James Marquis, President of Kimchuck Inc. Named Previdi Award Winner

James Marquis was a good fit for the Cecil J. Previdi award for 2011. He knew Cecil Previdi, who died in an airplane crash in 1987 after creating one of the nation's first modern printing companies.

Marquis joined Kimchuck in 1971 when the firm had five employees in what was then a machine shop. Today the electronics manufacturing firm employs more than 175 people, and it more than doubled its space to nearly 100,000-square-feet by 2008.

"Nobody deserves it more than Jim," said Ralph McIntosh, president of Deltron Precision.

Marquis thanked his family and his co-workers for the success of the firm, and he did it by name, one by one, to an audience of roughly 250 people at the annual Leaders Luncheon, State of the City Address and Cecil J. Previdi award lunch. The event is sponsored by the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.

Marquis identified one worker who stayed with the firm for 35 years, a second for 36 years, a third for 31 years and a fourth for 32 years.

"I'm proud to accept this award, and I thank all the people who supported me," Marquis said.