Newmilfordbusiness.com

11/29/2025

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Kristin Gill, owner of "Got Your Goat," at our networking group on November 26th. Kristin has created a wonderful business that brings her goats from Philadelphia to Boston, sharing the joy of these friendly animals at petting zoos, senior centers, homeschool events, camps, corporations, and college campuses.

Various studies have shown that interacting with goats—alongside other animals—can provide significant mental health benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and increased feelings of happiness and relaxation. Our members can certainly attest to the positive effects!

Kristin started her goat farm with just 12 goats and has grown her herd to 65, selling around 200 goats each year. During our meeting, she introduced us to Mitzi, a two-week-old Nigerian dwarf goat, who brought smiles and warmth to everyone present.

In addition to her existing services, Kristin is piloting a Goat Therapy program aimed at promoting well-being through animal interaction.

For the holiday season, Kristin also offers a fun experience called "Self with an Elfie," where you can take a selfie with a goat dressed as a Christmas elf!

If you're interested in learning more about Kristin's services or hiring her for an event, check out her page by searching for "Got Your Goat." It's a great opportunity to connect with these wonderful animals and enhance your well-being!

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11/13/2025

A few weeeks ago, the New Milford Business Group had a fantastic Field Trip to learn more about Jennings Oil, a top-rated family-run heating and cooling company serving Danbury, New Milford, and surrounding areas. Tori Prizio, the Office Manager and Sales & Marketing Manager at Jennings Oil, welcomed us at their New Milford location and shared insights into their comprehensive services.

Jennings Oil has been trusted for over 40 years, offering reliable delivery, equipment sales and installation, and a range of heating and cooling systems including boilers, furnaces, air conditioning, ductless units, and tanks. They provide three service plans—Efficient, Comfort, and Premier—designed to meet diverse customer needs.

Our group heard firsthand how they prioritize prompt, friendly, and professional service, with reviews praising their efficiency, quality work, and knowledgeable staff. If you're interested in dependable heating and cooling solutions, be sure to check out their website at https://jenningsoil.com/. Thanks, Jennings Oil, for hosting us and sharing your expertise!

11/12/2025

Exciting news for New Milford! We’re thrilled to introduce Emile Sorger, a passionate educator and community-minded entrepreneur, who is launching a new rock climbing gym right here in town — Living Rock Climbing.

Emile brings a wealth of knowledge from his background in online education through White Pine Circle, focusing on rock climbing and East Asian Medicine. His vision is to create a vibrant space where climbers of all levels can gather, connect, and challenge themselves.

Living Rock Climbing will feature a spacious 20,000-square-foot facility with a stunning 45-foot climbing wall, offering bouldering and top-rope options for beginners and experienced climbers alike. Whether you’re dropping in for a quick climb or signing up for a membership, this gym will have it all — equipment rentals, walk-in options, and a welcoming community vibe.

Emile is also a former yoga instructor, so you can look forward to Yoga classes designed to complement your climbing and overall wellness journey. The gym plans to host after-school and homeschool programs, making it a perfect spot for family-friendly activities and community connection.

We wish Emile and his team the very best of luck as they bring this exciting new adventure to life. Stay tuned for opening updates — this is just the beginning of a new chapter for our town!

10/08/2025

Today the NewMilfordBusiness.com networking group had a meaningful visit to the New Milford Historical Society & Museum, organized by Loretta Kretchko, an executive board member of the Society (and NewMilfordBusiness.com networking member). The Society plays a vital role in collecting, preserving, and interpreting the rich history and cultural heritage of our town. Their dedicated efforts include mounting special exhibits, providing educational programs for students and adults, and working tirelessly to keep our town’s history accessible for current and future generations. This visit highlighted the Society’s ongoing commitment to bringing our town’s past to life and preserving it for all to appreciate.
https://www.nmhistorical.org
https://www.kretchko-estate-sales-services.com/

Thank you Loretta!

09/27/2025

Exciting highlights from our recent networking event at the Village Center of the Arts (VCA) in New Milford, CT! 🎨✨ Jayson shared the inspiring story of VCA, a beloved non-profit arts organization housed in a historic building that once served as a church for the Masons and Oddfellows. The third floor, once a grand ballroom, is part of future expansion plans to enhance arts programs for the community.

