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The
Milford Chamber kicked off 2009 with the 54rd Annual Meeting and
2008 Awards of Distinction. Two hundred and forty members attended
the luncheon at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange.Former Speaker
of the House & State Representative, presented the keynote
address.
Ambassador
of the Year, Bill Parry III, Bill Parry Real Estate Team of ERA
Property World
Bill
Parry was born and raised in Milford. A St. Joseph High School
graduate, Bill went on to earn a Political Science degree at Plymouth
State College and became a Connecticut Licensed Realtor thereafter.
He is an experienced listing and selling real estate agent in
the state of CT and has earned the designation of Accredited Buyer
Representative from the National Association of Realtors. Bill
works with his father as The Bill Parry Team Real Estate, at ERA
Property World & Arnold Peck’s Commercial World.
As
an active member of the Milford Chamber of Commerce, Bill serves
on the Ambassador Committee and is the former Chairman of the
Friday Leads and Networking group. He has been actively involved
with membership recruitment and retention, and has worked diligently
on multiple membership drives. Bill is a member of the Rotary
Club of Milford where he is a member of the Board of Directors.
Bill
is married to his wife Michelle and they have a new daughter Alyssa,
age 4 months. They reside in Milford.
Director
of the Year 2008
Louise
Hebert, Hebert Jewelers
Jewelry
retail is a whole new adventure for Louise, who previously had
a long standing executive management career in the healthcare
industry. Looking for another challenge, she and her husband Joe
decided to buy the downtown shop which has been a long time family
business. Since joining the downtown Milford business community
Louise has actively supported and encouraged downtown business
growth. She is passionate about downtown and continually works
toward a vibrant, friendly, and prosperous town center. Louise
has been a Milford Chamber of Commerce Board member since 2007
and has been very active in the Chamber. She was the “Admiral”
of our most successful membership drive which brought in over
125 new members to the Chamber. In 2009, Louise will be serving
on the Chamber’s Executive Board as Third Vice Chairperson.
She is a past president of the Downtown Milford Business Association
and supports various charitable and community organizations including
Milford Hospital, Bridges and Domestic Violence Services of Greater
New Haven
Lifetime
Achievement Award
Robert
Berchem, Berchem, Moses & Devlin, PC.
Robert
L. (“Bob”) Berchem was born in Milford in 1941. The
great grandson of Milford's first Chief of Police, Bob attended
Central Grammar School and Fairfield Prep before receiving a full
academic scholarship to Fairfield University from which he graduated
with honors. Bob attended Villanova Law School and graduated first
in his class, order of the Coif, and served as editor of the Villanova
Law Review. Following law school, Bob worked as the law clerk
for the Honorable William H. Timbers, in the U.S. District Court
and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Bob was awarded
a William Cook Fellowship by the University of Michigan’s
Law School from which he received his Masters of Law. Despite
several offers to teach law school and from firms in New York
and Philadelphia, Bob chose to return to Milford in 1967 and joined
the law firm of his neighbor and childhood mentor, William (“Pete”)
Gitlitz. For the next 41 years, Bob’s commitment to Milford
has never waivered. He has brought a two person hometown firm
to statewide prominence. Known today as Berchem, Moses & Devlin,
P.C., the firm has thirty lawyers with additional offices in Westport
and New Haven. Serving as president of Berchem, Moses & Devlin,
P.C. and Chair of its Business Services Department, Bob has given
his time and expertise to many local organizations, including
the Milford Historic District Commission, Milford Jaycees, Milford-Orange
YMCA, Bridgeport Hospital and Cardinal Shehan Center. He has also
served as a Trustee of Fairfield University and on the Executive
Committee of the University of Bridgeport. Bob is currently a
member of the Board of Directors of Boys and Girls Village and
the President of Race Brook Country Club. Professionally he has
been actively involved in the attraction, development and construction
of many of the retail, commercial and industrial projects which,
over the last four decades, have provided Milford with a strong
tax base and enhanced its economic stability. Consistent with
his own willingness to give back to his community, the members
of Bob’s firm are leading contributors to the charitable,
civic and business fabric of Milford.
