Constantine & Marie Macricostas
“We believe in education, and we believe in Western Connecticut State University,” say Deno and Marie Macricostas. But their actions speak even louder than their words.
The Macricostases have turned their beliefs into action that provides opportunity for WestConn’s students.
Deno Macricostas, founder and chairman of Brookfield-based Photronics Inc., has been a member of the WCSU Foundation Inc. board for about 20 years, serving as an ambassador to expand awareness and support of the university. Through their Macricostas Family Foundation, the couple pledged $1.1 million to the university in 2003, the largest gift in WestConn’s 104-year history. Their generosity is funding a number of new initiatives on campus, and it comes in addition to their backing of several community-based programs to offer educational opportunity.
This year was the first that the couple’s foundation honored a local entrepreneur.
Lucie Voves, president of Church Hill Classics, a company that creates custom frames, is the first Macricostas Family Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year.
“I’m thrilled to be chosen as the first recipient of the (award),” said Voves. “I look forward to sharing my experiences and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship with the students at the Ancell School of Business.”
Voves started her home-based business in 1991, and it has since grown to 65 employees and more than $6 million in annual revenues. In 2007, the company was named by Inc. Magazine as the 95th fastest-growing consumer products company in the United States. Voves was honored in 2007 by the National Association of Women Business Owners as one of three “Trailblazing Women” entrepreneurs from across the country and also was chosen by Enterprising Woman Magazine as a 2007 “Enterprising Woman of the Year.” She is on the Board of Directors for the Danbury Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut Better Business Bureau.
