Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic and its first president; Robert Moses, the master builder of public works projects in New York state; and David Chase, the well-known Hartford investor and philanthropist, are listed among his role models.

His bank has grown from four branches and 50 employees to about 220 workers in 15 U.S. offices, with 50 additional representatives in 14 international markets since he took over in 1988.

He is Brett Silvers, chair and CEO of First International Bank and president and CEO of its parent company First International Bancorp, Inc. in Hartford.  He is also the Hartford Business Journal's 2000 Business Person of the Year.

We are honoring Mr. Silvers for his leadership and business acumen, as shown by his bank's ability to break new ground in high-tech banking in the industrial sector as well as becoming a truly international bank for small businesses.

Moreover, his work in the community is also to be commended.  In addition to being a member of the executive committee of the board of regents of the University of Hartford, Silvers has contributed to such local causes as the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Hospital, My Sister's Place, the Science Center of Connecticut and the Hartford Stage.

His leadership is evidenced by the following facts:  First International helped save 10,000 to 15,000 industrial jobs in the state during the last recession; the bank's high ratings among such federal agencies as the SBA, USDA and the Export-Import Bank; numerous awards such as the Small Business Bank of the Year from the Export-Import Bank, the President's "E" Award for Export Service from the U.S. Commerce Department and the Connecticut Pro Patria Award from the U.S. Department of Defense.

This year, in addition to honoring the Business Person of the Year, we will also name the first five Accolades Awards for Giving in a joint effort with the American Lung Association of Connecticut.  Those winners are Ellsworth Grant (Community Leader), the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving (Public Foundation), the Connecticut Association of CPA's (Civic Group), The Hartford Financial Services Group (Corporate Donation) and Charles and Patricia McGill (Individual Donation).