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The Addison County Chamber of Commerce recognized local businesses, organizations, and individuals with its annual awards during the Chamber’s annual meeting held on September 8th at Basin Harbor Club. Four awards were presented in front of a crowd of 135 attendees which included Governor Douglas, Chamber members and other local dignitaries. In addition to the award presentations, the Chamber membership voted on a new board of directors. J.P. Carrara & Sons was presented with the Business of the Year Award which is given to a business located in Addison County that demonstrates excellent business practices and provides a positive impact on the community. According to Andy Mayer, Chamber president, “J.P. Carrara & Sons has exemplified all of the award criteria, and has done so for a long time. One such criterion is for improving a facility which benefits the community. J.P. Carrara qualified not just by improving the Cross Street Bridge in Middlebury, but by building it.” He went on to say that without their expertise the project probably wouldn’t have happened.
In addition to the Business of the Year award, the Addison County Chamber presented its Buster Brush Citizen of the Year Award which is given to an individual who has made numerous contributions to the community without the expectation of acknowledgement. The award was given to John Tenny, Middlebury Select Board Chair, who has shown extraordinary leadership in challenging times. He has also shown tremendous dedication by serving on the Middlebury Select Board since 1995 and Chairman since 1997. His tenacity on the Cross Street Bridge project which had been 50+ years in the making helped bring it to completion. His relationship with Middlebury College ensured a collaboration that was instrumental in funding the Bridge.
The Chamber’s Community Achievement Award is given to a not-for-profit organization for outstanding services and leadership to the community. The Chamber recognized the Middlebury Select Board, Middlebury College and the citizens of Middlebury for their efforts to make the soon-to-be-opened Cross Street Bridge happen. From figuring out where it should go, to accomplishing it without the state and federal government, to developing a partnership to pay for it, and utilizing the expertise of a local company in its construction, many pieces had to come together to make the Cross Street Bridge a reality.
The outgoing board chairperson, Lynn Coale, presented the Chairman’s Award which is given to an individual or business who has donated time and effort for the continuing benefit of the Chamber. This year the award was presented to Nancy Slater Cobden, recently retired from the Hannaford Career Center. According to Lynn, “Nancy has been instrumental in keeping the Work Force Investment Board alive and well in Addison County and she has been a founding member and constant advocate for the Middlebury Arts Walk. She has been my assistant director at the Hannaford Career Center for the last eight years.”
Annual meeting attendees voted on the board of directors for the 2010-2011 year. New to the board this year are Robin Huestis, Round Robin Upscale Resale Shop and Grover Usilton, National Bank of Middlebury. Both are serving one-year terms expiring at the 2011 annual meeting. The board and members of the Chamber recognized Jim Daily, Porter Medical Center, who is leaving the board after serving two terms. Kris Merchant, Waitsfield Champlain Valley Telecom, is the incoming chairperson. Other board members include:
Bonita Bedard, Vermont HoneyLights, representing Five Town Business Council
Dan Brown, Swift House Inn
Tim Buskey, Vergennes Residential Care
Lynn Coale, Hannaford Career Center: Immediate Past President
Jeff Costello, The Middlebury Inn
Andy Mayer, Addison County Chamber
Kate McGowan, United Way of Addison County
Mike McLaughlin, Breadloaf Corporation
Kris Merchant, Waitsfield Champlain Valley Telecom
Steve Misasi, Misasi & Misasi, PC
Patrick Norton, Middlebury College
Mike Rainville, Maple Landmark Woodcraft, representing Addison County Economic Development Corporation
Paul Richey, Basin Harbor Club
Bill Sayre, A. Johnson Lumber Company, representing Addison County Regional Planning Commission
Bill Townsend, J.P. Carrara & Sons
The Addison County Chamber of Commerce (ACCOC) is an association of individuals representing business interests, working together to promote commercial business and tourism in Addison County. The Chamber can be found on the Web at www.addisoncounty.com.