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Jerry Hallas Memorial Award |  | |
This award is presented in honor of Mr. J. Jeremiah Hallas, one of the group of forty Windsor business people who re-established the Chamber in 1949. Mr. Hallas served as Chamber President in 1953-54. This year's recipient is Martin McMahon of Edward Jones.
In addition to his Chamber work, Mr. Hallas founded the Windsor News Weekly in 1944. While living over thirty years in Windsor, Mr. Hallas served as Executive Assistant and Press Secretary to both Governor Wilbert Snow and Governor Raymond Baldwin. In 1947, he was appointed state political commentator for WTIC radio. He handled public relations in Connecticut for the 1952 Eisenhower campaign and the 1956 campaign for former U.S. Senator, Prescott Bush. We salute and thank Mr. Hallas for his outstanding contribution. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce expresses its appreciation for the dedication of our Jerry Hallas Memorial Award recipients and the service they have provided to the Chamber and the Town of Windsor.
Award Criteria:
Is a Chamber member
Participates in chamber activities either by board service, committee work or volunteerism
Supports Chamber members and the business community.
Recipients
1976 Frank Parker
1977 Walter Whelan
1978 Roger Olsen
1979 Diane Kopcinski and Jack Benoit
1980 William Nielsen and Emile Vezina
1981 Daniel Leon
1982 John Lombardi
1983 Paul Wabrek
1984 Gordon Brown, Jr.
1985 Barry Loucks and Stanley Loucks
1986 William Dumais
1987 Wilson M. Alford, Sr.
1988 Willard E. Gombert
1989 Ben D. Sasportas
1990 Daniel J. Ferraina
1991 Fred Newton
1992 John C. Carmon
1993 James J. Dillon, Jr. and Mark E. Griffin
1994 John A. Coccomo. Sr.
1995 William J. Selig, Sr.
1996 Michael D. Rabbett
1997 Warren P. Johnson
1998 William D. Chiodo
1999 John A. Wall
2000 Wilson M. Alford, Jr.
2001 Sharon Dillon Rispoli and Kerry G. Ruiz
2002 Robert J. Gange
2003 Martha (Marty) Collier
2004 Robert & Laurie St. Jacques
2005 Vincent Guiliano
2006 Nan C. Carmon
2007 Sharran Selig Bennett
2008 Kathy Perlitz
2009 Robert Carroll
2010 Dr. Larry Pennington
2011 Martin McMahon
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2011 - Martin McMahon |  | |
Marty McMahon is a product of Windsor. His education started as a member of the final class of the Stony Hill School and he graduated from Windsor High School in 1981. After graduating from Villanova University he returned to Windsor and married Liza Gustafson also from Windsor. They have two children Denis and Mary Kate.
Marty started his work life at 14 picking tobacco for Brown's Tobacco and then "moved up" to dishwasher at the former Windsor House Restaurant. He worked for the Town of Windsor both as a lifeguard and a parks maintainer. He was given a citation by the town for saving a drowning boy in the Farmington River. After college and a short time in construction sales he entered banking. He started at the old Windsor Bank, got his first Branch Manager position at Windsor Federal Savings and completed his banking career at Fleet Bank in Windsor. In 1998 he joined Edward Jones Investments as a Financial Advisor where he was recently made a Limited Partner. Much of his success he attributes to his assistant Betty McDermott.
Marty is a lifelong swimmer having swam around Manhattan, across both Chesapeake Bay and Long Island Sound and most recently escaping from Alcatraz. His biggest accomplishment came at age 22 when he became the 39th American and first from Connecticut to swim the English Channel.
He raised money for Special Olympics as part of his swim and has since raised money for the Boy Scouts, Easter Seals, St Vincent's Hospital and MS. During his preparation for the Channel he was introduced to the Windsor Jaycees where he was an active member and gained an interest in civic work. Since then he has been a board member of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. He is past president of both First Town Downtown and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. |
2010 - Dr. Larry Pennington |  | |
Dr. Larry Pennington has been a resident of Windsor since 1985 and the veterinarian/owner of the Windsor Animal Clinic in the center of town since 1986. He moved here with his lovely wife, Andrea and together they have raised their sons, Parker and Colin. Both boys have flourished in the sport of figure skating and have made their mark as national champions.
