Bridgeport Regional Business Council President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Timpanelli was selected by the Board of Directors of the Barnum Festival
as the 2014 ringmaster of the annual celebration during an event held at Sacred
Heart University on Oct. 17.
Timpanelli was selected as the 66th ringmaster of the organization, which
was created in 1948 to commemorate the life and achievements of P.T. Barnum,
entrepreneur and former Bridgeport mayor. Over the years, a veritable
“who’s who” of regional and community leaders have held the position.
Timpanelli succeeds 2013 Ringmaster John F. Stafstrom Jr., partner of Pullman
& Comle, and 2011 Ringmaster Frank J. Carroll, international vice president
of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“In his work with The Bridgeport Regional Business Council and his
involvement in the community, Paul has demonstrated an outstanding commitment
to the economic vitality of Bridgeport and the entire region” said Michael
Niedermeier, Barnum Festival president. “We know he will bring that same
commitment and energy to his role as the 2014 Barnum Festival Ringmaster.”
Timpanelli became president and CEO of the BRBC in December 1988. He is
responsible for the strategic planning, leadership development and economic
development initiatives of the organization’s overall program of work.
Prior to joining the BRBC, Timpanelli owned a real estate appraisal company,
served three terms as Trumbull
first selectman and three terms as Trumbull’s town clerk.
Over the years, Timpanelli has served on numerous boards and commissions and
currently volunteers with various civic, governmental and political
organizations, including United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Committee of 100, RYASAP, Regional Institute of the 21st Century,
Lakeview Cemetery and Connecticut Metropolitan Chamber Executives Council.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to have been selected for this
opportunity to showcase our city and our region and to participate in the
redefinition of the festival in a way the will continue to build the region’s
economy” Timpanelli said. “I realize that I have very big shoes to fill and
hope that I can live up to the expectations of the community.”
Timpanelli said he would “work tirelessly to continue the tradition started
by my predecessors and to take the Barnum Festival to the next level and create
a renewed, redefined, reinvigorated and redesigned festival in partnership with
the Barnum Festival board and volunteers that certainly will keep and respect
the traditions that have been established, but will hopefully get us to the
next level.”