-producing the Academy Award®-winning film, Precious, Lisa sparks cultural change through works of unrivaled excellence. Little Richard: I Am Everything (CNN Films), which she directed and produced, had its world premiere in January 2023 as the opening night selection in the US documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Magnolia Films. Also premiering at Sundance was Invisible Beauty, the documentary about Black fashion industry pioneer Bethann Hardison, which she produced. In June 2023, The Space Race (National Geographic Documentary Films), premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Cortés directed and produced this gripping saga of African American astronauts at NASA and in space.

In 2020, Cortés directed and produced All In: The Fight For Democracy, tracing the violent history of the voting rights struggle. Emmy-winning HBO documentary, The Apollo, (2019) which Cortés produced, explores African American cultural and political history through the story of the legendary Apollo Theater. Cortés executive produced Precious (2009) which was nominated for six Academy Awards® and won two. The film received the Sundance Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for best drama. Her film productions have received over 80 international awards and nominations.

Cortés launched her early career as a music executive at the iconic Def Jam label and Rush Artist Management; she also was VP of Artist & Repertoire at Mercury Records and founded the Loose Cannon label. Cortés is a member of the Producers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director’s Guild of America. She serves on the Boards of Film at Lincoln Center; Independent Television Services (ITVS); Yaddo, the celebrated artists’ community in Saratoga Springs; the Trajal Harrell Dance Company; and the DGA Focus on Women Committee.

CORTÉS FILMWORKS, a NYC-based multimedia production company founded by Lisa Cortés partners with Blue Ant Studios to develop and produce scripted and unscripted properties spanning music, social justice/crime, and other topics. In 2023, the company signed a global development deal with the Museum of the City of New York for projects in the pop culture, history and music genres. Cortés Filmworks is committed to telling complex, powerful stories from new perspectives, and elevating the talent often overlooked by the mainstream.

Laura Cruickshank

Laura Cruickshank, FAIA, University Master Planner and Chief Architect and Associate Vice President for University Planning, Design and Construction, joined the University of Connecticut in February 2013. Ms. Cruickshank is responsible for the immediate and long-range planning, space management, design, construction and real estate of the University’s $2.5 billion-dollar Capital Improvement Plan, UConn 2000 and Next Generation CT programs for the Storrs and Regional Campuses and the Law School.

 Prior to joining UConn, Laura Cruickshank was the Yale University Planner and directed planning and design on the Yale central campus. Ms. Cruickshank led Yale planning for the new Yale-NUS College in Singapore representing the University in the planning, design and construction of the new liberal arts college. She collaborated with an international team of architects, and partnered with professional and administrative colleagues from the National University of Singapore. Prior to her tenure at Yale, Laura was in private practice for over twenty years.

 Ms. Cruickshank received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1975 and her Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning in 1980; she gave the Commencement address at the School in May 2016. Laura holds architectural registration in Connecticut and New York and is an elected member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (COF, AIA) and member of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), the Association of University Architects (AUA) and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Ms. Cruickshank was appointed to the Governor's 5G Council, serves on the Construction Institute’s Board of Advisors* and has served on various private boards and public commissions, including the General Services Administration peer review for the design of the new campus for the Department of Homeland Security. She has won numerous awards in recognition of her work.

Carla Squatrito

Carla Squatrito is the founder, and for 43 years, was the President of Carla’s Pasta, a multi-million dollar food production company. Carla moved to the United States from Turin, Italy in 1968 at the age of 27. In addition to having to learn a new language, she also missed the fresh pastas, produce, and cooking from her home country. In the 1970’s there was very little authentic Italian food available in America. In 1978, Carla decided to open an Italian food specialty shop that carried fresh pasta and sauces in Manchester, Connecticut.

By 1982 Carla’s Pasta moved to a large USDA approved manufacturing facility in Manchester, Connecticut. Carla’s Pasta became known as a producer of high quality products that used only fresh ingredients and no fillers. The processing of Carla’s Pasta used a laminating technique which mimics the hand kneading motion and creates a thinner high quality dough. The company then developed a steam bag technology so customers could cook fresh pasta in a matter of minutes. Both of Carla’s sons, Sandro Squatrito, and Sergio Squatrito, became executives, making the pasta business a family venture.

