Amity Chamber Honors Woodbridge Police, Firefighters And Community Award Winners

WOODBRIDGE, CT — Woodbridge police and fire honorees were among those recognized Thursday during the Amity Chamber of Commerce Community Awards and Annual Meeting.

The sold-out event was held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 136 Marsh Hill Road, in Orange.

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Woodbridge honorees included Sgt. Michael Blume, named Woodbridge Police Officer of the Year, and Firefighter Paul Konwerski, named Woodbridge Firefighter of the Year.

The awards were presented by Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne, Woodbridge Police Chief Ronald E. Smith, Orange Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas, Woodbridge Fire Department Executive Board member Nate Case and Amity Chamber board members, according to the release.

Ted Novicki, senior director of regulatory affairs at Avangrid, received the chamber's first President's Award. The chamber said the award recognizes contributions to the Amity Chamber and surrounding communities.

Barry Lee Cohen, CEO of the Amity Chamber of Commerce, said the President's Award is not designed or required to be given annually.

Cohen said the award is "reserved for outstanding achievement of an individual Chamber member or partner, Chamber business, or non-profit Chamber member organization that has contributed above and beyond to the success of the Amity Chamber and surrounding communities."

Cohen said Novicki helped guide the chamber's transition from a single-town chamber to a regional organization.

"Ted's steady hand, strong support, enthusiasm, unwavering determination, and business experience have been indispensable in the transformation of a single-town chamber to a regional organization," Cohen said.

Dr. Rob Rubino of Rubino Family Chiropractic, the newly elected president of the Amity Chamber Board of Directors, said Novicki supported the chamber through COVID and changes in executive directors.

"For over seven years, Ted has been the binding force that kept the Chamber together during some of our most challenging times, including COVID and a turnover of executive directors," Rubino said in the release. "His extraordinary leadership, creativity, and unique ability to connect with local businesses have been instrumental in sustaining, strengthening, and expanding the Chamber's mission."

Novicki, who has served on the board since 2017 and as board president since 2019, will remain on the board as immediate past president, according to the release.

"It has been an honor to serve the community through my work with the Amity Chamber of Commerce," Novicki said. "I am grateful for the recognition and the many relationships built over the years. I grew up here in Orange, so it means a lot to me to play a role in helping local businesses thrive and support organizations that are making an impact in this community."

Other honorees included Orange Firefighter of the Year Don Foyer, Orange Police Officer of the Year Detective Denny Peterson, Veteran-Owned Business of the Year Arrowhead Leadership Consulting, presented by Tweed-New Haven Airport, and Business of the Year SBM Hospitality, owner of the Courtyard by Marriott New Haven Orange/Milford and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Orange New Haven.

State Sen. James Maroney, State Rep. Kathy Kennedy and State Rep. MJ Shannon presented citations on behalf of the Connecticut General Assembly. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal provided citations of recognition from the U.S. Senate.

The newly elected Amity Chamber Board of Directors officers include Rubino as president, Scott Prud'homme of Supercuts in Orange and Derby as vice president, Tina Mason of The Milford Bank as treasurer and Mary-Ann White of Coldwell Banker's Orange office as secretary.