Oz Griebel is a dynamic and respected business development executive.  Oz has practical, real-world experience managing budgets, creating job producing environments and building relationships with key business, community and political leaders – skills critical to leading Connecticut as the next governor.

Oz began his career as a teacher and coach at Worcester Academy, doing what he loves most: inspiring and leading teams to meaningful accomplishments.  A natural and competitive leader from a young age, Oz served as class officer and co-captain of his high school football and basketball teams, and as a member of the 1970 Dartmouth baseball team that represented New England in the College World Series.  Oz combined his life-long experiences as a team player with old-fashioned hard work and rose through the ranks at BankBoston Corporation where he served for 22 years, ultimately as CEO of its Connecticut franchise from 1993 to 1999.

Honored as both the Hartford Courant (1995) and Hartford Business Journal’s (2001) “Business Person of the Year,” Oz’s reputation as an effective problem solver with a noted ability to bring key stakeholders together have shone throughout his career. Most notably, Oz stepped up to the plate during the throes of Connecticut’s dramatic real estate crash in the late 80s and early 90s and accepted the position of CEO, BankBoston Connecticut.

Oz restored the Bank’s severely battered reputation by leading a team that quickly returned the Corporation to its place as a highly regarded and profitable financial leader in the business, consumer, and civic arenas.  Additionally, Oz’s leadership resulted in the Connecticut franchise becoming a model for the Corporation’s other New England banking operations.  Oz will build the same kinds of teams as governor to restore Connecticut’s reputation as a state of opportunity and prosperity.

Since 2001, Oz has served as President and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance where he has helped lead the Region’s economic development agenda by ensuring aggressive competition for jobs, capital, and talent – an attitude and energy that he will take to the governor’s office.

Oz graduated from Dartmouth College (1971) where he studied English and played two years of football and four years of baseball.  Oz also earned his JD from Suffolk University (1977).  His corporate board experience includes service with MacDermid, Inc., Tallan, Inc., and World Business Capital.

Civically, Oz has served as chairman or a board member of numerous organizations, including the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Bradley International Airport,  the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board, Riverfront Recapture, Northwest Catholic High School, Junior Achievement of Central Connecticut, the Annual Fund of the United Way of the Central Naugatuck Valley, the Mark Twain House, the University of Hartford, the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the Waterbury Foundation, and Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Oz and his wife Kirsten live in Simsbury and have three grown children: Stephanie, Paul and Chris.  Both have been involved in a range of church, education and youth organizations.

Why Oz is Running for Governor:
Connecticut is faced with very serious economic and fiscal challenges. As a business development leader, Oz has spent his entire career solving tough problems at the nexus of business, community and public policy. He knows how to work with entrepreneurs, corporate CEOs, healthcare and higher ed leaders and legislators to influence outcomes and achieve real results. Most of all, having served as both a teacher and coach, Oz knows how to listen, gain consensus and lead people.

Secondly, Oz have no allegiances to particular constituencies and is not afraid to stand up and fight for the best interest of Connecticut’s residents. As jobs continue to disappear, opportunity for our citizens diminishes. People, and businesses, don’t have confidence they can succeed here anymore. As governor, Oz will serve as the state’s chief economic development officer and act to restore confidence among our companies and people.

Finally, the State’s budget crisis must be addressed reasonably and responsibly. False promises and arbitrary proposals won’t solve our fiscal challenges. Nutmeg Staters expect and deserve candid answers, real leadership and sensible solutions. Oz Griebel has done this throughout his career and is prepared to do it as governor.

Why Oz is the Best Suited Candidate for Connecticut:
The state of Connecticut is facing a deficit of confidence. As a first priority, our next governor needs to recognize our challenges and act quickly to restore public trust and private sector confidence as well as implement real solutions. Armed with relevant and transferable private sector experience, Oz fully understands the public policy process. Oz is a political outsider, but knows the players and how things work. His history is one of bringing people together toward solutions, and Oz has a practical set of ideas for addressing our problems.