At the 2012 Leadership Awards ceremony (left to right): Robert F. Flynn, chairman of the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau; Robert J. Martino; Neletta Cochrane; Jay Sloves; and Michael Van Parys. Photo credit: Ben Pollard of MemoryManufacturing.com

HARTFORD – Jay Sloves of West Hartford was among three Connecticut residents honored with a 2012 Leadership Award by the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau (GHCVB) at the organization’s annual meeting, held on June 26 at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford.
Sloves was presented with the 2012 Thomas J. Shortell Memorial Award by Curt Jensen, director of sports for the GHCVB, who noted that the late Shortell was an active member of the GHCVB’s Executive Committee and a great supporter of the Bureau’s efforts to bring sports-related conventions and events to greater Hartford. Jensen added that Sloves also was a friend of Shortell’s, making the award presentation in his memory especially significant.
Sloves is a longtime advocate of showcasing greater Hartford and Connecticut as the site of major sports events. His full-service marketing firm, Elkinson & Sloves, Inc., has been involved in bringing and marketing many of the state’s largest sports and community-based events. He has worked on some of the most iconic brands in the state – from the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open to today’s Travelers Championship, and from the Hartford Whalers to Mohegan Sun.
Over the years, Sloves has been involved in many of the state’s highest profile sports events: the 1986 NHL All-Star Game; the 2003 State Games of America; the 2006 SkateAmerica; and the record-setting Whale Bowl last winter. His annual marketing projects include the Nutmeg State Games and the Ahmad Rashad Celebrity Golf Classic.
In addition to Slove, Robert J. Martino of the law firm of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. received the Bureau’s Founders Award, and Neletta Cochrane of CTTransit received the organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award.
“These three individuals have worked tirelessly to help make greater Hartford a successful convention and sports event market,” said Michael Van Parys, president of the new Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. “They are tremendous advocates of our industry, and we look forward to their continued support as our Bureau expands its focus.”
These were the final awards presented on behalf of the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Van Parys, who also served as the Bureau’s president. The next morning, July 27, the GHCVB and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) announced the formation of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, an entity dedicated to increasing the state’s convention, meeting and sports events business.