Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Business Leaders at Annual Awards Night

MILFORD, NH - The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized several businesses and business leaders who demonstrated exemplary business practices as well as community involvement at their annual Business Awards evening on June 15, 2016, at The Mile Away Restaurant in Milford, according to a press statement.

Each award winner was nominated by their peers and those attending the dinner voted for the final winner in each category.

Below is a press statement submitted Tracy Hutchins, with award winners and details of the event:

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Business Leader of the Year was awarded to Matt Ciardelli, President of Ciardelli Fuel Company. Matt Ciardelli is the third generation to head up the company started by his grandfather and uncle. Since then, Matt with the help of his brother Andrew, has helped Ciardelli Fuel grow from 10 full time employees to now employing over 40.

Along with expanding Ciardelli Fuel’s geographic footprint, Matt has been an integral part in adding a bulk transportation division, expanding service offerings to include a full line of residential and light commercial HVAC services, and starting the family storage business.

Matt has been very involved in the Milford community as a member of the Milford Economic Development Advisory Council since its inception in 2008 and chairman since 2013. In 2010 Matt also joined the board of the Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club and sits on the board of the Hollis/Brookline Cal Ripken Baseball.

Dennie Townsend of the Brookline Food Pantry and Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative received Volunteer of the Year. Dennie has been serving Brookline as the Overseer of Public Welfare since January 2015. In this position she oversees the operation of the Town Food Pantry.

She is also the current board chair of the Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative (SVTC) aka “The Blue Bus.” The “Blue Bus” provides affordable, wheelchair- accessible transportation for non-emergency healthcare appointments and other essential activities for those in greatest need - elderly residents, those living with a disability, and residents who are unable to drive.

The Small Business of the Year award was presented to The Milford Improvement Team, Milford. The Milford Improvement Team (MIT) is a public-private partnership working to promote, revitalize, and enhance the historic, natural, social, and economic vitality of Milford, New Hampshire. MIT strives to enhance the quality of life in Milford on behalf of the town, its businesses and residents.

MIT-coordinated events attract over 37,000 attendees to the Town of Milford each year, bringing several million dollars into the local economy each year. Signature events include the annual Taste of Milford and the Milford Pumpkin Festival, as well as the annual Town-wide Clean Up Day, Commercial Vacant Spaces Tour, Holiday Fairs, and more.

The Business of the Year award was presented to HPM Insurance. In 2006, Lyle Fulkerson purchased the 150 year-old Holt Agency, a mainstay of Milford. Since then, Lyle has grown the former Holt Agency with the acquisitions of McBriarty Insurance in 2010 and the Proctor Agency in 2009 to form HPM Insurance. As HPM, Lyle has opened a second location in Bedford and over the last year has renovated a new Amherst office.

As a company, HPM Insurance puts great effort into community support. The company has supported the National MS Society, donated turkeys to SHARE at Thanksgiving, participated in the Milford Pumpkin Festival and the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce.

They worked the Amherst Lions Club’s Antique and Classic car show, held annual backpack and school supply drive to support SHARE and adopted families in need for the holidays. HPM also held an E-Cycle event for clients, staff and public to bring in old computers, etc. free of charge for safe disposal.

CEO Lyle Fulkerson sits on the boards of the Chamber, Milford Economic Development Council, as well as on the board of trustees for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New England.

Two graduating seniors were awarded the first Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership Scholarships. Roman Ojala of New Ipswich, a recent graduate of Mascenic Regional High School is a NH State Scholar and a NH State Scholar Athlete.

He has been the captain of three varsity teams, golf, basketball and baseball and holds the NH All-State teams for golf in his freshmen, sophomore and senior years of high school. In the past year his volunteer work has been focused on helping younger athletes, umpiring for New Ipswich Little League and the winter basketball season for the local elementary school.

He plans on going to a four year college to focus on investments and finance. Recent Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative graduate Samantha Hooper worked at a local grocery store as bookkeeper and served as manager of her school store.

When asked what she plans to do in the future, she stated, “I am interested in pursuing a career in the field of business finance. I found my passion for finance through the business center at WLC.” Mike Bonacorsi LLC and Turnstone Corporation sponsored this year’s scholarships.

The Chamber wishes to thank Edward Jones Investments and HPM Insurance for sponsoring the Annual Awards. Students were sponsored by The Arbors of Bedford, CR Labonte Ground Maintenance, Granite Bank, Farm Design and Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C.. The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce promotes successful relationships for the business and civic community in the eleven towns of the Souhegan Valley.

The Chamber supports economic development and growth, as well as valuable local information and referrals to businesses and the general public.

For more information, visit souhegan.net or telephone 603-673-4360.