Meet CONNSTEP’s President & CEO:

Beatriz Gutierrez is the president and chief executive officer of CONNSTEP, Connecticut’s leading consultancy firm dedicated to supporting the goals of Connecticut’s small and medium-sized manufacturers. 

A native of Colombia, Beatriz is a bilingual executive with over 30 years of professional experience, excelling in local and global leadership positions. Appointed President and CEO of CONNSTEP in 2020, she leads all operational aspects of the company, including the creation, implementation, and advancement of CONNSTEP’s strategic plan and goals.  

As the head of a leading MEP center, in the US Commerce Department, NIST network, Beatriz strives to strengthen the competitiveness and innovativeness of Connecticut’s manufacturing community by championing business development, operational excellence, and technology adoption through digital transformation efforts such as Industry 4.0.  

Along with her successes in new product and service development, Beatriz’s diverse expertise including business management, product marketing, and Lean methodologies, makes her uniquely qualified to lead CONNSTEP in serving the growing and evolving needs of Connecticut’s thriving manufacturing industry. 

Before joining CONNSTEP, Beatriz served as executive director of the Office of Business Development for Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development. In that role, she spearheaded several of the state’s business financial assistance and tax credit programs, including the Office of International Business, and the Office of Capital Projects. 

In 2024, Beatriz was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame for her pivotal role in shaping Connecticut’s manufacturing industry. As part of her dedication to strengthening the state’s communities, Beatriz sits on the boards of directors of the Harford Foundation for Public Giving, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, World Affairs Council of CT, the board of trustees at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Central Connecticut State University Advisory Board, and Marquette University – Opus College of Engineering Advisory Board.

Beatriz earned an MBA from the University of Chicago-Booth School of Business and a degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University. She holds Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and National Development Council Economic Development Finance Professional certifications. Beatriz is also a proud INROADS program alumna. 

A passionate advocate for closing the gender gap, Beatriz inspires young girls and women to pursue manufacturing careers and empowers them to thrive in the industry. She has also shared her extensive knowledge, teaching at the collegiate level, and fostering the next generation of manufacturing leaders.