Rose City Network

06/04/2026

06/01/2026

🌟 Member Spotlight: Shazoen Nawaz 🌟

This week we’re excited to highlight Shazoen Nawaz of Kappri Painting LLC, who holds our Painting & Wallpaper Service seat in our networking community! Shazoen brings a hardworking spirit, strong family values, and a passion for community involvement that truly makes him stand out.

Everyday Favorites
• Morning drink: Coffee with cream and sugar ☕
• Go-to car jam/karaoke song: “Hang Tight” by Keni Burke 🎶
• Favorite place traveled: While he hasn’t traveled much outside of New England yet, he’s looking forward to exploring more soon 🌎
• If he could live anywhere for a year: New Mexico or Arizona 🌵
• Favorite local restaurant: Dixie’s Donuts in Norwich 🍽️

How He Spends His Time
Shazoen’s perfect Saturday includes fishing, driving, or riding his motorcycle 🏍️🎣. He also enjoys attending car shows and events with his brother and has a unique collection of “Cash 4 Clunker” survivors 🚗✨

At home, he still fondly remembers his adopted stray cat, Big Boy, who he says was the best 🐱

Traditions & Inspiration
One tradition Shazoen loves is going out for ice cream and attending car shows with his brother 🍦🚘. He shared that his biggest inspirations are his parents — especially his father, who he works with every day — along with his younger brother, who he deeply admires.

Community Involvement
Shazoen and his family volunteer their time doing maintenance, landscaping, and repairs at local mosques, something that is very important to them and a meaningful way they give back to the community 🤝

We’re so grateful to have Shazoen and Kappri Painting LLC in our networking community, his dedication, humility, and strong values make a lasting impact on everyone around him 🌹

05/28/2026

Last week, we heard from Todd Cooke of AnnieMac Home Mortgage, who holds our Residential Mortgage Lenders premier seat, and he shared the incredible journey that shaped who he is today. From serving in the Army, coaching wrestling, owning a nightclub, and eventually becoming a mortgage lender, each chapter of his life taught him leadership, entrepreneurship, and grit. He also shared that his biggest motivation is his family — his wife Jullian, his children Max, Zaac, and Jordan, his grandchildren, and even his rescue dog Bruno.

Todd spoke about why he loves being a mortgage lender and how every client has a unique story and unique needs. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, he enjoys finding the right loan program to truly help each person succeed. He also shared that first-time homebuyers are his favorite clients because he loves helping people achieve the dream of homeownership for the very first time.

As an 8 consecutive-year recipient of the Five Star Mortgage Professional Award (2019–2026), Todd continues to bring knowledge, passion, and dedication to every client he works with through AnnieMac Home Mortgage.

If you’re looking for someone experienced, compassionate, and fully invested in helping you through the homebuying process, Todd is definitely someone you’ll want to connect with.

Come meet Todd and the rest of our members next Thursday for the best 90 minutes of your Thursday morning, quite possibly your week! 🌹
Todd Cooke - Annie Mac

05/26/2026

🎤 Every athlete needs a walk-up song… and our members came READY 😎⚾

In honor of the Sea Unicorns’ first game on May 30th , we asked everyone what song they’d choose to step up to the plate 🎶⚾️

Which one are you picking? 👀👇

05/14/2026

A big welcome to Nicole Sweeney from Ascend Bank, our newest member holding our Commercial Banker seat in our premier networking group ❤️✨

Nicole brings a strong passion for building relationships and helping businesses thrive through personalized financial solutions and support. Her professionalism, knowledge, and dedication make her a wonderful addition to our group.

Say hello and welcome Nicole in the comments below! 👋
Ascend Bank

05/05/2026

Nigel kicked things off by giving us a glimpse into his journey, from being born in Port of Spain to serving an incredible 30 years in the Navy before transitioning into the fitness world. He shared how those life experiences shaped his discipline and mindset, and ultimately led him to build his business, In Home Personal Trainers, where he’s now been helping clients transform their lives for the past 17 years. He also shared a bit about what drives him outside of work, emphasizing that his wife and children are his “why,” adding a meaningful and personal touch to his story.

From there, Nigel walked us through what truly sets him apart in the fitness industry. It’s not just about workouts, it’s about accountability, consistency, mindset, and pushing past limits. He lives by the phrase, “I do things because people thought I couldn’t,” and brings that same energy into every session with his clients. His approach is structured and results-driven, standing firm in his belief of “10 sessions or nothing at all,” ensuring clients are fully committed and set up for real progress.

He also shared when to think of him, whether you’re just starting your fitness journey, need that extra push to stay consistent, or are ready to take your results to the next level. Nigel is someone who truly shows up for his clients and challenges them to become stronger, both physically and mentally.

If you’re looking for someone disciplined, motivating, and fully invested in your success, Nigel is definitely someone you’ll want to connect with.

Come meet Nigel and the rest of our members next Thursday for the best 90 minutes of your Thursday morning, quite possibly your week! 🌹

Nigel's In Home Personal Trainers LLC.

05/04/2026

⛳🎉 It’s that time again… the Rose City Network Golf Tournament is back and better than ever!🌹

Join us for our 17th Annual Charity & Scholarship Tournament on June 4th at Norwich Golf Club—where the swings are strong, the vibes are even stronger, and the cause is one that truly matters.

From an exciting shotgun start to dinner, awards, and networking, this is more than just a day on the course, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss!

Grab your foursome, come solo, or get your business involved with one of our fun sponsorship opportunities 👀

⛳ Let’s tee up for a great cause…who’s in?!

04/30/2026

Stephanie kicked things off by giving us a glimpse into her journey, growing up here in Connecticut and beginning her career as a dental hygienist before making the move into real estate about five years ago. She also shared a bit about what she enjoys outside of work, including her love for adventure and life as a proud cat mom, adding a light and personal touch to her story.

From there, Stephanie walked us through what truly sets her apart in the real estate world. It’s not just about opening doors, it’s about managing expectations, negotiating, problem solving, and ultimately protecting her clients every step of the way. Her approach is rooted in patience, consistency, and trust, which has helped her become one of the top 1% of realtors in Connecticut, earn a spot in the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, and be recognized as a Top 5 Under 40 professional.

She also shared when to think of her whether you’re moving, running out of space, looking to offload an investment property, going through a life transition like a divorce, or simply exploring your options. Stephanie is someone who truly shows up for her clients and makes the process feel supported from start to finish.

If you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, driven, and genuinely invested in your success, Stephanie is definitely someone you’ll want to connect with.

Come meet Stephanie and the rest of our members next Thursday for the best 90 minutes of your Thursday morning, quite possibly your week! 🌹

Stephanie Rush, Realtor

04/28/2026

Such a fun night with some of our Rose City Network crew! 🎨✨

A few of us had the chance to come together at Board & Brush in Plainfield, CT, where we tapped into our creative side and spent the evening crafting, laughing, and connecting outside of our usual meetings.

It was the perfect reminder that what we build goes beyond business, it's about collaboration, creativity, and genuine connection 🤝❤️

We love seeing our members come together in different ways and support one another both professionally and personally.

Thanks for a great night!

Board & Brush Plainfield, CT