Fairfield Chamber Celebrates 70th Annual Awards Dinner

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated its 70th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner, in which Kleban Properties, LLC, was recognized as the 2016 “Company of the Year” and the Norma Pfriem Center was the “Non-Profit of the Year.”

The event, which was held June 29 at the Brooklawn Country Club, was a “special evening,” according to Beverly A. Balaz, President of the Chamber.

Ken Kleban, President of Kleban Properties, and Dr. Donna Twist / Executive Director, accepted the respective awards.

Read more from the press release below:

“Both the Kleban Properties LLC and Norma Pfriem Breast Center have immensely contributed to the community in a variety of different ways, providing education, help and support where they can … and as such, we wanted to acknowledge and recognize their contributions, accomplishments and achievements.” Balaz said.

Innovative and award-winning, the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, under the leadership of Dr. Donna Twist/Executive Director and her team, provide the most exceptional care to those in need, for both men and women. Their mission is to achieve excellence in breast care through education, screening, diagnosis and state-of-the art treatment for diseases of the breast. Their dedicated medical, educational and emotional support teams ease the burden of life with cancer, through compassion, hope and strength.

With a strong educational outreach initiative to promote early screening and detection, one of their main goals is to help women who are uninsured, or underinsured, gain access to the Center’s comprehensive screening, diagnosis and treatment programs …because good health comes first.

Founded in 1999, the Norma Pfriem Breast Center has become an innovator … and a highly regarded model for breast centers throughout the state. Always pushing themselves with precise focus of what else can they do to provide enhanced wellness, they continue to broaden their scope each and every day … looking to find, and then provide, something new to help people feel better.

Kleban Properties LLC, managed by President Ken Kleban, is a 5-generational family-owned business, which owns and operates office, retail and mixed-use properties not only in Fairfield, CT, but in town centers in 6 other states. Known for their unwavering commitment to aesthetics and maintenance, their stellar reputation reflects high-quality, meticulous upkeep and architectural design.

Kleban Properties LLC has always been a strong and dedicated community partner. And with each new generation, their legacy flourishes with recognition on many different levels … and for Fairfield, Mr. Albert Kleban had the vision and foresight, to forever transform the downtown, with the redesign and re-constructed Fairfield Center Building.

But with Kleban Properties, it’s not always about business. In addition to all of them being very active in local civic affairs, it’s also about finding time to do for others, and giving back to the community. Ken himself, is an 18-year veteran of the Weston Volunteer Department, serves on the BOD of the Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport, is a member of the Advisory Board to the Dolan School of Business/Fairfield University and was founder of FAME (Fairfield Accelerator and Mentoring Enterprise), now known as FUEL (Fairfield University Entrepreneurship Laboratory), helping college students develop their dreams as entrepreneurs.

Invocation was given by Reverend Father Allen, S.J., Alumni Chaplain & Special Assistant to the President/Fairfield University, and Bob Santy, President and CEO of CERC (Connecticut Economic Resource Center), presented an overview of those services available to local businesses through CERC, and also highlighted the benefits of our community for business growth.

In addition, state legislators, Senator Tony Hwang, Representative Brenda Kupchick, Representative Laura Devlin and Representative Cristin McCarthy-Vahey, presented the honorees with General Assembly Delegation Citations.

Awards were also given to Joe Rog, Director of Development/Fairfield Theatre Company, and Deb Gran, AVP Customer Service Manager/People’s United Bank, for their leadership as Chamber Board of Directors Co-Chairs, term January 2015 - June 2016. New incoming Chairman of the Board, John Rosenau, Moneco Advisors, LLC, VP/Chief Operating Officer, will hold the position of Chairman of the Board, effective July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017.

“We thank the Brooklawn Country Club for hosting our event, and we also give special thanks to our participating sponsors.” continues Balaz.

“It was a wonderful and memorable evening as both Ken Kleban and Dr. Donna Twist graciously accepted their awards with warmth and appreciation.” Says Balaz.

Pictured: Award winners Ken Kleban, President of Kleban Properties, and Dr. Donna Twist / Executive Director and Beverly A. Balaz, President of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. (contributed photo)