Matt Banever of Daswani Clothiers has been named president of the West Hartford Center Business Association.
By Ronni Newton
![](https://we-ha.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Matt-Banever-4-513x768.jpg)
Matthew Banever of Daswani Clothiers is the new president of the West Hartford Center Business Association. Courtesy photo
The West Hartford Center Business Association is reinvigorating its efforts to support fellow business owners, and recently announced its new board of directors.
Leadership includes President Matthew Banever (Daswani Clothiers), Vice President Kimberly Moster (Kimberly Boutique), Treasurer Barbara Karsky (BK&Co.), and Secretary Shari Phillips (Matthew Phillips/Per Se Aveda).
Other board members include Marisa Pinone (J. McLaughlin), Mike Shauck (Iris Photography), Carl Zyskowski (Central Optica), Alex Hayden (Barcelona), Robert Oliver (BlumShapiro), Yoshiko Waver (Webster Bank), and Robyn Rifkin (Blue Back Square).
“I am so honored to be taking over this role as president,” Banever told We-Ha.com. “I have been very involved in the town for a number of years, but the Center is very close to my heart having worked here for roughly six years. I am looking forward to working with the local business to celebrate our diversity and create an environment that makes us even more of a desirable destination than we already are.”
Banever noted that the mission of the West Hartford Center Business Association “is to encourage, improve, and promote the commercial, professional, financial, and general business interests of the businesses operated in West Hartford Center.”
![](https://we-ha.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20180724_140003-e1533144336376-576x768.jpg)
From left: Barbara Karsky of BK&Co and Matthew Banever of Daswani Clothiers present a check to Summer Sivetz of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Courtesy photo
The new board was introduced at a meeting last week, and plans are for the full membership to meet on a quarterly basis (dates to be announced) and include presentations from town officials and others, while the board will meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at BK&Co., 983 Farmington Ave. Board meetings are open to membership.
Upcoming initiatives include creation of a new website and Facebook page for the association, where members will be able to share information about their businesses. New banners will also be created to hang on the light poles along the streetscape.
Recent successes include $1,300 raised by the West Hartford Center Business Association for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center during the Concorso Ferrari and Friends held in late June. The funds were raised by a package collectively put together by Center businesses – “A Day in the Center” – which included more than $2,600 of coupons and gift certificates.
Major upcoming events include the Pink Party in Blue Back Square (Thursday, Oct. 4), Halloween Stroll (Saturday, Oct. 27), and Holiday Stroll (Thursday, Dec. 6). Look for more details as those event dates near.
Anyone interested in joining the West Hartford Center Business Association can contact Banever at matthew.banever
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!