Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
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1981 Alumna Making a Difference in Vermont
Class of 1981 alumna Gina Cuomo Cote and her husband, Marc Cote, are working hard to out-service the large pharmacy chains at their two independent pharmacies in Vermont.
“We’ve operated pharmacies in Vermont for more than 20 years,” said Gina. “We currently have our Fall Mountain Pharmacy in Bellows Falls, and we’re about to open a second location on Canal Street in Brattleboro.”
Gina and Marc make a great team — at home and at work.
“Marc focuses on the pharmacy side of the business,” explained Gina. “And I manage the buildings and handle interior design, general contracting, merchandising, and even the scrapbooking business.”
Getting the Canal Street Pharmacy open and running in Brattleboro took a lot of work.
“The opening paperwork for a new pharmacy location used to only be two pages,” recalled Gina. “Now, I need to submit over 400 pages of applications.”
Gina and Mac knew there was a business opportunity in Brattleboro when residents lost their independent pharmacies and were dependent only on large chains.
“We knew residents would welcome the customer service offered by an independent pharmacy,” said Gina. “We will differentiate our pharmacies from the large chains by focusing on medicine and outstanding customer service. We will provide expanded health care information, vaccines, testing, and point-of-care services. We will even deliver prescriptions to private homes and offices. My husband calls it ‘a traditional, apothecary-style pharmacy.’”
Over the years, Gina has also run a successful scrapbooking business in their pharmacies.
“In 2004, I opened the Scrapbook Nook within our Greater Falls Pharmacy in Bellows Falls, Vermont,” recalled Gina. “At the time, it was the largest scrapbooking store in New England, but digital photography came along and killed that business. Only true crafters still do it. However, we may still sell supplies and bring back scrapbooking events to our new store.”
Gina got her start in the pharmacy business with strong AP science and math classes at Hamden Hall, taught by Dr. Beitch and Mr. Zibello.
“After high school, I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science and Quinnipiac College with a Master of Health Science,” recalled Gina. “I met my husband at UNH, and we moved to New Hampshire after grad school. My first official job was the manager of the Pathology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I then went on to work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont.”
Gina and Marc have three children: Nick, who is 35 and lives in New Hampshire; Jeff, who is 31 and lives in Vermont; and Alyssa, 29, who recently married and also lives in Vermont. Gina is happy to report that her children frequently come over for dinner and help around their house. She also sees her extended family in Connecticut around the holidays, including her parents, Anthony and Maryanne Cuomo, who have been married for 67 years.
There are lots of Hornets Alumni in the Cuomo family. Gina’s siblings attended Hamden Hall: Richard Cuomo, Class of 1983, and Felicia Cuomo, Class of 1989. Richard’s children also attended Hamden Hall: Natale, Class of 2013, Christopher, Class of 2014, and Matthew, Class of 2019.
Back
Gina and Marc make a great team — at home and at work.
“Marc focuses on the pharmacy side of the business,” explained Gina. “And I manage the buildings and handle interior design, general contracting, merchandising, and even the scrapbooking business.”
Getting the Canal Street Pharmacy open and running in Brattleboro took a lot of work.
“The opening paperwork for a new pharmacy location used to only be two pages,” recalled Gina. “Now, I need to submit over 400 pages of applications.”
Gina and Mac knew there was a business opportunity in Brattleboro when residents lost their independent pharmacies and were dependent only on large chains.
“We knew residents would welcome the customer service offered by an independent pharmacy,” said Gina. “We will differentiate our pharmacies from the large chains by focusing on medicine and outstanding customer service. We will provide expanded health care information, vaccines, testing, and point-of-care services. We will even deliver prescriptions to private homes and offices. My husband calls it ‘a traditional, apothecary-style pharmacy.’”
Over the years, Gina has also run a successful scrapbooking business in their pharmacies.
“In 2004, I opened the Scrapbook Nook within our Greater Falls Pharmacy in Bellows Falls, Vermont,” recalled Gina. “At the time, it was the largest scrapbooking store in New England, but digital photography came along and killed that business. Only true crafters still do it. However, we may still sell supplies and bring back scrapbooking events to our new store.”
Gina got her start in the pharmacy business with strong AP science and math classes at Hamden Hall, taught by Dr. Beitch and Mr. Zibello.
“After high school, I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science and Quinnipiac College with a Master of Health Science,” recalled Gina. “I met my husband at UNH, and we moved to New Hampshire after grad school. My first official job was the manager of the Pathology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I then went on to work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont.”
Gina and Marc have three children: Nick, who is 35 and lives in New Hampshire; Jeff, who is 31 and lives in Vermont; and Alyssa, 29, who recently married and also lives in Vermont. Gina is happy to report that her children frequently come over for dinner and help around their house. She also sees her extended family in Connecticut around the holidays, including her parents, Anthony and Maryanne Cuomo, who have been married for 67 years.
There are lots of Hornets Alumni in the Cuomo family. Gina’s siblings attended Hamden Hall: Richard Cuomo, Class of 1983, and Felicia Cuomo, Class of 1989. Richard’s children also attended Hamden Hall: Natale, Class of 2013, Christopher, Class of 2014, and Matthew, Class of 2019.
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