In 1998 the First Town Veterinary Science 4-H Club was started by this year's award winner with a goal of working with youth and teaching them about animal husbandry and caring for their pets, veterinary health care, and career opportunities. Although the club has met regularly at a park in Windsor, the children come from far and wide. With usually 60-70 children (ages 7-17) in the club each year, and representing almost every town in Hartford County, the club has become one of the largest in Connecticut 4-H. For learning opportunities they have organized field trips to places like the Bronx and Providence Zoo with the Vet staffs, the Boston Aquarium with an aquatic veterinarian, and dairy farms and horse stables to meet with dairy and equine veterinarians. He has been judging every year at Windsor's "Just for Fun Dog Show" and the club has consistently played an active role in this event. His club also developed the "Dr. Buddy Dog"(a doggie veterinarian) at last year's Paws for a Cause town-wide fundraiser for the Windsor Education Foundation.
The most phenomenal contribution probably lies in their level of community service. His club goes to nursing homes each month to do pet therapy with the residents and does a low cost Rabies Clinic for the public each year in conjunction with the CT Vet. Medical Association and the Windsor/Bloomfield Public Health Departments. The club has developed a training program to raise service dogs to assist people in wheelchairs and for emotional assistance (autism). They started the "Walk for Chance", a dog walk as a fundraising event in 2005 to pay for the expenses to raise a rescue dog and get him certified for assistance work. The first dog was a Golden Retriever named Chance and he assists a wheelchair bound adult in Windsor as her hands and feet. Their second dog that was financed through the club is helping autistic and emotionally challenged children. Over $65,000 has been raised through the annual dog walks held for the past four years and the money has been used to help rescue dogs, train the service dogs, supply equipment and training to state police dogs, to help animal rescue operations like "Out to Pasture", and build a local dog park. The Walk for Chance has very quickly become one of the largest dog walks in the state and it was started through a 4-H youth group.
His commitment to his church, First Church in Windsor, has been well represented by seeing many elderly residents monthly through parish caring ministries and having lead and served on numerous church committees at First Church in Windsor. He has been the campaign manager for a local political candidate running for state representative in 2008. He's been a two time President of the Hartford County Veterinary Medical Association.
Amazingly, much of what he's accomplished has occurred since he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. He would tell you that he decided he wanted to do something with his life before it was too late and soon after the diagnosis, he started his 4-H club. He would tell you that he's proudest of his charity work and that he's made his greatest mark since being hit with the disease.
He inspires others through his perseverance and hard work despite his physical limitations. His 4-Hers, their parents, fellow veterinarians, and people afflicted with MD have all looked up to him over the years.
2009 Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award of the Year for Connecticut MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), 2007 Connecticut Veterinarian of the Year 2001 Connecticut 4-H Leadership Award, 2001 & 2006 Hartford County 4-H Winding Brook Community Service Awards, 2003 Hartford County Friend of 4-H Award |
2009 - Robert Carroll |  | |
Robert Carroll began school with Miss Record at John Fitch School, continued at LPW Junior High, and graduated from Windsor High in 1968 after way too many years of fun. He received a BS in Accounting from Central CT State U and learned business under Brendan Riley among others. While enjoying married life with Kathy and tackling fatherhood, he earned an MBA from Western New England College, then a CPA license. Community involvement started with the Windsor and CT Young Dems in college, and then he joined the Democratic Town Committee in 1972 with other young uns like Kathy, Randy Graff and Vinnie Oswecki. He sat on many Windsor Commissions and participated in town activities over the years: Air Water Pollution Abatement, Zoning Board of Appeals, Tax Appeal, Public Building, Economic Development, Board of Education, Selectmen, Chamber of Commerce, Town Treasurer, St. Jude Bike-A-Thon, First Town Downtown, Rotary, Kiwanis, WIN-TV, soccer, and t-ball. Since 1989 Bob is sole proprietor of Robert F. Carroll CPA.
