Michael Christian Fedele is an Italian-born American business executive and Republican politician who served as Connecticut's 107th lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2011. He founded and led the Stamford-based Pinnacle Group, represented Stamford in the Connecticut House of Representatives, and was a candidate for governor in 2010 and mayor of Stamford in 2013.
Background
Michael Fedele was born in Minturno, Italy, on March 30, 1955, and immigrated to Connecticut with his parents in 1958. The family settled in Stamford, where he grew up, attended public schools, and graduated from Westhill High School. His father, who had operated a cheese-manufacturing business in Italy, worked as a laborer in Stamford, while his mother worked for Excelsior Hardware. Fedele's upbringing in Stamford's Italian-American community and his long residence in the city shaped both his business career and his subsequent public service.
Education
Fedele attended Stamford public schools and graduated from Westhill High School. He later attended Norwalk State Technical College and Fairfield University. His studies in the technical and university settings preceded a career in computer systems, information technology, business leadership, and public administration.
Career
Fedele began his professional career in computer operations with Bristol Myers Company, working in the field from 1973 to 1979 and continuing with the company through 1979 in the supplied career record. He then served as a senior systems programmer with Duracell International from 1979 to 1980. In 1988 he became president of Dana Marketing Incorporated, a position he held through 1991. He founded the Stamford-based Pinnacle Group and served as its chairman and chief executive, developing the company as an information-technology services firm with offices in the United States. He entered public service in Stamford in 1983 and served two terms on the city's Board of Representatives, representing the 13th District from 1987 to 1991 according to later biographical accounts. In 1992 he was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 147th District, representing Stamford and New Canaan, and served through 2002. During his legislative tenure he was ranking member of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, assistant House minority leader, and a member of the Banks, Transportation, and Workforce Development committees. His legislative work included support for community-technical-college job training, economic-cluster development, enterprise zones, insurance coverage for mastectomy and prostate-cancer treatment, and the Managed Care Reform Act of 1997. Fedele became Connecticut's 107th lieutenant governor on January 3, 2007, serving under Governor M. Jodi Rell until January 5, 2011. He took a leave from the Pinnacle Group while serving in statewide office. In 2010 he sought the Republican nomination for governor but lost the primary to Tom Foley. In 2013 he ran for mayor of Stamford on the Republican and Independent lines and was defeated by Democrat David Martin.
Achievements
Served as Connecticut's 107th lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2011.
Founded and led the Stamford-based Pinnacle Group, an information-technology services company operating through offices in the United States.
Represented Connecticut's 147th House District and held legislative leadership positions including ranking member of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and assistant House minority leader.
Fedele was a member of the American Management Association and the Data Processing Managers Association. He also served on the boards of Stamford Health Systems, the Yerwood Center, the Stamford Education Foundation, and CTE, a community action agency serving Stamford, Darien, and Greenwich.
Professional membership.
American Management Association
Professional membership.
Data Processing Managers Association
Former board member.
Stamford Health Systems
Former board member.
Yerwood Center
Former board member.
Stamford Education Foundation
Former board member of the community action agency serving Stamford, Darien, and Greenwich.
CTE
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Governor M. Jodi Rell described Fedele as a valuable ally and partner to Connecticut's business community during his tenure as lieutenant governor.
Connections
Fedele is married to Carol Fedele, with whom he raised three children, Michael, Briana, and Alesandra, in Stamford. His public and business career remained closely connected to Stamford, where he lived from childhood and maintained the headquarters of the Pinnacle Group.
Father:
Antonio
Father of Michael Fedele.
Mother:
Filomenia
Mother of Michael Fedele.
Spouse:
Carol Fedele
Wife of Michael Fedele; they raised three children in Stamford.
child:
Michael Fedele
Son of Michael Fedele.
child:
Briana Fedele
Daughter of Michael Fedele.
child:
Alesandra Fedele
Daughter of Michael Fedele.
References
Connecticut Register and Manual, 2008
Official biographical profile documenting Fedele's birth, immigration to Connecticut, education, business career, legislative service, awards, civic board memberships, family, and service as lieutenant governor.
Michael Fedele makes mayoral run official
Profile documenting Fedele's 2013 campaign for mayor of Stamford, his earlier local and state public service, immigration to Stamford, and leadership of Pinnacle Group.
2013
Fedele looks to future, history
Biographical profile describing Fedele's family immigration story, Stamford upbringing, parents' occupations, local public service, business headquarters, marriage, and children.
