Business Leaders Recognized at Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce

The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized several businesses and business leaders who demonstrate exemplary business practices as well as community involvement at their annual Business Awards on June 4, at LaBelle Winery, according to a press statement.

Each award winner was nominated by their peers and those attending the dinner voted for the final winner in each category.

Business Leader of the Year was awarded to Wendy Hunt, Executive Director of the Milford Improvement Team.Hunt joined MIT as its Executive Director in January 2014. Previously she was the Community Development Director at Opportunity Networks, a 501c3 non profit providing services to disabled adults with locations in Amherst and Nashua. I also worked in the Milford and Amherst communities for the Stabile Companies. Wendy is also a licensed attorney and a member of the Florida Bar Association since 1987. She practiced law in Florida until moving to New Hampshire in 2003.

Jennifer Crook of The Copy Shop received Volunteer of the Year. Jennifer Crook has dedicated her professional life to the growth and development of The Copy Shop, Inc for over 30 years. Jen is an active member of the Souhegan Valley Chamber Board of Directors, Ambassador committee and participates in the IPPW women’s networking group in New Hampshire.

The Small Business of the Year award was presented to The Flying Butcher, Amherst. The Flying Butcher supports the community in many ways. They buy locally, hire locally, support Souhegan Valley through charitable donations through local organization and are very supportive of the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Business of the Year award was presented to Skillings & Sons. Skillings and Sons Inc. was established in 1970 by Leroy Skillings in Chelmsford, MA. as a small family business that drilled wells for drinking water. Today, 44 years later, Skillings and Sons, still a family business, owned by Roger and Norman Skillings both having third generation sons and daughters totaling 63 employees, blossomed from drilling water wells to a water well contractor taking care of everything from well drilling, well pumps and water filtration, to geothermal, agricultural uses and maintenance and repair services. For the past 10 years, geothermal and water treatment has grown 300%. Geothermal is helping the carbon foot print and energy costs. They have been in the Souhegan Valley area for 35 years of the 44, first in Hollis, then moving to 9 Columbia Drive, Amherst in 2009.

The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce also recognized high school students who were chosen by their guidance counselors for their work as Future Business Leaders. Edward Arnold from Hollis Brookline High School, Roman Ojala from Mascenic High School, Anika Strelow from Milford High School, Dannie Tiso from Souhegan High School and Samantha Hooper and Matthew Shinn from Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School were presented awards.

The Chamber wishes to thank Red Oak Apartment Homes, Eversource Energy, and HPM Insurance for sponsoring the Annual Awards. Students were sponsored by Amherst Label, CR Labonte Ground Maintenance and Kinder Morgan. The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce promotes successful relationships for the business and civic community in the eleven towns of the Souhegan Valley. The Chamber supports economic development and growth, as well as valuable local information and referrals to businesses and the general public.

For more information, visit souhegan.net or telephone 673-4360.