Kathy and Bob have 4 children, a black cat and black lab, and live in a 115 year old house on Windsor Avenue. |
2008 Kathy PerlitzKathy is a graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing. She earned a BA in Psychology from Central Connecticut State College and an MA in Counseling from St. Joseph College.
She was employed by Combustion Engineering, later ALSTOM Power, Inc for 35 years --- initially as an occupational health nurse and at the time of her retirement as vice-president of Support Services for the Day Hill location. She represented the company on the board of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce serving on the Education and Auction Committees. In retirement, she has continued supporting the WCC auction as a volunteer.
Kathy has also been involved in volunteer work through her church, St. Maurice of Bolton, CT including serving on the Board of the Manchester Area Conference of Churches which operates a shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry and a thrift shop as well as volunteering in both the food pantry and the thrift shop. She is a member of a Parish Nursing group at her church providing blood pressure screening and educational opportunities for parishioners.
In addition to favorite volunteer activities, retirement has afforded she and her husband more time with family and friends, the opportunity to travel and time for leisure activities -- gardening, reading, etc.
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Sharran Selig Bennett - 2007Sharran Selig has lived in Windsor her whole life graduating, from Windsor High School in 1966. She attended Hartford College for Women earning her associates degree in liberal arts. She presently is vice president of Bill Selig Jewelers, vice president of the Connecticut Jewelers Association and a member of the board of directors of the CT Tourism District. Sharran served as President of the Chamber for two years, served as tourism chair bringing Revolutionary Windsor to Windsor. Sharran continues to be involved serving as the Business Development co-chair
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2006 - Nan Christensen CarmonAnna Marie Christensen (Nan Christensen Carmon) was born August 18, 1923, at 88 Wilson Avenue, Wilson, Ct. to John and Gladys (Lawson) Christensen. She attended Roger Wolcott School, graduating in 1935. There, she received the DAR Good Citizenship Medal. The Christensens were active members of the former Church of Christ in Wilson where Nan was very involved. She was a Sunday School teacher, member of Christian Endeavor, the Century Club and studied under and worked with Sunday School Superintendent, the late Leland P. Wilson as co-auditor of the church's financial books. She was also, a member of the Board of Directors for several years.
In 1939, she graduated from the Chaffee School for Girls, Windsor, and that summer, worked in the Personnel department at the Ct. State Capitol.
On June 15, 1942, Nan became engaged to Lt. Frank W. Carmon, Jr., of the 88th Infantry Division, US Army. Nan and 1st Lt. Frank W. Carmon, Jr., were married on December 15, 1942.
In June, 1943, Nan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Connecticut College for Women in New London, Ct. with a BA degree in Economics and Sociology. While there, she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and was named a Winthrop Scholar for her academic excellence.
In October, 1943, Capt. Frank Carmon, Jr., began a 2 year tour of duty where he was in combat in the Italian Campaign marching from Cassino to Brennar Pass. Nan worked during this time for the O.P.A., Federal Office of Price Administration. She held several offices in Eureka Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and is presently a 60+ year member. She continued her active involvement at the Church of Christ, Wilson and in the Century Club of Windsor.
In October, 1945, Major Frank W. Carmon, Jr., returned from overseas. He and Nan purchased the Mack house at 6 Poquonock Avenue and on February 6, 1946, opened the F.W. Carmon Funeral Home. Nan did the cleaning and the bookkeeping. They lived upstairs, over the funeral home for 46 years where they brought up 4 children, John, Bill (Frank III), Richard and Margie (D'Agata). In 1970, the F.W. Carmon Funeral Home became Carmon Funeral Homes, Inc.
During those years, Nan was active in many organizations. She was a volunteer driver for FISH (Friends in Service Here) driving elderly and handicapped to medical appointments. She is Past President of the Gray-Dickinson Unit #59, American Legion Auxiliary where she is currently a 60+ member and is Past President of the Black Point Women's Club in Niantic, Ct. She was an active member of many organizations at Trinity United Methodist Church, Windsor, among them, the Mom's Group and COGS (Couples Club).
