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August 2, 2018 40 Under Forty 2018

Guilaine Menefee

Photo | J. Fiereck Photography

Age: 39

Company: Menefee Associates Consulting LLC; Your Fitness Network

Title: CEO; President

No. of years with current company: 4 (MAC); 1 (YFN)

Town where I live: Bloomfield

Town where I work: Manchester

College: NYU Stern School of Business

Highest degree: MBA in strategy and corporate finance

Guilaine Menefee is CEO of Menefee Associates Consulting LLC, which helps small business owners develop business plans or start their own firms. In 2017, she founded her third company, Your Fitness Network (YFN), an online fitness platform where coaches provide personal training and nutrition live.

Menefee is a professional bodybuilder with a lifelong passion for helping others make health and fitness a lifestyle. She is also a wife and mother of two girls and active volunteer within her community, in multiple organizations. She hopes her example will make a more social conscious, economically sustainable and healthier community.

What's been the biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career?

Starting my company Your Fitness Network. The journey of transforming my hobby of fitness into a new and innovative business model has challenged me and tested my core competencies (and career) more than anything prior.

How are you involved in the community?

I'm president of the Connecticut National Black MBA Association and a proud member of the Hartford Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. I'm also the secretary for the Bloomfield Junior Soccer Association.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love spending time with my girls. Outside of being a personal trainer, I'm a bit of a health nut, actively weight training and eating healthy. I'm an avid football fan. My favorite team is the New England Patriots. I love fine dining and traveling.

Give an example of a people-skills habit you adhere to in your work and daily life.

At Menefee, everyone's perspective is valid. I've learned to listen to everyone and anyone. By keeping myself open to others' opinions and thoughts regardless of experience, age or role, I've very quickly sharpened my own skill set and become better because I've learned even more.

What must the Greater Hartford region do to attract more talented young professionals?

Stay open past 5 p.m. Hartford must create a stronger, more vibrant 'happy hour' environment downtown so young professionals can look forward to a night life after work hours.

Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:

• Founded three companies by age 38.

• Active volunteer in multiple organizations who constantly works to make the Greater Hartford community better.

• My company's services, which help small business owners start up and stay in business, also helps the economic stimulation and sustainment of Connecticut, especially Hartford local businesses.

• Recently became the interim executive director of the Black Business Alliance.

Fun Fact 

In high school, I received the youth recipient award from the president.

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