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CCSU and Alumnus Team Up To
Foster Business Growth Before Todd Syssa graduated in 2001 from CCSU’s School of Business, he had a long-time goal of starting his own business. Bolstered by his degree and by his own confidence, and with help from the University’s Institute for Technology and Business Developmental (ITBD) in downtown New Britain, Syssa has made his dream has come true. Under the auspices of the Institute, Syssa started Procision Engineering, which specializes in welding and tube bending, and his design of a high-performance off-road vehicle, called the AlleyCat, has attracted investors and interest from the military. Syssa’s business is one among 23 others being promoted at the Institute—which boasts a list of 300 current business clients. Syssa credits the Institute for mentoring him as a budding entrepreneur. “This is where all the new technology, where all the new ideas begin,” Syssa says, attributing the professional atmosphere and the various resources available for growing start-up businesses. ITBD Managing Director Richard Mullins, Jr., compares the Institute to a one-stop-shop for start-ups, inventors, and small-to-medium-sized businesses. Business owners receive advice regarding contracts and insurance liability and can rent space there for a reasonable fee. A high level of expertise regarding services—including manufacturing, engineering, and technology issues—is available to these business owners. The ITBD was formerly known as the Institute for
Industrial and Engineering Technology (IIET). Today, the Institute is
changing to become more of a business advisory service, noted Mullins.
“We want to raise the bar to be a better, more value-added service to
our clients. We want to be their trusted advisor,” says Mullins. — Keith Marjani |