On November 6, 1972, Frank W. Carmon, Jr., died at the age of 54. Nan has continued as an officer in the business, working full time in the office but preferring to stay in the background. The three brothers, John, Frank, III, and Richard, ran the business.
Nan continued to be active at Trinity United Methodist Church, Greater Hartford Christian Women's Club, and other community activities. At Trinity, she has represented, and led church groups to various major National events such as Explo '72 in Dallas, a week-long international convention sponsored by the Campus Crusade for Christ, attended by over 100,000 people. She was a counselor, prayer team chairman for Trinity and on the planning committee with former Pastor Garfield Thompson for the Billy Graham Southern New England Crusade in 1982. She has been and continues to serve on many of the boards and special committees of Trinity. She was a charter member of Trinity Christian School Board and a charter member of Trinity's Permanent Endowment Committee and has been and continues to be active on the church's visitation team, LRE. She recently retired after serving for several years as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, she served for years the Greater Hartford Christian Women's Club as an area coordinator for 5 years for Friendship Bible Coffees.
Nan, also, was a contributing writer to the Windsor Storyteller publications. In volume I she wrote 2 stories; "Early Memories" and "Wonderful Memories of Windsor." In volume II, she wrote "Post WWII-Windsor Center and Starting a new business."
In 1994, Nan received an award from the Windsor Rotary Club for vocational excellence and as an Outstanding Community Business Person.
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2005 - Vince Giuliano |  | |
Mr. Giuliano has over 30 years of experience at all levels within ADVO, the largest full-service targeted direct mail, marketing services company in the United States. In concert with ADVO's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Giuliano is a highly visible strategist and spokesperson for ADVO and the direct mail trade in the government and postal arenas.
In 1985, Mr. Giuliano initiated ADVO's America's Looking For Its Missing Children program, a widely acclaimed public service campaign which places pictures of missing children on the company's direct mail address labels reaching up to 102 million households nationwide. The program has helped recover approximately one of every seven children featured and has received numerous awards.
Mr. Giuliano serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors for the Association for Postal Commerce, and holds seats on the Postal Policy and Postal Operations Committees. He is also a member of the Direct Marketing Association's Government Affairs Committee and the Mailer's Council. Additionally, Mr. Giuliano is a member of NCMEC's Board of Directors and Fund Development and Marketing Committees. He has served on numerous industry task forces and has testified before Congressional Committees on behalf of the direct mail industry. Mr. Giuliano is married and the father of twin girls and a son.
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2004 Robert & Laurie St. Jacques |  | |
Bob and Laurie moved to Windsor in 1995 after purchasing property that would be home to their family and their business, Four Seasons Landscaping, Inc. They have 3 children, Danielle, Andrew and Eileen who attend school here in Windsor, 2 at Sage Park Middle School and 1 at Oliver Ellsworth School. Bob graduated from the VOAG program at Suffield High School and Laurie graduated from Northwest Catholic High School and received her Associate Degree in Computer Science from Bay Path College in Massachusetts. Bob is founder and president of Four Seasons Landscaping, Inc., which is a landscape construction and management company that he began in 1980. Laurie is the office manager and an integral part of the operations of Four Seasons Landscaping, Inc. She recently formed St. Jacques Family Enterprises LLC, which is a company that specializes in services and products for the Landscape/Construction & Snow-Ice Management Industries. They are both actively involved in many professional organizations including serving on boards and committees. Bob and Laurie are also involved in various projects associated with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, The Huntington House, First Town Downtown as well as Saint Gabriel Church. They are supporters of various local groups such as the Windsor Police Explorers, Windsor Independent Living Association and the Shad Derby. Laurie and Bob's philosophy is that everything you do for others you get back 10 fold in other ways.
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2003 - Martha (Marty) CollierMarty Collier earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Tri-State University in Angola, IN and her M.B.A through the Executive Program at University of Hartford. Professionally, she is associated with Colliers, Dow & Condon, a prominent brokerage firm in Hartford, where she sells and leases commercial real estate. Marty serves on a number of civic boards including the Bradley Development League, Celebrate Windsor! Inc., developer of SummerWind Performing Arts Theater, Huntington House Museum and the National Conference for Community and Justice. Marty is past president of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. She is married to Wells Lindsay; together they have four children.
