Growing things takes water. There was plenty of water when Liz Pasqualini’s career in leading a nonprofit sprouted. A rainstorm turned flood hit in 2010, just four days after she assumed the role of interim Executive Director for the Jonnycake Center in Westerly. The dams in the Pawcatuck River were overwhelmed and the water rose. With five-feet of water in the basement, no power and no refrigeration, the Center handled their own crisis as well as helping their clients who were also suffering the effects of the flood, coordinating efforts from under tents in the parking lot.

“My board said instead of a trial by fire, I had a trial by flood,” said Pasqualini.
She went on to lead the human services organization for eight years, through a period of unanticipated growth during the 2008 financial crisis to the successful transition of the organization’s business model to a stronger foundation. Staffing increased from 12 to 35, and the annual budget, from $400,000 to $1.3 million. Transforming the thrift store from a nonprofit function to a profitable business, she secured a stable funding source covering up to 90% of the organization’s administrative and overhead costs, leaving them room to fundraise for specific programs.

“I think it’s exciting the things that can happen when you bring a diverse group of people to the table.” said Pasqualini.

Pasqualini is bringing her talents to the banks of another river as the new executive director of Thames River Innovation Place. Appointed in late May after earning her master’s in public administration from Brown University, this southeastern Connecticut native is excited to be part of growing businesses and nurturing innovation in New London and Groton.

Thames River Innovation Place, a designation from CTNext, is an alliance of public, private, and nonprofit sectors working together to tap industries, businesses, and ideas that form the region’s future growth and provide some of the seed money. Thames River Innovation Place is working with RD86 Space, a food incubator in New London. This test kitchen gives entrepreneurs the room to learn, explore, and establish a following before launching a restaurant or other food enterprise—a business that typically requires two years’ capital before becoming self-sustaining.

Thames River Innovation Place is looking to support up-and-coming entrepreneurs. She puts it this way, if you are a startup looking to scale up, a business looking to expand or venture into new territory, a company ready to engage in a public-private partnership, or a mentor looking to guide someone in this process—she would like to talk to you.

She sees the value of reaching out and bringing partners together. In Westerly, she engaged closely with nonprofits in her own sector, developing mutually beneficial programs, and she looked outside the regular channels to find ways to connect with the community in new ways.

“I think it’s exciting the things that can happen when you bring a diverse group of people to the table.” said Pasqualini.

Pasqualini thinks broadly about who these partners can be and the role Thames River Innovation Place can play in connecting people to opportunities. Thames River Innovation Place, heading into their third year of funding projects, is able to engage with small businesses who need support for unique programs, or the organization can be a conduit to make connections with other entities who can provide support like the Chamber or Women’s Business Development Center.

“It’s important to think of innovation as something that doesn’t have to happen inside a lab or behind a computer. It can happen in so many different places,” said Pasqualini.
Leveraging local and state resources, Pasqualini will be helping innovation take root in Groton and New London and grow along the banks of the Thames River.
To learn more about Thames River Innovation Place or to reach out to Executive Director Liz Pasqualini, visit thamesriverinnovation.org or call 860-383-5939.