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Health & Fitness

Chamber's Annual Meeting names 3 winners

At the Annual Meeting last week, it was announced that 2012 left the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT in the black, and membership at an all time high. The Chamber also named 3 annual award winners.

At the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut's Annual Meeting last week, the region's largest business organization named John Lombardi Jr. as its board chair, added four new board members and presented awards to community leaders. Those that weren't able to attend can still download the Annual Report here, or stop by the office in Waterford for a hard copy. 

Lombardi, the owner of Lombardi Gravel & Excavation of Oakdale, follows Bill Stanley, vice president of Development and Community Relations at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

In accepting the position, the incoming chairman thanked predecessor for his service during the past year and told the membership,  “I am thankful that you have had the confidence in me to name me to the important position. And I will work hard in the coming year to continue the progress made during Bill’s time as Chairman.”

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Tony Sheridan, the Chamber’s president & CEO, thanked both for their efforts.

“John has had a long and successful business career and cares about the business community and the region.  I look forward to working with him in the coming year, just as I enjoyed working this past year with Bill,” Sheridan said.

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“Bill is a community treasure who has been engaged in so much that is good about our area,” Sheridan said. “He’s truly a person with a regional perspective and understands the big picture when it comes to working for the betterment of all eastern Connecticut.”

In remarks to the more than 200 business and community leaders attending the event, Lombardi, the incoming chairman, added:

“The Chamber plays an important role in the region in a lot of ways.  It is a voice for the business community and its many non-profit members.   I will work hard with Tony and his staff to keep that voice strong.

“If I have a particular focus in the coming year it will be on membership.  That is important because working together we have a strong voice, and I want to make it even stronger.”

In addition to the election, the Chamber board added four new members:

Gary Farrugia, publisher of The Day; B. Michael Rauh Jr., president of Chelsea Groton Bank;  Robert J. “Bobby” Soper, president & CEO of Mohegan Sun; David A. Whitehead, president & CEO of William W. Backus Hospital.

Sheridan, who conducted the meeting thanked the business leaders for their willingness to serve the region through the chamber.

“We’ve had a strong board and with these new members I believe it will be even stronger as we work to continue representing our members and work to ensure that eastern Connecticut grows and prospers.”

The Chamber president also presented its annual awards:

Volunteer of the Year, David Hammerstrom, Chelsea Groton Bank:

“He has been an active participant in helping our organization grow and stay strong. Among his other accomplishments, he has chaired our finance committee and has played a leading role to keep us the vibrant organization that we are.”

Small Business of the Year:  Great Neck Country Club,  David and Ann Mortimer:

“They have taken something that was really an institution in the region and brought it back. Some will say that in doing so they have returned the property to its former state, but we believe that they have made it better than it was in its heyday.”

Board of Directors Special Award:  Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon

“First Selectman Congdon has demonstrated outstanding leadership in a very difficult situation. Cleaning up the former Norwich hospital site is an important first step in turning that property into a marketable asset for the entire region, and the first selectman has been leading that effort.”

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