Who We Are – Connecticut Invention Convention

What Is CIC?

The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is an internationally recognized educational organization started in 1983. Throughout the year, teachers use our curriculum to develop creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills through invention and entrepreneurship. This culminates in the final competition event where we recognize students with awards and prizes for their hard work. Today, the program is open to all K-12 students across Connecticut, and is rapidly growing. Come be a part of our project!

Since 1983, around 300,000 K-12 Students Have Been a Part of CIC

Why Teach Inventing?

Invention provides students with a unique means to discover new skill sets and creatively apply these in real-life settings while nurturing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The CIC curriculum is standards-based and enables students to research, analyze and effectively focus on and solve their real-life problems. For more information, check the teacher’s portal on the main page.

What's the Impact?

Since its inception, an estimated 300,000 K-12 children, have experienced CIC invention programs. Annually the CIC serves more than 17,000 students in grades K-12 across Connecticut from nearly 300 participating Connecticut schools. CIC’s long history and successful principles helped give rise to The STEMIE Coalition (STEMIE) and NICEE, which elevates K-12 invention and entrepreneurship education to a national level.

In addition to the wide audience it reaches, CIC has produced many individual success stories that often result in students receiving patents and starting their own businesses. Click below to see some of our more successful serial inventors!

Meet the People Behind CIC

Our Board of Directors

The CIC is managed by a 100% volunteer board. Not only do they put their time into events and management of the organization, but they make strategic decisions in service of our mission:

To provide the students of Connecticut with opportunities to develop critical-thinking and creative problem-solving skills through invention and innovation, instilling the spirit of ingenuity in students today and for the rest of their lives.

Executive Board

President, Eric Baron – Partner, Cantor Colburn LLP

Vice President, Toren Kutnick – Vice President, Dale and Laura Kutnick Foundation

Treasurer, Kyle Gibbons – Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Secretary, Terry Wilson – Elementary Science Curriculum Specialist, CREC

Board Members

Dwight Bachman – Public Relations, ECSU

Ayra Bairat – Student Advisor, CIC Serial Inventor

Danny Briere – CEO, STEMIE Coalition

Janice Castle – Director of Community Engagement, City of Hartford

Chris Dimou – President, The Americas, Roto Frank Group

Demetrios Giannaros, Economist, DEJE Group LLC/Giannaros Associates

Justin Durelli – Associate, McCormick, Paulding & Huber, LLP

Andrew Harris – Branch Manager & Associate Project Manager, Wood plc

Audrey Larson – Student Advisor, CIC Serial Inventor

Diana Mahoney – Director, Integrated Planning and Scheduling, Eversource

Ramesh B. Malla, Ph.D. – F. ASCE, Professor, UCONN School of Engineering

Bill Moyer – Phoenix Investment Partners (retired)

Sonya Richmond – Affiliate Business and Outreach Manager, STEMIE Coalition

Frederick Sowah – Associate, Financial Development Program, Cigna Corporation

Our Staff

Working year-round and full-time on the many aspects of our program and organization, the CIC staff are the backbone of our organization. They are the leads in organizing thousands of registered inventors, developing the final event, doing professional development, and much more. Find out more information about our wonderful staff members and how to reach them here.