Arrowhead Leadership Consulting Named Amity Chamber Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

**News Release Submitted by Amity Chamber of Commerce**

Orange, Connecticut, August 13, 2026 – Arrowhead Leadership Consulting has been named the Amity Chamber of Commerce 2026 Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. Chosen by the Chamber's Board of Directors, Arrowhead Leadership Consulting will be celebrated at the Amity Chamber of Commerce Community Awards and Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 17th at the Courtyard by Marriott, 136 Marsh Hill Road, Orange.

New this year, the Amity Chamber of Commerce Veteran-owned Business of the Year will be presented and sponsored by Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). The inaugural award recognizes the dedication, resilience, and leadership that veteran-owned businesses and veteran entrepreneurs bring to the community, while strengthening the economy, creating jobs, and carrying forward the values of service, discipline, and commitment learned in the military into the business world.

Thomas Cavalliere, Director of Community Engagement, Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), said, “Arrowhead Leadership Consulting has taken a lifetime of service and turned it into a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. We’re proud to recognize Eric and his team, and to celebrate a veteran-owned business making a meaningful impact here in our community.”

Eric Lopez, Founder and CEO of Arrowhead Leadership Consulting and a four-time Bronze Star Medal recipient, said, “We are incredibly honored to be named Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. We are proud to be veteran-owned and operated, proud to call Connecticut home, and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Connecticut and our nation.”

Arrowhead Leadership Consulting is completely comprised of US military retirees and leaders, united by a shared mission: "to guide others toward greater impact through emotional intelligence." With over 100 years of combined experience, Arrowhead works with businesses to develop their leaders to improve workplace efficiency and increase profitability. Lopez also speaks to a variety of audiences across the country about innovation, leadership, and other topics, including "leading across the generations," which challenges common assumptions about younger leaders and reveals what drives performance, engagement, and accountability across generations.

Barry Lee Cohen, CEO of the Amity Chamber of Commerce, said, "We congratulate Eric and the entire Arrowhead Leadership Consulting team on this well-deserved recognition. Over the last two years, the Arrowhead team has consistently created exceptional value by providing leadership training to the Town of Orange Police Department, member businesses, and other organizations throughout Connecticut. This is in addition to serving as both featured speaker and member exhibitor at multiple Chamber events. Highly engaged, enthusiastic, collaborative, thoughtful, and intelligent just begin to describe why Arrowhead was the unanimous choice to introduce this most important and overdue award."

Tickets to the program are only $50 each for Chamber members, police officers, firefighters, veterans, senior citizens, and their families. Admission includes a hot buffet breakfast and the opportunity to network with officials and fellow business and community leaders throughout the region. Seats are limited, and no tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Click this link to purchase tickets. Tickets will not be available at the door. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/kxjz86g

Amity Chamber Corporate Partners, including Avangrid (Platinum Level) and The Milford Bank (Gold Level), are generously sponsoring this year's event, along with Chamber members Optimum (Gold Level) and Silver sponsors, Baybrook Remodelers and 7 Brew Drive Through Coffee.

About the Amity Chamber of Commerce

The Amity Chamber of Commerce delivers meaningful programs, events, advocacy, networking, and professional educational opportunities for our members, businesses, and the local communities of Orange, Woodbridge, Bethany, and surrounding municipalities. Through these initiatives, the Chamber fosters economic growth and demonstrates the unique value our members and the region bring. By building strong partnerships and working closely with members, government officials, and other key stakeholders, the Chamber helps create a Connecticut where businesses and families work, live, and thrive.