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February 20, 2021 / 2021 Power 50

2021 Power 50: 7. Chris DiPentima

HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever CBIA CEO Chris DiPentima.
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Several months into the worst pandemic the country has seen in a century, longtime aerospace executive Chris DiPentima decided to switch careers, becoming CEO of Connecticut’s largest business lobby.

The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) has long pushed back against new mandates on employers, whether it’s minimum wage hikes or higher taxes, and in favor of more funding and less regulation for key industry sectors like manufacturing and insurance.

CBIA has long been viewed as aligning with the GOP, but DiPentima, a Republican who is succeeding former leader Joe Brennan, is hoping to shift that perception, which will be particularly important in the coming two years since Democrats hold large majorities in the state legislature.

Since starting his new role, DiPentima has rejiggered CBIA’s lobbying team and is overseeing a marketing and messaging effort that plays up the importance of employers in their communities.

Like all other interest groups, CBIA’s lobbying team will face unique challenges this year, because they and the public are not allowed to enter the Capitol, at least for the next few months, due to COVID-19.

The remote session is expected to test the robustness of CBIA’s contacts inside the Capitol as well as its ability to adapt to difficult conditions. State budget deficit projections for the near term have been mostly improving, reducing the threat of new tax hikes, but a $2.5 billion hole lies ahead after this fiscal year.

Some of the legislature’s more progressive members are pushing for policies CBIA opposes, including a public health insurance option, statewide property tax and capital gains surcharge.

DiPentima appears to relish that he’s on the hot seat. When the dust settles in June (or later, if there is a special session), CBIA’s board and membership will evaluate their new leader’s performance.

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