Congresswoman DeLauro Announces Marcia LaFemina as State of the Union Guest
WASHINGTON, DC (January 11, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced Marcia LaFemina as her guest for this year’s State of the Union Address. As President and CEO of North Branford based Penn Globe, LaFemina is a small business owner who provides her employees with healthcare as well as paid sick and family leave.
“As a woman who owns a small Connecticut business, Marcia knows how important access to healthcare and paid leave is for employees. Marcia represents the best and brightest of America’s small business owners and I commend her for making her business work for her employees and their families,” said Rosa DeLauro. “While the employees at Penn Globe have access to paid sick and family leave, many employees across the country do not. Congress should immediately pass the FAMILY Act and give hardworking employees everywhere the same opportunity. Every American worker deserves it.”
“As a small business owner, I work side by side with my employees and I recognize the difference that healthcare and paid leave make in their lives. As women, we have dealt with juggling work, daycare, and family responsibilities, while meeting our responsibilities to the company,” said Marcia LaFemina. “Congresswoman DeLauro continues to fight for American workers and I am proud to join her in addressing the challenges that workers face today. I encourage Congress to address paid leave and I also encourage other companies across the country to make these benefits available to their employees.”
Since 1995, Penn Globe has manufactured high quality pedestrian street scape lighting for cities and universities throughout the country (Princeton, UCONN, etc.). The company’s historic lighting style has been converted to LED to meet developing energy efficiency requirements. Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, LaFemina led her company to integrate security features within the traditional outdoor lighting product line. Penn Smart is now recognized as the premiere leader in the Smart Internet of Things (IoT) lighting market. Penn Globe is integrating surveillance, gunshot sensors, and suspicious activity sensors that provide much needed support to local law enforcement.
Since 2012, LaFemina has increased employment at Penn Globe by 35%. She continues to work closely with the state of CT Department of Economic Community Development, The Department of Labor and the local workforce investment board, Workforce Alliance, to continue our growth. She also remains committed to bringing high quality jobs and benefits to the underemployed and those returning to the workforce for various reasons. LaFemina lives in Madison, CT and is a member of United Way Leadership Circle, New Haven Manufacturers Association, and Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Advisory Committee.
SOURCE:http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2171:delauro-announces-marcia-lafemina-as-state-of-the-union-guest&catid=2&Itemid=21