Human
Service Award
Reverend
Paige Besse-Rankin,Woodmont United Church of Christ Congregational
Reverend
Paige Besse-Rankin is the pastor of the Woodmont United Church
of Christ Congregational. A graduate of Emmanuel College with
a degree in Music Therapy, she also has a Masters of Divinity
from Andover Newton Theological School. Prior to coming to Milford
in 1995, Reverend Paige Besse-Rankin served as the pastor of the
Fishers Island Union Chapel. During her time in Milford, she has
served on the Board of the Combined Parishes Action Committee,
including a term as President. Paige was also a founding member
of the Milford Anti-Hate Task Force and has served on the Board
for the Milford Pastoral Counseling Center. She has also served
in the United Church of Christ in areas of Stewardship, Mission
Interpretation, Wider Church Ministry, the Korean Partnership,
and youth camps. Paige is married and has a 6 year old daughter.
Human
Service Award - Awarded Posthumously
Joan
Heybruck, American Red Cross - Milford Chapter
Joan
Heybruck was the guiding light of the Milford Chapter of the American
Red Cross for over three decades. Her leadership and tireless
work ethic reached not only those who visited the Chapter house,
but also the military families for whom she relayed communication
overseas, the countless families she assisted in the wake of numerous
natural disasters, and the citizens of Milford whom she served
on a daily basis. She retired in February 2008 after 30 years
with the American Red Cross, Milford Chapter. In her years with
the Red Cross, Joan was involved with the City-Wide Emergency
Shelter & Food Committee, United Way Affordable Housing Task
Force, Young Parent Program Advisory Committee, Young Parent Program
Board of Directors, Senior Wish Society Board of Directors, United
Way Board of Directors, Network of Executive Women, Milford Hospital
Board of Directors, The Milford Bank Board of Directors. Joan
also received many awards; Business & Professional Women of
Milford, United Way Leadership & Service Award, Milford Rotary
Club Paul Harris Award, Bridges – Humanitarian of the Year
and Milford Chamber of Commerce Public Service Award. The Milford
community will surely miss her touch.
Public
Sector Award,
Paul
Moss, Milford Hospital
Paul
Moss has been at the Milford Hospital for almost 30 years. Since
he began the medical staff has expanded to include dozens of specialties,
major medical advances were added, new facilities, opened and
centers of excellence created. The small hospital that opened
in 1920, today under Paul’s leadership has grown into a
thriving, still independent, regional center for many services.
In 1985, the visiting nurse agency Home Care Plus became part
of the hospital family. Milford Hospital completed an 85,000 square
foot improvement program in 1998. The region’s first hospital
based Center for Aesthetic Care & Cosmetic Surgery opened
in 2001 at the hospital. The permanent MRI was installed in 2003.
In 2006 the Connecticut Joint Center opened for hip, knee and
shoulder replacement surgery, among the first in the region. 2007
brought the freestanding Urgent Care Center with more than 14,000
people a year using the center. The home-like Hospice suite called
“The Fairway Suite” was also opened in 2007. And today,
in 2009, the hospital’s Operating Rooms are now equipped
with High Definition cameras and monitors. The hospital just added
MRI Guided Breast Biopsy equipment, and this month is replacing
its PET scan with an advanced PET/CT scan. Paul served as former
Chairman of the Milford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors;
Board of Directors, United Way of Milford; Board of Directors
and Orange Public Health Nursing Associations.
