Business salute

Friday, March 18, 2011

Loretta Jackson photo
Tom Lachance, left, president of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce, and Deb Courtemanche, the organization’s executive director, congratulate Perry Spearman, owner and publisher of the Town Planner Community Calendar, on his selection by the Chamber as “Business Leader of the Year,” one of three prestigious awards presented at the Chamber’s 47th annual recognition banquet.

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Loretta Jackson photo
Deb Courtemanche, executive director of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Lachance, center, the organization’s president, congratulate Joseph E. Mitchell, one of Merrimack’s most respected attorneys at law, who was selected to receive the “President’s Award” at the Chamber’s recent 47th annual Recognition Banquet, an event held on March 10 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Nashua.

Enlarge

Loretta Jackson photo
Tom Lachance, left, president of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce, and Deb Courtemanche, the organization’s executive director, congratulate Perry Spearman, owner and publisher of the Town Planner Community Calendar, on his selection by the Chamber as “Business Leader of the Year,” one of three prestigious awards presented at the Chamber’s 47th annual recognition banquet.

Enlarge

An elegant evening of cocktails, dining and live music entertained more than 125 business owners and community leaders attending the 47th annual Merrimack Chamber of Commerce Recognition Banquet held Thursday, March 10, at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Nashua.

During the annual banquet, Merrimack’s Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year are recognized, with this year’s honors going to Advantage Insurance and the Residence Inn by Marriott and Perry Spearman, owner and publisher of the Town Planner Community Calendar, respectively.

The banquet is also where the coveted “President’s Award” is given, this year going to Joseph E. Mitchell, attorney at law.

The theme of the evening, “Celebrating Business Excellence,” was emphasized in a presentation from Steve Gamlin, master of ceremonies. Gamlin, a gifted speaker with a long career as an entertainer and radio personality, focused on the pursuit of excellence and the power of a positive attitude.

“Find the best people to be around,” he said. “Go through every day as if the next person you meet will be your million-dollar client.”

Adele Belfsky, head of the planning committee for the banquet, concurred. She said the evening was meant to a demonstration of appreciation to members of the business community who make excellence a goal.

Deb Courtemanche, the Chamber’s executive director, and Tom Lachance, president of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce also agreed.

Courtemanche remarked that the group of nearly a dozen nominees selected for consideration this year all demonstrated a remarkably high level of attentiveness to their customers and a willingness to go beyond the expected. She said they all share a “passion” that ensures success.

“A group that shares passion is like a freight train – unstoppable,” she said. “That’s exactly what the members of this Chamber are – unstoppable.”

Chamber board of directors’ member Bob Veinot, president of PC Whizdom – a computer sales and service business founded in 1987 – said the Chamber is a community of business owners who welcome and encourage newcomers.

“Merrimack is a place with a Chamber whose members have a lot going on,” he said. “When you make a point of attending events like tonight’s banquet and participating in other projects, you really get to know a large circle of people whose interests are similar to yours.”

Lachance agreed and, soon after, congratulated the evening’s award recipients. He noted the inclination of successful leaders to come together as a community interested in the well being of all its neighbors.

“Our members are representatives of all aspects of our community,” he said. “Our Chamber really is a reflection of our businesses. Moving forward is the goal, for it is forward motion that can take us through any tough time.”

Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed some tunes from Acoustic BS and a leisurely perusal of some pricey items exhibited as part of a silent auction that raised funds for the Chamber’s scholarship programs.

Bidders wrote their names and their bids on numbered forms near each donated item. Offers escalated throughout the evening for goods ranging from dental services at Merrimack Smiles to a pull-up kitchen faucet apparatus – a fixture donated by Allied Plumbing & Heating and Redlon & Johnson.

The proceeds of the silent auction added some $3,000 in funds to a trio of scholarships offered annually by the Chamber to high school students with records of excellence. One is earmarked for a senior at Merrimack High School. The other two go to deserving students employed by a Chamber-member business or who have a parent or guardian working at a member site.

Guests at the banquet raised many a toast to their colleagues as they indulged in boisterous chit chat and a chicken dinner followed by servings of chocolate cake. Each slice flaunted five layers separated by whipped cream sprinkled with shavings of dark chocolate.

Well thanked by several party organizers were the many sponsors that helped make the night a success. Applause heralded BAE Systems, Fidelity Investments, Merrimack Medical Center, the Merrimack Flower Shop, The Stocked Fridge, Rubber Stamps Awards & Engraving, Send Out Cards, Michelle Palys Photography and others.

The banquet’s media sponsor was The Cabinet Press, whose staffers – mostly members of the advertising department – found many opportunities to thank a host of longtime advertisers.

The Merrimack Chamber of Commerce, a group of some 200 members, is newly relocated to offices at 246 Daniel Webster Highway.

The offices there can be reached by calling 424-3669. Online information is available at www.merrimackchamber.org.