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Updated: April 6, 2020 / 2020 Women in Business Awards

Mandyck helps piece together, showcase Hartford’s assets

Photo | J. Fiereck Photogrphy
By Susan Danseyar
Jackie Gorsky Mandyck Q&A
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Imagine strolling from Hartford’s Union Station through Bushnell Park, stopping to watch skaters or even lacing up, and admiring majestic architecture and cultural events along the way.

These are some features of Hartford that make Jackie Gorsky Mandyck feel most proud.

As executive director of iQuilt Partnership, a $1.3-million nonprofit that has been developing a culture-based urban design plan for the city, Mandyck firmly believes her achievements have only been possible in the context of the group that includes board members, civic leaders, corporations, nonprofits, volunteers and government entities working to connect Hartford’s assets.

The partnership has accomplished quite a bit since its formation about a decade ago, Mandyck said, particularly the mile-long Bushnell Park North, Bushnell Plaza Sculpture Garden featuring works by Connecticut artists and WinterFest, which she said is “the magic of Hartford” with more than 50, nine-hour days of free ice skating, figure-skating shows, carol sings, games and art events.

“You can see WinterFest and experience it more than something like an infrastructure project,” she said. “It’s all about people and families feeling good, enjoying Hartford.”

Every day she sees tangible benefits that residents and visitors get out of the iQuilt plan.

“We have exceptional resources in our Capital City like Broadway-quality theater and the Wadsworth Atheneum,” Mandyck said. “Where else in the world would you get that within a mile’s walk?”

Mandyck relishes “putting the puzzle pieces together” and moving forward with a given project. She’s been doing that in Hartford for 25 years as the director of community and institutional relations for Trinity College, and then as deputy commissioner of consumer protection for the state before taking charge of iQuilt.

“I’ve had great jobs here and have been fortunate in all three to work with people who want to get things done,” she said. “My successes are relationships developed with people I work with and meet. You can get a lot done by chatting with people and listening to their ideas.”

Colleagues say Mandyck has a strong network that she built in both the private and public sectors to help her become a central figure in revitalizing the city.

“WinterFest is her creation and is successful because of her ability to build strong relationships,” said Debra M. Borrero, director of school choice for the Capital Region Education Council.

Mandyck’s nature as a leader is to be part of a team and embrace collaboration, said Borrero. The two have worked together at Trinity as well as on various boards and projects where Borrero has witnessed Mandyck’s ability to “pick up pieces of information and pull them together in an impactful way.”

What others may see as a simple conversation, she said, is often something Mandyck processes and puts into action.

“It could be something she hears in passing, which she turns into a project and makes into a reality,” Borrero said.

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Jackie Gorsky Mandyck

Executive Director

The iQuilt Partnership

What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far?

I am torn between my work at Trinity College on the Neighborhood Initiative (Learning Corridor, Boys & Girls Club, and the SINA Housing program), my work at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, and my work at iQuilt where, one of our programs, Winterfest Hartford, brings free skating to over 40,000 people every year.

What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?

To successfully launch a new initiative, Hartford 400. Hartford 400 is a river-centered vision/action plan for the Connecticut valley and its Capital City.

What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over?

I never really think in terms of leaving a legacy. I think more about the work that I do and how it will improve the lives of people in the region.

What are your keys to maintaining business success?

Work hard.

Who has been your most important mentor and why?

My parents and my grandmothers.

My parents have owned a family business for over 50 years. No matter what obstacles, some very difficult, they worked through it. They persisted. They worked hard and never gave up.

My grandmothers could not have been more different from each other yet so similar. They too instilled in me that no matter what, you keep moving forward and eventually things would get better.

Through extremely difficult personal hardships they always had a smile and thought every day was a gift.

As my Grammy Dammeyer said, ‘Jackie, I woke up today. Put both my feet on the floor. Stood up and was able to see the sunshine. It is a good day.’

 

 

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