Community
Service Award
James
Amann
Former Speaker of the House & State Representative, 118th
District
Former
speaker of the House of Representatives James A. Amann grew up
in Milford and graduated from Jonathan Law High School and studied
criminal justice at the University of New Haven. His start in
politics began in 1983 as an Alderman until 1990 when his local
political aspirations turned to Hartford. Amann was first elected
to the Connecticut Legislative office in 1990 and has served as
the Speaker of the House since being elected to that position
prior to the 2005 Legislative Session. Previously Amann had served
as the House Majority Leader during the 2003-04 Legislative Sessions
and the House Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee
from 1993-2000. Speaker Amann authored and is considered the father
of Connecticut's ‘Megan's Law’, first passed in 1995,
which has become a national law enforcement and public awareness
model.
In
2005 Speaker Amann was instrumental in the passage of landmark
transportation, campaign finance reform, organ donor, medical
malpractice reform and stem cell research legislation. He is also
responsible for creating the Legislature’s Select Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs. Healthy Kids Connecticut is a public/private
initiative Speaker Amann created in 2005 with a mission of providing
healthcare access for all of Connecticut’s youth. The initiative
resulted in Health First/Healthy Kids legislation passed in 2007.
During
the 2006 session, Amann was the architect of new legislation creating
film and media tax incentives to bring production work from these
industries to Connecticut, and led passage of a new autism pilot
program and a historic 10-year, $2.3 billion transportation investment
initiative. Speaker Amann’s 2020 Vision Plan for Connecticut,
passed in 2006, will require ten percent of state dollars spent
on children to be directed towards prevention by the year 2020.
Speaker Amann led passage of landmark reforms on energy conservation
and eminent domain restraints, and historic new funding initiatives
that will bolster transportation and bridge safety, education
and school construction, clean water projects and the state’s
public housing stock. Also, new legislation fashioned by Speaker
Amann to refinance debt in the Teacher’s Retirement Fund
will save taxpayers $2.8 billion over 25 years.
Maintaining
a strong community involvement Jim lead the Village of Devon’s
revitalization efforts as well as the development of Silver Sands
State Park, Walnut Beach, the arts community and assistance for
numerous not-for-profit programs.
A
long time friend of the Milford Chamber Jim Amann has worked with
our Legislative Action Committee for over 18 years. Jim will be
announcing his run for Governor in a very short time.
Corporate
Award
Schick
Schick
Wilkinson Sword’s history as a Connecticut manufacturing
company dates back over 50 years. Starting in Bridgeport in 1958
as Eversharp, Inc., the company moved to Milford in 1961 under
the name Schick Safety Razor Company. In May 1970, Eversharp sold
the Schick Safety Razor Company to the Warner Lambert pharmaceutical
conglomerate, which in 1993 acquired Wilkinson Sword. Energizer
Inc. acquired Schick Wilkinson Sword in 2003 and Playtex Products,
Inc. in 2007 which now form the Energizer Personal Care Division.
The Milford site currently employs over 600 people in its 422,000
square foot facility. The Milford manufacturing team specializes
in razor blade manufacturing technologies, as well as molding
of high tolerance plastic components. A world class packaging
and distribution system rounds out the production of its brand
portfolio. On-site research, development and engineering teams
create new technologies in order to produce innovatively designed
products here in Milford.
Schick
Wilkinson Sword is recognized for its quality products and delivery
with world class certifications and awards from major corporate
customers. Most recently named a Wal-Mart “Top Vendor”
and Target’s “Vendor of the Year”. Schick Wilkinson
Sword is also proud of its commitment to community. Their 2008
Annual United Way Campaign raised $300,000 for the United Way
of Milford.
