By Nan Price, Content Manager, MetroHartford Alliance
Meet Lauren Angat Vice President Small Business Relationship Manager at TD Bank. She is also one of six members of the HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs) Executive Committee.
WHY HARTFORD?
LAUREN ANGAT: My story is a little different with how I ended up in Hartford. I was born in Canada and moved to Florida when I was a baby. I was raised on the West Coast and moved to the East Coast, where I went to Florida International University. I graduated and stayed in Miami where I started to work at TD Bank.
After about three and a half years of working in Miami, I wanted a change. I found a great opportunity within the bank in the New England area and reached out the manager. When I learned that the role was in downtown Hartford, my first thought was, “Where is that?”
I flew into Bradley International Airport, drove around the Hartford area, and stayed overnight. It only took me 24 hours of being in Hartford for me to realize this was the city where I wanted to live. A month later, I was on a one-way flight to my new home.
I’ve been living in the Hartford area for two years now and love every minute of it. I took a risk to move to a state where I didn’t know a single person and, still to this day, I’ll say it was the best move I ever made.
HOW HAVE YOU BECOME A PART OF HARTFORD?
LAUREN: I’ve become a part of Hartford by being active in organizations such as HYPE. I joined about a year and a half ago and, while being part of the organization, I’ve also been able to be an active member as Vice-Chair of Personal & Professional Development.
HOW HAS HARTFORD BECOME A PART OF WHO YOU ARE?
LAUREN: Hartford has become a part of who I am through joining HYPE. I mention to people how I simply did a Google search to find a young professional organization in Hartford and stumbled upon HYPE. While joining HYPE, I’ve made friendships through my journey and the relationships I’ve created have helped me develop into the person I am today in both a personal and professional way.
WHAT MAKES HARTFORD UNIQUE?
LAUREN: The historical landmarks along with different cultures and people are what make Hartford like no other.
HOW DO YOU TELL THE STORY ABOUT HARTFORD?
LAUREN: I tell people that Hartford is an area where you can do different types of activities all within close proximity. Hartford has enabled me to discover new cuisines, be on the jumbotron at a Hartford Yard Goats game, attend a Hartford Wolf Pack game, paint with a group from HYPE, play real-life Clue and dress up like detectives, and go for walks around the park.