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2002 - Robert J. Gange
The Windsor Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce this year's recipient of the "Jerry Hallas Memorial Award", Robert J. Gange. Though not Windsor-born, Robert Gange wasted no time in getting here! After completing his M.S. in Orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University in 1973, he began his private practice, with offices in Windsor and Vernon. Gange, a board certified orthodontist, is also a clinical associate in the Department of Orthodontics at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Connecticut and a member of the senior clinical staff in the orthodontic component of the general dental residency program at Hartford Hospital. Gange has had several articles published in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics and is a regular lecturer at the annual Northeast Society of Orthodontics. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Dental Association, Connecticut Dental Association, Hartford Dental Association, Tolland County Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, Northeastern Association of Orthodontists, Connecticut Association of Orthodontists and the College of Diplomats of the American Board of Orthodontists.
Dr. Gange's civic involvement has been extensive, as well as impressive. He has been the past president of the Windsor Jaycees and has received the Jaycee Man of the Year Award as well as the Key Man Award. He has twice chaired the Windsor Shad Derby and has been a member of the Windsor Youth Commission from its inception, serving as president for two years. His involvement with the Youth Commission on Drug and Tobacco Awareness Programs earned him the CASAC (Community Area Substance Abuse Council
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2001 Sharon Dillon Rispoli & Kerry RuizSharon Dillon Rispoli
Sharon Dillon Rispoli has been a lifelong resident of Windsor. She has been married for nine years to her husband Robert who is an Attorney with Cummings & Lockwood in Hartford. They have two sons, Robert, age 2, and Dylan, age 9 months. She has been employed by Bart's Drive-In for 22 years and has been General Manager since 1987.
` Sharon has volunteered for the Friends of WILA for over 9 years, serving as President for 4 years. She was also on the Board of Directors of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and has participated on many committees especially enjoying the Winter Magic Committee. Through her business Sharon has helped raise many thousands of dollars for Foodshare, Connecticut Children's Home, Special Olympics, American Red Cross, Mary's Place, Windsor Volunteer Ambulance, Touch of Loves AIDS Foundation, and has helped most of the Schools and sports teams in town. Bart's has Family Fun Nights every Friday night with dancing, face painting, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to a local school or organization. On weekends Bart's also holds car washes and concerts to benefit such organizations.
A donation in Sharon's honor will be made to the "Best Buddies" program at Windsor High School.
Kerry G. Ruiz
Kerry Ruiz was born on December 6, 1954 at McAndrew Air Force Base in St. Johns, Newfoundland Canada. Kerry traveled the U.S. with his father Master Sergeant Jose Ruiz, mother Bernyce, sisters Debbi, Cathy, Sherri, and one brother Joseph until they retired in Colchester. Kerry moved to Windsor in 1979 and now lives with his fianc e Carissa Fusco and daughter Taylor. Kerry opened Ashley's Distinctive Jewelry and Gifts in July 1989 on Day Hill Road with his partner Louis Della Vecchia, sister Cathy, and his friend and head jewelry designer Kurt Schumann. Through the store they are involved in supporting Windsor and its organizations. He has been an active Director on the Chamber Board since 1990, Past President 1994-1996, chaired the Winter Magic Committee for over ten years, started the Chamber Card Program, chaired the Retail Committee and has been President of the Shad Fest Bureau since 1996. He is a member of the Windsor Lodge Elks #2060 where he is youth Activities Chairman, organizes the Elks National Hoop Shoot, and Elks Soccer Shoot each year. He was on the All-American Soap Box Derby Committee and was a member of the Windsor Economic Development Committee 1994-1996. A member since 1990 of the Jewelers of America Kerry also belongs to the Connecticut Jewelers Association, and is a continuing student of the Gemological Institute of America. He is a communicant of St. Gabriel Church. Kerry is a strong advocate in supporting Windsor and its businesses and is committed to making Windsor a better place to live. A donation in Kerry's honor will be made to the Trinity Christian School Library Fund.
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