NRIC Presents Picard With Barbara C. Burlingame Award

The Northern RI Chamber of Commerce honored Senator Roger Picard (D-Dist.20 Woonsocket, Cumberland) at its Annual Dinner at Twin River Feb. 12, presenting him with the Barbara C. Burlingame award.

The Barbara C. Burlingame award was established in 2003 to recognize a Rhode Island elected official who has made outstanding contributions to the business community. The award recognizes individuals who exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication, and accomplishment in the public service arena.

The event, which was presided over by NRI Chamber President and CEO, John C. Gregory, IOM, also featured David Chavern, Chief Operating Officer of the US Chamber of Commerce, who delivered the keynote address.

 “Misconceptions about manufacturing abound” Chavern said durign his address, “Manufacturing: Driving Growth at Home and Competition Abroad”

"This country can and should economically win in the world,” he said, “the manufacturing sector is the ‘keystone species’ of our economic eco-system – the species on which everything else in the system relies – and we need it to expand and grow and show the world that rumors of America’s decline have been greatly exaggerated.”

Chavern also presented the NRI Chamber with a certificate and medalion of achievement in recognition of one of its predecessor organizations, the Pawtucket Businessmen’s Association as a founding member of the US Chamber 100 years ago.

Robert P. Andrade, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Pawtucket Credit Union was recipient of the Ben G. Mondor award, presented by Mike Tamburro of the Pawtucket Red Sox Baseball Club. The Mondor award was established in 2010 to honor the former owner of the Pawtucket Red Sox. This philanthropic award is given to an individual who goes above and beyond philanthropically, within the community.

More than 400 business professionals, legislators and distinguished guests gathered at the Chamber’s premier event as Gregory noted the Chamber’s role in leading the Coalition of Chamber’s advocacy efforts on behalf of eleven area chambers of commerce, 7,500 businesses and more than 70,000 Rhode Island employees.

The Chamber also proudly displayed the Governor’s Cup won by the Pawtucket Red sox as the International League Baseball champions, which represents the first time they have won the cup in 28 years, at their signature event.