VCA offers a vibrant mix of programs, including clay building for children and seniors, the Unexpected Artist project, summer camps, and a free evening studio called "Studio Affair" for adults. Their innovative initiatives have earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Davinci Award from the town of New Milford on September 27th! 🏆

Jayson's lifelong commitment to giving back, combined with his diverse background—from the trades and theater backstage—embodies the community spirit that drives VCA's success.

09/18/2025

A couple of weeks ago, our networking group was delighted to have Christine Gordineer present about her business, Tranquil Escapes. We learned that Christine specializes in designing luxury eco-travel and wellness retreats for busy professionals seeking meaningful, sustainable experiences. She partners with hotels, resorts, and destinations committed to responsible travel, offering wellness-focused escapes and cultural immersions that support local communities.

Christine shared how her work benefits the local economy and promotes responsible tourism, creating exciting opportunities for local businesses, such as boutique hotels, wellness practitioners, and other service providers seeking to attract eco-conscious travelers. She also expressed her interest in connecting with partners like hospitality providers, wellness professionals, and local businesses to collaborate and support one another’s growth while making a positive impact on our community.

Thank you, Christine, for your inspiring presentation and for sharing your vision with us.

08/13/2025

Mick Foss, President of the New Milford Business Group at newmilfordbusiness.com, recently shared his expertise with the group today. As a third-generation well professional, Mick's family-owned business, M.O. Foss Well Drilling and Pump Service, has been serving Connecticut for over 40 years. His team handles everything from water emergencies and well repairs to water filtration and new well installations, always providing prompt and courteous service.

During his presentation, members asked about a range of topics including minerals, radon, water softeners, and well cap replacements—all areas Mick is highly experienced in. Whether it's water emergencies, filtration needs, or well drilling and pumps, Mick is the local expert you can count on.

When he's not working, he enjoys writing and contributes regularly to New Milford Living magazine.

Located at 399 Litchfield Rd., New Milford, CT, Mick can be reached at 860-355-0033.

08/13/2025

Meet Brad Tranfield, CGA, the proud owner of Robertson Jewelers since 1975. As a Certified Gemologist Appraiser and master jeweler, Brad has dedicated his life to the art and science of fine jewelry design and creation. His family-owned business in New Milford combines decades of experience with cutting-edge technology, allowing them to craft custom jewelry, engagement rings, wedding bands, and much more — all at reasonable prices.

On July 23rd, Brad had the pleasure of presenting Robertson Jewelers to the New Milford Business Group, newmilfordbusiness.com, sharing their passion for quality, craftsmanship, and personalized service.

Lately, there's a big trend toward lab-grown diamonds, offering beautiful stones at a range of price points—from $2,000 to $50,000—giving customers more control over their creation. And an exciting shift is seeing women confidently coming in to buy their own engagement rings, ensuring they get exactly what they want.

Whether you're celebrating a special moment, looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, or in need of expert repairs, Brad and his talented team are here to turn your jewelry dreams into reality.

Stop by and experience the tradition, innovation, and genuine care that set Robertson Jewelers apart!

07/25/2025

Wednesday August 13th at 7 pm, Bank Street Theater in New Milford, will be showing "We Are Guardians", a documentary produced by my son (Zak Kilberg) production Company, Highly Flammable. This will be a fundraiser for the Pratt Nature Center. Tickets will be $20 each. Please contact Jeff Kilberg at [email protected] if you would be interested in attending. Here is a preview of the film...
We Are Guardians
We Are Guardians
Deforestation rapidly destroys the Amazon. Many individuals face significant challenges and show great determination in their fight to preserve the rainforest.

Coming to theaters in Summer 2025! In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, thousands of people are unlawfully encroaching upon protected lands, devastating cen...

07/09/2025

✨ A big thank you to Ben Edmund for his insightful presentation on ROTH IRAs today! 🙌

Ben shared his journey from day trading to joining Pasnau Investment Management, Inc. He chose to work with William Pasnau because of Bill's stance on honesty and the opportunity to build longer-term relationships with clients, allowing him to genuinely help them over time.

