Amity Chamber Honors Orange Police, Firefighters And Business Award Winners

ORANGE, CT — The Amity Chamber of Commerce honored police officers, firefighters, businesses and a veteran-owned business Thursday during its Community Awards and Annual Meeting in Orange.

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

Orange honorees included Firefighter Don Foyer, named Orange Firefighter of the Year, and Detective Denny Peterson, named Orange Police Officer of the Year. SBM Hospitality, owner of the Courtyard by Marriott New Haven Orange/Milford and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Orange New Haven, was named Business of the Year.

Ted Novicki, senior director of regulatory affairs at Avangrid, received the chamber’s first President’s Award. Novicki, who grew up in Orange, has served on the Amity Chamber Board of Directors since 2017 and as board president since 2019, according to the release.

Barry Lee Cohen, CEO of the Amity Chamber of Commerce, said the President’s Award is not intended to be presented every year.

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 during its 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 helped the chamber during difficult periods.

“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. “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 said he was grateful for the recognition.

“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 Woodbridge Firefighter of the Year Paul Konwerski, Woodbridge Police Officer of the Year Sgt. Michael Blume and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year Arrowhead Leadership Consulting, presented by Tweed-New Haven Airport.

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

Novicki will remain on the board as immediate past president. The newly elected board 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.