Business
Person of the Year
Harry
Garafalo, ShopRite of Milford
Harry
Garafalo, Owner and President of Milford and West Haven Markets
(DBA ShopRite Supermarkets) has been associated with the food
industry for more than three decades, serving in both union and
non-union settings. Starting as a young teenager, he worked his
way from bag boy to Owner/President, demonstrating a unique talent
for strategic planning in the food arena. Currently and for more
than 34 years, Harry has been associated with Wakefern Food Corporation
and their member companies. Since 2005, he serves as president
of Milford Markets Inc. and president of the recently purchased
West Haven Markets Inc. He has been a guest lecturer for the Women’s
Business Development Center and also serves on several boards
including the Connecticut Food Association Board, the Board of
Directors of Milford Red Cross, United Way of Milford, Milford
Audubon Society, as well as serving on the Mayor’s Committee
for People with Disabilities, a Corporator at The Milford Bank,
Christ the Redeemer Church Finance Committee, the Milford Columbus
Committee and a member of the Milford Rotary. He has been awarded
the Special Achievement Award from the Milford Columbus Committee,
inducted into the Connecticut Food Association Hall of Fame and
has received the Recognition Award from the Mayor’s Committee.
Milford
Progress, Inc. Economic Development Award
CBL
& Associates
Milford
Marketplace is located on 13 acres at the intersection of Boston
Post Road (Route 1) and Woodruff Road in Milford, CT at the former
Wayside Furniture property. Milford Marketplace, a 112,000-square-foot
lifestyle center, offers shoppers a unique shopping experience
with Main Street style architecture and extensive landscaping
in an open-air pedestrian-friendly environment. The center features
two-story façade themed buildings, adding a distinct character
to the center. Curbside parking provides customers with easy and
convenient access to the shops.
The
shopping center was developed and is also owned and managed by
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. of Chattanooga, TN (NYSE:
CBL). Milford Marketplace is anchored by a 30,000-square-foot-Whole
Foods Market, opening in fall 2009. The center also features an
outstanding selection of shops and restaurants including Ann Taylor
LOFT, Banana Republic, Coldwater Creek, Chico’s, White House
| Black Market, J. Jill, Jos A. Bank, Justice, Tengda Asian Bistro,
Floris Nail & Spa, First Steps, The Athletes Foot, and People’s
Bank. Additional stores, including Skewer Churrascaria, Massage
Envy, Carter's Children's Apparel and Captiva Salon, will open
soon at Milford Marketplace.
 
 
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Recent
Business After Hours Networking Events
Orange
Ale House
Peoples
United Bank
The
Milford Bank
Great
River Golf Club
Back
to Top
Ribbon
Cuttings celebrate
business growth and expansion
Lao
Sze Chuan Chinese Restaurant
The
Villa Gourmet
Active Health & Wellness Center, LLC
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to Top
Member
News
American
Dry Stripping recently celebrated 22 years in business
and 4th anniversary at their current location.
New Standard Institute’s interactive training
program on Three Phase AC Motors has been selected as a Finalist
for Plant Engineering Magazine’s upcoming Product of the
Year Awards.
Milford Hospital formally dedicated “The
Fairway Suite,” a specially designed home-like suite created
to provide comfortable surroundings for those in the last days
of life. The Fairway Suite is in memory of Robert McInnis who
died at Milford Hospital. His wife Carol McInnis, the Milford
Rotary Club and other groups helped raise funds to renovate two
rooms to create the hospice suite.
Milford Hospital’s Medical Urgent Care Center
is so success after the first year and demand is so strong that
they plan to expand the center. The current center will be expanded
by about a third on the same floor of the existing center.
CertiRestore of Milford
is the first and only national franchise that utilizes a chemical-free
process during the repair and restoration of antiques, furnishings
and cabinet re-crafting and restoration.
Home Care Plus
was recently ranked among the top 25% of home health providers
in the country. Milford-based Home Care Plus has been selected
as one of the HomeCare Elite, an annual compilation of the most
successful home health providers in the nation. Home Care Plus
is a non-profit, community-based visiting nurse agency affiliated
with Milford Hospital.
Dr. Victoria Rothenhausen
has recently been chosen as one of the Twenty Noteworthy Women
by New Haven Business Times.
Griswold Special Care
has been awarded Business New Haven’s 2008 Corporate Citizen
of the Year because of their community involvement. |
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Business
