Southington Distinguished Business and Community Achievement Award Recipients Announced

The Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce, Inc. hosts the Annual Southington Distinguished Business and Community Achievement Awards program to recognize the dedication, leadership, and valued contributions of our area’s most engaged professionals and businesses.

The Chamber Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2023 award recipients who will be honored at the Chamber’s 85th Annual Evening of Excellence Business and Community Achievement Awards Dinner and Auction on Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Aqua Turf. Additional information may be found on southingtonchamber.com

Carmine Votino, President, CV Tool Company, will receive the Riccio Brothers Business Person of the Year Award. Carmine is one of the longest continuous members of the Southington Chamber having joined in 1980 when he first established CV Tool Company.

Throughout his more than 40 years in business he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the mission of the Chamber to support the business growth and community vitality of greater Southington. His nomination for this award is a testament to the professional and personal respect he garners among his colleagues, peers, and family.

Great men often lead quietly by example. Carmine’s humble approach in sharing the successes of his labor is well admired. This award recognizes his generous contributions in giving of his time and resources to support many causes and organizations that service the needs of our residents and community including the Southington Chamber of Commerce, Southington Community Services, Unico National, Italian American Festival, St. Thomas Church, Southington YMCA, Bread for Life, and sponsoring the festival fireworks, to name a few.

Rob Paradis, President, Junk Bear, will receive the Industry Leader of the Year Award. Rob is being recognized for his entrepreneurial efforts and dedication in taking Junk Bear from a side hustle, while working a full-time corporate job, to a wholly operating company in a short period of time. His business model evolved as he found solutions to challenges and made investments in equipment to streamline effi- ciencies and reduce labor hours. This allowed him to secure additional jobs on any given day and expand his company to include a building and fleet of trucks and several employees now servicing the entire state of Connecticut. Rob is a true visionary and is passionate about providing a lifelong employee culture for his team of bears. By his example others have entered the arena attempting to imitate the quality standards he has set in the junk hauling industry. Rob and his team are active participants in multiple Chamber programs, events, and services.

William Dziedzic and Joseph Calvanese III, developers with Precision Realty, will receive the Mat Florian Renaissance Award. This prestigious award continued on page 6

INSIDE PAGES:

Chamber News is a publication by The Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Layout and design by Perfect Type, LLC 31 Liberty Street – Suite 210, Southington, CT 06489

Phone: 860.628.8036 |www.southingtonchamber.com

Email: info@southingtonchamber.com

Facebook: southingtonchamber1 and SouthingtonChamberMembersForum

Instagram: SouthingtonChamberofCommerce

PRESIDENT & CEO: Barbara Coleman-Hekeler

PROGRAMS & EVENTS: Jordan P. Clemens