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July 17, 2014 40 Under Forty 2014

Tim Yergeau

Age: 27

Title at work/what I do: I've spent my entire career working the arts—promoting, fundraising, selling, and advocating the arts. I've been director of communications and donor relations at the Greater Hartford Arts Council but in August the title becomes creative leadership at Civic Mind. I'm incredibly passionate about creativity, and love the opportunity to show others the inspirational and transformative power of the arts. I like to think I make connections and build relationships, and I especially enjoy bringing innovative ideas to life—taking that exciting spark and turning it into reality. I love Connecticut and living in Hartford; I try every day to make the city a better place and to focus my professional and personal time on bettering the community I am proud to call home.

Town where I work: Hartford

Town where I live: Hartford

College I attended: Boston University

My passion, hobby or special talent: Telling stories

Twitter handle: @timyergeau

No. of LinkedIn connections: 329 (perhaps it's the quality, not the quantity?)

Favorite place to network: You'll probably find me gossiping in the corner at any networking event.

Favorite drink at a networking event: Vodka tonic. And then water.

How do I create connections in my professional life?

It sounds hokey, but my strategy is always: be yourself. I try to be as authentic as possible — I think everyone is constantly over-stimulated, over-sold, over-worked — so I try to be upfront and honest, to discover areas of agreement, and be straightforward with my values. I find humor goes a long way. If you want your professional connections to last, start by being yourself — the real you is going to come out someday, why not make it the first impression?

What's been my biggest challenge professionally?

I used to think that building a career came with a roadmap or a manual; that you'd know when to stay in a job, when to leave it, and when the right opportunity came along. Obviously building your resume is a much more organic, much messier task that requires taking risks, thinking creatively and pushing yourself to excel. “Where do I go now” is a constant question, so is “where am I going?” My biggest challenge is remaining flexible and open to new possibilities without losing sight of my ultimate goal.

What is the best advice I received?

My first real boss, the former director of public relations at the Huntington Theatre Co. in Boston, told me to always keep a blazer hanging in my office for unexpected fancy emergencies. It's been a lifesaver.

What do I want my legacy to be?

I think it's a little too early to start thinking about a lasting legacy. I like making people laugh, and making them think. I'd love to hear people say, “He was funny” and “He always had something thoughtful to share.”

Check out the other 40 Under Forty for 2014 winners

Jason J. Warnke

Jennifer Young

Christopher R. Zito

McKinley Albert

Keshia Ashe

Dr. Jill Buban

Stephen Carrabba

Leticia Colon de Mejias

Erin M. Concepción

Molly Devanney

Jennifer R. Fiereck

Betsey Castle Gainey

Martin Gugliotti

Bryan Hall, II

Benjamin Howarth

Ashley (AJ) Johnson

Garrett Kenny

Vincenzo M. Landino

Heather Loranger

Ashley M. Maagero

Kim Margolis

Lindsey Mathieu

Tracy I. McKaveney

Ryan McKeen

Adam McLaughlin

H. Scott Miller

Alison Morris

Peter J. Murphy

Kristina Newman-Scott

Brandon Ojakian

Michelle M. Pandolfi

Erin Pirro

Ken Procino

Steven Raider-Ginsburg

Brian Rich

Matthew Ritter

Robert Ruffolo

Lindsay Ryan Jensen

Zachary Schwartz

Jarrett Solomon

Erica Ann Thompson

Check out the Digital Edition of this year's 40 Under Forty.

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