CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: CHAMBER AWARDS HONOR COMMUNITY LEADERS

Annually, The Chamber honors a number of organizations and individuals for their significant contributions to our communities. This year’s awards will be presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting at the Ramada Conference Center on Thursday, January 27th. The Chamber is pleased to recognize the following individuals and businesses.

The Business Leadership Award for a larger company will be presented to The Wal-Mart Distribution Center and General Manager, Cathlin Foster. The distribution center has the distinction of being one of the largest development projects in Maine in the last decade and their impact on the Lewiston-Auburn employment has been monumental, bringing hundreds of good paying jobs in the transportation/logistics sector. In addition Wal-Mart has been a community leader in United Way and many other community endeavors.

The Business Leadership Award for a smaller company will be presented to Cassiel’s Salon and Spa. Owner Diane Dubois has overcome a series of obstacles that would have sidetracked someone with lesser drive, but she has persevered and continuously expanded her business to one of the largest of its kind in the area. Like other successful businesses, Cassiel’s couples their growing success with concern and support for the community.

The prestigious Ray Geiger Award will be presented Peter Murphy of Neokraft Signs for his long standing support for and leadership of The Chamber. After seven years on the Board of Directors including a term as chair of the board, Peter has returned to serve as co-chair of the Regional Image Committee. Annually for the past decade, he has donated signs for the Scholarship Scramble and helped out with the Grains and Grapes Festival as well. Whatever The Chamber asked, Peter has always said yes – and then gone above and beyond what was expected.

The Community Service Leadership Award will be presented to three local banks that have collaboratively started a scholarship challenge to support students at USM at Lewiston Auburn College. Mechanics Savings Bank, Auburn Savings Bank and Androscoggin Bank will be recognized for their trend-setting collaboration. Together they put up $24,000 to match like amounts to bring scholarships to students in need at LAC.

The Turner Business Award will be presented to Accidental Anomalies and President Jon Randall. Accidental Anomalies builds custom staircases and handrails to fit clients’ particular specifications. Their fine work is found in many schools and major businesses in Maine. Employing the latest in laser technologies, the work of Accidental Anomalies has received wide acclaim.

The second Poland Business Award will be presented to Poland Spring Inn and owner Cyndi Robbins. For almost a century Poland Spring Inn and Resort has been a major tourist destination in central Maine. Recently the resort has gone through a renaissance under Cyndi’s leadership, developing a major new golf practice facility and miniature golf course as well as Cyndi’s Dockside Restaurant.

The Public Service Leadership Award will be presented to Paul Badeau of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council. Paul was the architect and the major force behind the “L/A It’s Happening Here” campaign and recently developed the new Launch L-A initiative.

The Education Award will be presented to Southern New Hampshire University for the development of an MBA program in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Seeing a need SNHU worked collaboratively with Central Maine Community College for a program that starts this month.

Two years ago The Chamber introduced a new award, “The Cool Chamber Award,” which is presented to an organization or individual that has made a significant difference in reducing energy usage and preserving resources. The 2011 award will be presented to Jim Wellehan and Bruce Damon who have been active in the cities of Auburn and Lewiston respectively – pushing the municipalities to move ahead with community conservation programs.

The Ken Additon Small Business Advocate award will be presented to Women, Work & Community for their pioneering work in developing new entrepreneurs in the communities.

There will be two winners of the prestigious President’s Award. The first will be awarded to The Bread Shack and owner Dara Reimers for the great work she has done in developing a “destination bakery” for our communities. The second President’s award will go to Jim Day and Nick Glicos, the new owners of Martindale Country Club for stepping forward and taking over a major community organization that was on the brink of failure.

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