Gilmore's Chamber's Business of Year

Gilmore's Flower Shop is the East Providence Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Busines of the Year.

The flower shop received the award at the annual dinner meeting of the chamber on Saturday evening, Nov, 28, at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence.

More than 165 people attended the meeting of the 115-year-old organization. The guest speaker was Joe Andruzzi, former offensive lineman for the New England Patriots, who now runs a nonprofit organization.

Gilmore's was selected as the Business of the Year in appreciation of its support of the non-profit organization, and their philanthropic and economic contributions to the City of East Providence and surrounding areas, said Laura McNamara, executive director of the chamber.

"Gilmore's Flower Shop has been in business in East Providence for more than 75 years," said McNamara. "Allan Gilmore, and his father before him, have employed hundreds of people over the years. Their building is a local landmark on Taunton Avenue near the westbound entrance to I-195. Their floral arrangements and high-quality service are well-known in the area. They routinely support the community and local organizations with gift certificates and floral donations for fundraisers, and with Allan's involvement as chairman of the Downtown Business Association of East Providence, and as a member of the East Providence/Seekonk Rotary and East Providence Beautification Committee, to name a few."

The chamber also recognized Arthur Dwyer of Wood's Heating Service as chamber Member of the Year, and Bob Durfee of Delisi Property Management as board Member of the Year.

Andruzzi, former New England Patriots offensive guard and president of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, spoke about playing with the Patriots and earning three Super Bowl rings, overcoming cancer, giving back to the community and starting a business.

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation is committed to providing financial and emotional assistance to the broad community of cancer patients and families throughout New England, New York and New Jersey, he said.

The election of the chamber's 2013 board of directors and officers also was held at the annual meeting. The board will begin its three-year term in January.

Officers are Chairman: Harold Daigneau, Daigneau Insurance Agency, Inc.; Past chairman and vice-chair Membership Committee: Johnathon Birs, Capital City Financial Corp.; Chairman-elect and secretary: Deborah Viveiros, Webster Bank; Treasurer: Ron Carmark, CPA; Vice-chair, Events Committee: Arthur Dwyer,  Wood’s Heating Service. The board of directors are: Lindsay Armstrong Mitchell,  Munroe Dairy, Inc.; Anthony Botelho, Freedom National Bank; Michael Davis, Raymour & Flanigan Furniture; Robert Durfee, DeLisi Property Management; Lori Hyder, Community & Teachers Credit Union; Robert LaCharite, Questar Capital; Dean Malatesta, Print-MD; Dean Martins, Metro West Business Services, LLC; Robert Skurka, Bristol County Savings Bank; Joshua Slepkow, Slepkow, Slepkow & Associates; Christine St. Hilaire, The Beauty Lounge at Magnolia; Phil Tirrell, Weichert, Realtors-Tirrell Realty; Michael Vendituoli, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; Carol Vilardi, Clarion Inn of Providence/Seekonk; Jonathan Weitzner, Universal Gold, Inc.; Eva Wood, Wood’s Rooter Service.