Having reached his full height of 6’6” by the time he was 16, Pete Novak has always had a different view of the world—literally and figuratively. So when it comes to business, he likes to take an unconventional approach, whether he is leading a financial services firm or mentoring leaders of emerging companies in Warsaw, Poland.
Pete currently continues to be recruiting, coaching and co-leading Charter Oak Financial, an award-winning MassMutual firm with 200 agents. He is also deeply involved in Poland, where he operate an alpaca farm and recently helped launch a cigar firm, Highclere Castle Cigar (yes, they draw on the history of the estate from “Downton Abbey”).
Before entering the financial services world, he coached college basketball for five years, and worked as a social worker in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut.
A firm dedication to community and industry service, and Polish culture remain at the center of Pete’s professional and personal endeavors. He is the co-founder of the Charter Oak Fund, Charter Oak’s charitable arm, which supports numerous local philanthropic causes and organizations; a board member of GAMA International, as well as of GAMA’s Executive Leadership Cabinet; an executive board member of The Kosciuszko Foundation; a board member at Quinnipiac University; Chairman of the Board of Quinnipiac university’s Central European Institute (CEI); and an adjunct member of the University of Warsaw Alumni Association.
In 2013, Pete and his wife, Kasia, established the Novak Family Polish Chair at the university in support of CEI to strengthen ties between the United States and Eastern European countries with developing economies. Pete’s travels to Poland in this capacity have been instrumental in bridging the gap between the business here and in Poland.
Since 1997 he is a licensed trainer of the Integrity Sollution system.
His hobby is reading polish history, collecting classical cars, cross training and enjoying life.