Carla’s Pasta continued to grow and had three factory expansions in 2002, 2013, and 2017. By 2017 Carla's Pasta, now located in South Windsor, had 300 employees who were making about forty-seven million pounds of pasta a year. This expansion enabled Carla's Pasta to become the largest provider of frozen pasta in the United States. In 2016 and 2018 Inc. Magazine named Carla’s Pasta one of the Inc.5000 Fastest Growing Businesses. In 2020, COVID-19 closed down many restaurants, hotels, and sporting events. This decrease in demand for specialty foods resulted in the sale of Carla’s Pasta to Tribe 9 Foods in 2021.

Regina Winters-Toussaint

Regina Winters-Toussaint (1969-2016) was an architect and founder of Zared Enterprises, LLC in New Haven, CT and Port Arthur, TX.  She founded the company in 2003 and specialized in sustainable and green design.  She and her work were featured in the New York Times Magazine, New York News Day, the New Haven Register, New Haven Independent and the Real Estate & Construction Review among others. She became a Managing Member of the interdisciplinary real estate development and planning firm, Via Nuova in 2006.

For over two decades she was an administrator, professional consultant and advocate for programs geared toward neighborhood revitalization, community development and urban planning.  She served first as Deputy for Administrative Services, administering all state, federal and municipal funding for affordable housing development for the City of New Haven.  Later she accepted a Mayoral appointment to the position of Executive Director of the City of New Haven’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Development (the Livable City Initiative) and finally as Interim Executive Director of the New Haven Housing Authority.  During her tenure she wrote grants successfully realizing $17 million in new state and federal funding for city-sponsored housing programs and administered $340 million in public funding for the creation of affordable housing, sustainable communities and for neighborhood revitalization efforts City-wide.

Ms. Winters-Toussaint was the co-founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects and the only African-American Women Principal of an Architecture and Planning Firm in the State of Connecticut. She was a member of Connecticut’s State Historic Preservation Review Board and a Trustee of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.

Ms. Winters-Toussaint was a graduate of the George School, an elite Quaker prep school in Pennsylvania.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University and a Master of Architecture Degree from Yale University.

Regina Winters-Toussaint passed away on April 3, 2016

 Founding President’s Award

In 2013, in honor of our Founding President, Geena Clonan, we inaugurated the Founding President’s Award to recognize the outstanding work of a Connecticut non-profit that educates and empowers women. 30 years ago, a dream was conceived to honor women's achievements by giving voice to their life’s stories. In turn, their stories educate, encourage, inspire, and empower each of us to be all that we can be! The dream would not have been realized without the loyalty and dedication of our Founders: The Connecticut Forum, Connecticut Public, (formerly CPTV), and the University of Hartford’s Hartford College for Women, now the Women’s Initiative.  To this day, they remain our steadfast supporters and we remain eternally grateful.  This year's Founding President’s Award is being granted to these three special organizations that were instrumental pillars in the foundation of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

 Event Tickets

*Become a Friend of the Hall or a Host and receive name recognition in our event program book. Host level includes 10 tickets.

We look forward to seeing you at the Bushnell on Thursday, October 26th for a reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres from 6-7 PM, followed by the ceremony in the Belding Theater from 7-8:30 PM. Let's celebrate women's accomplishments TOGETHER!

Proceeds from the Induction Ceremony help support the Hall's educational programming so that women and girls live up to their fullest potential. Women are 51% of the population and it's important for our students and Connecticut citizens to know about women's contributions and use their stories as a catalyst for change. Your purchase of an Induction Ceremony ticket ensures that we can continue to develop educational resources about women, past and present, that remain relevant to the times. Thank you for being a partner in change!

Purchase an Ad in our Virtual Program Book!

Would you like to support one of our Inductees, Founding President’s Award recipients, or simply spread the word about your business or organization? Consider purchasing an ad in our virtual program book. We offer full-color advertising space in three sizes. Contact our Development Manager at paige@cwhf.org to purchase your ad today!

 Sponsorship Opportunities

For 30 years, the Hall has worked to create a more equitable future for all of us by sharing the stories of accomplished Connecticut women, empowering women and girls to reach their full potential.

 Our Sponsors

Gold

Silver

Bronze

The Ethel Walker School

Eversource

KBE Building Corporation

Key Bank

Steve and Sarah Kraus in memory of Eileen Kraus

Liberty Bank

M&T Bank

Media Sponsor