Connecticut
West Hartford Entrepreneur Named Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year – We-Ha | West Hartford News
Derek Ezovski, president of Outsourced Risk Management Solutions (ORMS) of West Hartford, has been named Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year.
ORMS President Derek Ezovski has been named Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
West Hartford entrepreneur Derek Ezovski, who launched his own company, Outsourced Risk Management Solutions (ORMS), after recognizing an important need in the lending process that few were equipped to easily and efficiently address, has been recognized by the SBA Connecticut District Office as Connecticut National Small Business Person of the Year.
Small Business Administration District Director Catherine Marx joined Ezovski and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, CT DECD Project Manager Sue Decima, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Conway, and other officials as well as family, friends, and colleagues at a celebration at the ORMS office at 7 South Main Street on April 9.
ORMS President Derek Ezovski. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“It’s a very niche part of the business, but it’s a very important part of what goes into a loan and making sure it gets done,” said Ezovski about ORMS’s role in performing environmental due diligence, including Phase I reports, for commercial real estate lenders. “We work with a lot of SBA lenders that have to get loans out to small businesses that don’t have a lot of knowledge of how to do it alone.”
Marx said “National Small Business Week” is the SBA’s favorite time of year. “This is a moment when we get to pause and recognize and celebrate our innovators, our job creators, and the entrepreneurs who shop up every day – every single day – to invest in our communities. They are the ones weaving the fabrics of our main streets – and our South Main Streets [where ORMS is physically located] – strengthening our neighborhoods and driving our economy forward.”
SBA District Director Catherine Marx. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Marx noted that Ezovski’s journey truly embodies that spirit of entrepreneurship, using his expertise in real estate and environmental risk to develop an understanding of the field, and then taking a risk to grow a business that supports the success of others. “This year’s Small Business Person of the Year has grown ORMS into a national service provider that is integral to the small business ecosystem, a testament to his perseverance, dedication, and honed expertise. This has created jobs within ORMS and for hundreds of small businesses that rely on his service. His work plays a vital role in powering the American Dream for so many,” she said, adding that it doesn’t happen overnight.
“It takes wisdom, it takes resilience, and it takes commitment to excellence,” Marx said. Through ORMS, a ripple effect has been created that assists SBA lenders in properly evaluating risk, “giving them the confidence to say yes to projects and loans that otherwise might stall. And with every yes, it means another business opens its doors, it means another business expands their operations, and it creates jobs.”
Mayor Shari Cantor delivers a proclamation to ORMS President Derek Ezovski. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Cantor, whose husband built a small business from scratch, noted that she understands the hours and hours of work involved to reach a level of success. She thanked Ezovski for his contributions, and also thanked West Hartford’s town manager and economic development division for working so hard to support small businesses.
Cantor presented Ezovski and ORMS with a proclamation honoring National Small Business Week and his being named Small Business Person of the Year.
CT DECD Project Manager Sue Decima with ORMS President Derek Ezovski. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Decima noted that in West Hartford, DECD has provided 18 loans for a total of $3.1 million through the Small Business Boost Fund – some of that lending assisted by the work of Ezovski and ORMS.
Conway said that when people think about West Hartford Center “they see the restaurants, they see the shops, they see the coffee. I don’t think enough people look up and know about the really cool, innovative, creative, hard work that goes on in all of these spaces up here,” he said of the ORMS second floor suite, above Blue Elephant Trail on South Main Street.
West Hartford Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Conway congratulates ORMS President Derek Ezovski. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Ezovski said it’s hard to explain what they do – “which is actually the whole reason why our business is so important for small businesses.” When a small business owner is buying a piece of property it may be the only time they buy a piece of property other than their home, but hearing they need an expensive appraisal can be daunting. “So we started this company to try to help the lenders with a piece of the puzzle that they weren’t really experts in.”
ORMS President Derek Ezovski has been named Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year. Pictured with SBA District Director Catherine Marx. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Times were tough, and very challenging, when he started the company in 2009, Ezovski said, but they now have 25 people across the country.
“This has been a really big honor,” Ezovski said. Their team is committed to being part of the program, to supporting the American dream, he said.
The CBIA will hold an event in conjunction with the SBA at the Bristol Events Center, in Bristol, CT, on May 6, celebrating all of the 2026 Small Business Week award winners from Connecticut. To attend, register here: National Small Business Week 2026 – CBIA.
ORMS President Derek Ezovski has been named Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
ORMS President Derek Ezovski has been named Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
WASHINGTON (7News) — A Park Police chase ends with a moped rider getting hit and killed on the Taft Bridge in Northwest D.C.
7News’ Washington, D.C. reporter, Phylicia Ashley, went to the scene moments after it happened Saturday evening and spoke to multiple witnesses.
Ximen DeFillippes was riding her bike near Woodley Road when she saw the chase.
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“The Park Police passed me. We were on Woodley Road. And then I saw the car they were pursuing,” said DeFillippes. “It was going very fast on the sidewalk. It drove up on the sidewalk up Woodley Road.”
DeFilippes was on one side of the Taft Bridge.
“I’d never seen anything that crazy,” said DeFillippes. “It was, it was like really like homicidal. It was just insane. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
7News also saw the aftermath of the chase and found Lamont Penry on the other side of the bridge. He also saw the chase. It ended on the steps of the Chinese Embassy staff housing.
“The car crashed into the diplomatic car,” Penry said. “A young man jumps out, takes off running down the street. The other three guys came out kind of dizzy. They apprehended one who was on the bench. One was at the rear. Tire of the vehicle, looked to be a Camry, and the other was on the other side of the diplomatic car.”
In the middle of the bridge, 7News saw the victim’s body covered by a white sheet. Witnesses said that when the chase reached the Taft Bridge, one of the vehicles involved struck someone riding a scooter.
“Once the gentleman on the bridge was hit. We realized that no one stopped,” said Penry. “Police continued the pursuit until here, and then they turned around.”
RELATED | President Trump allows US Park Police to chase fleeing vehicles
Penry said all the alleged suspects involved looked young. While on scene, 7News saw one person get arrested and placed in an ambulance.
DeFilippes was riding her bike when she said two cars blocked her from getting caught in the midst of the chase.
“I’m feeling lucky that for those few seconds of my path being kind of blocked,” said DeFillippes. “I’m just so glad that happened. Or else I would have been right there. I’m not at all surprised that someone was hurt. Just. Just from the way everything was unfolding, I could just tell it was going to be bad.
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