The highlight of Ben's talk was the vital takeaway: "Never miss a ROTH contribution!" He emphasized this with two graphs. The first showed that starting your contribution journey at age 20 could lead to accumulating $5.7 million (tax-free) by age 60. The second illustrated the remarkable long-term benefits of starting contributions at age 1, potentially leading to tax-free savings of up to $24 million by age 60.

He also enlightened us on the Backdoor Roth, which involves contributing to a traditional IRA (non-deductible contribution, using after-tax dollars) and then converting or rolling it into a Roth IRA. Additionally, he discussed the Mega-Backdoor Roth strategy, highlighting how to maximize contributions even if your income is high. He emphasized that this strategy requires careful planning and sufficient cash flow.

Ben answered numerous questions, covering topics from diversification to the impact of tariffs. He shared valuable advice, suggesting that saving at least 5% of your income is crucial for retirement, and recommended using online tools to estimate growth.

We are grateful for Ben's expertise and the time he spent with us today. Here's to a future of wise investment decisions! 📈💡

06/27/2025

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Bipasha Ghosh for an Inspiring Talk on AI! 🌟

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 25, NewMilfordBusiness.com had the distinct honor of welcoming Bipasha Ghosh, AI Realist, Clinical Assistant Professor of Technology and Marketing, and esteemed faculty member at Yeshiva University, to speak with our group about the ever-evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Bipasha shared how AI is not just a futuristic concept — it’s already embedded in our daily lives. From Google searches, Alexa voice commands, and Netflix recommendations, to travel planning and online shopping, AI has been quietly learning and supporting us for years.

She highlighted how AI helps detect fraud in finance and healthcare, mentioning examples like the NHS using AI to catch cancer early, and the Mayo Clinic’s use of AI in stroke detection — life-changing innovations that show how impactful this technology can be.

One of the most exciting parts of her talk was the 5 ways ChatGPT and AI can transform our businesses:

Researching and finding fresh marketing ideas

Generating blog content and understanding customer behavior

Writing product descriptions, emails, newsletters, and social media posts

Spotting industry trends, analyzing data, and even creating websites

Extracting and summarizing content from PDFs, images, invoices, and more

She encouraged us to start small: pick one AI tool and grow with it. Her practical advice was empowering — from quick business problem-solving to using AI to plan meals from a photo of your fridge contents (yes, really!), the possibilities are both fun and functional.

Of course, Bipasha also reminded us of the importance of staying informed about challenges like deepfakes, scams, misinformation, bias, and security risks — including the concept of AI hallucinations, where systems can confidently present false information. She shared thoughtful tips on how to stay safe and aware as we explore these tools.

We’re incredibly grateful for Bipasha’s visit and the powerful knowledge she shared with us. Her down-to-earth, insightful talk left us all feeling inspired, curious, and ready to thoughtfully explore how AI can support and grow our businesses.

👩‍💻✨ Thank you, Bipasha, for an eye-opening session and for showing us that AI isn’t just for tech giants — it’s a tool for all of us.

06/20/2025

On June 18th, longtime member Bill McLachlan of Basement Solutions, LLC, spoke to our networking group. Basement Solutions, LLC. is a waterproofing contractor based in New Milford, CT, established in 2006. Bill's first waterproofing project was on his own house—perfecting his craft with his own home as the test case.

Bill shared some personal insights about himself and how Basement Solutions, LLC, was born. This is one of the great benefits of being part of this networking group — it's not all business; we really get to know each other's stories.

His first home here in 1993 had numerous leaks, which led Bill to learn the waterproofing trade firsthand to solve his own issues. He explained his process: inspecting, drawing up a plan, discussing it with the client, and ensuring it’s the right solution. Bill is a low-pressure salesperson — you won’t feel pressured to work with him; he respects your timing and can wait until you're ready.

One of Bill’s proudest innovations he invested in are his SMART Pumps, which can be monitored online via the cloud to see real-time data on a client’s pump — pretty impressive technology!

Bill also highly recommends reading Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As he reminds us, knowledge is power — so keep reading and learning!