Special Events
For 20 years, Northwest Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce has coordinated the Annual Read Aloud Day. The Read Aloud program, currently sponsored by Alcoa Foundation, part of Alcoa-Howmet, is designed to stress the importance of reading to elementary school children throughout the Northwest Corner.
The sponsor of the program provides funding to purchase library quality books that are selected by a group of library media specialists and language arts consultants from local schools. Community volunteers are recruited to spend a part of their morning visiting an elementary classroom in the Northwest Corner. Each grade level is assigned the same book title. The volunteers read aloud the books and then leave them as a gift to the classroom library.
Volunteers in the Read Aloud program can be traced back to the beginning of the program, which was initiated under the sponsorship of SNET (now at&t). Stories of “Reading Aloud” experiences are heard over and over again. Reading Aloud has been a tremendously fulfilling experience for so many.
To volunteer to be a reader, please contact the Chamber at 860-482-6586.
Tthe Celebration of Success honors three individuals and/or organizations annually with the Business Leader Award, the Quality of Life Award and the Community Leader Award.
The honorees are nominated by the Chamber membership and voted upon by the Celebration of Success Committee. The nominees’ contribution to the business environment is considered when selecting the Business Leader Award honoree. The nominees’ community involvement is considered when selecting the Community Leader Award honoree. The nominees’ commitment to the overall improvement in the quality of life in Northwest Connecticut is considered when selecting the Quality of Life Award honoree.
The Celebration of Success was previously known as the Chamber Persons of the Year Awards. The following are past recipients of the awards:
| 2012 | George Malkemus & Anthony Yurgaitis, Arethusa Farm, Business Leader Award John E. Janco, Torrington Savings Bank, Community Leader Award The Community Soup Kitchen of Torrington, Inc., Quality of Life Award |
| 2011 | Michael P. Patterson, Doyle’s Medical Supply, LLC, Business Leader Award Sandra B. Roberts, Community Leader Award The Center For Cancer Care Fund, Inc. Quality of Life Award |
| 2010 | John R. Ursone, Northwest Community Bank, Business Leader Award Robert F. Petricone, Community Leader Award Susan B. Anthony Project, Inc., Quality of Life Award |
| 2009 | Joseph J. Greco, The First National Bank of Litchfield, Business Leader Award David Childs, New Hartford, Community Leader Award LARC, Quality of Life Award |
| 2008 | Victor Muschell, Esq., Mushell & Simoncelli, Business Leader Award Cynthia Bianchi, Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, Community Leader Award The Warner Theatre, Quality of Life Award |
| 2007 | Michael Bryan Loftus, Wake Robin Inn, Business Leader Award Deirdre Houlihan DiCara, Girl Scouts of NW Connecticut, Community Leader Award Alcoa Foundation Alcoa Howmet, Quality of Life Award |
| 2006 | Stephen Altschuler, Alteck Company, Business Leader Award Roberta Lee August, Community Leader Award Northwest Connecticut YMCA, Quality of Life Award |
| 2005 | Val Bernardoni, Business Leader Award Mary Coutant, Community Leader Award Torrington Area Foundation for Public Giving/The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut, Quality of Life Award |
| 2004 | Francis Delaney, West State Mechanical, Business Leader Award Rev. Robert F. Tucker, St. Anthony’s Parish, Community Leader Award Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Quality of Life Award |
| 2003 | Domenic “Sonny” Toce, Toce Brothers, Inc., Business Leader Award David Dolinsky, Dolinsky Associates, Inc., Community Leader Award The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Quality of Life Award |
| 2002 | 100th Anniversary of Northwest Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce |
| 2001 | Marvin “Muff” Maskovsky, The Warner Theatre Sharon Dante, The Nutmeg Ballet |
| 2000 | Alan Colavecchio, Colvecchio Design Lorraine Calder, White Flower Farm Paul A. Grossman, The China Shop |
| 1999 | Jerry Baldwin, Canaan National Bank Jeffrey Lalonde, Torrington Savings Bank Mark E. Macomber, Litchfield Bancorp Christopher A. Pitt, Northwest Community Bank |
| 1998 | O&G Industries, Inc. |
| 1997 | William G. Harding, Past President, Northwest Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce |
| 1996 | David Dolinsky, SCASCO Robert H. Ellis, Sr., Ellis Limousines Gordon C. Johnson, DVM, Lime Rock Animal Hospital Raymond A. Turri, Turri, Inc. |
| 1995 | John G. Groppo, State House of Representatives 1959-1985 Carl G. Hooper, Department of Children & Families Peter B. Kent, Bicron Electronics Company JoAnn M. Ryan, Kelly Temporary Services |
| 1994 | Allan R. Borghesi, Borghesi Building & Engineering Company, Inc. Susan Saint James Ebersol, FM 97.3 WZBG John N. Lavieri, Sterling Engineering Corporation Paul C. Minor, Southern New England Telephone Terrence A. & Juliet Wybrants Moore, The White Hart Inn |
| 1993 | Gladys Y. Cerruto, Torrington Metal Products Frank H. Finch, Jr., Howd, Lavieri & Finch Pasquale “Pat” Pallone, The Canaan Pharmacy George A. & Doris D. Sweetman, Dwan & Company |
| 1992 | Ed Eveleth, The Wilderness Shop Ross Grannan, Printing Service Ink John G. Phillips, Jr., Moore & Alvord Agency Alan F. Seitz, Seitz Corporation |
| 1991 | Thomas E. Bennett, The Torrington Company Robert W. Doyle, Crutch & MacDonald Perry Gardner, Pfizer, Inc. D. John Vaccari, Vaccari’s Young Fashions |
Expo Hours: Saturday 10-5pm & Sunday 10-4pm
2013 Date Coming Soon!
Torrington Armory- 153 South Main Street, Torrington
Where can you go in Northwest Connecticut and see over 70 different businesses under one roof? Home improvement contractors, health products, financial services, garden supplies - Northwest Connecticut's Annual Spring Home & Business Expo has it all!!!
The Annual Spring Home & Business Expo is open to the public and offers members and non-members the chance to exhibit their businesses’ products and services in order to expand their customer base.
For more information on rates & booth location click here! Space is selling quickly! This event sells-out annually. Don't miss out, reserve your booth!
Become a part of this wonderful community event!
Call Sherri Dadomo, Director of Events at 860-482-6586 or e-mail .
Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame
The Chamber of Commerce holds its Annual Business Meeting during the first quarter of the year. Past keynote speakers include: Governor Dannel Malloy, UCONN President Dr. Susan Herbst, and Congressman Chris Murphy.
The Chamber President provides an annual report of the organization. The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors presents their recommended slate for election to the Board of Directors. The Secretary of the Chamber presents the minutes from the previous year. The minutes are then voted upon by the membership.
In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, the Chamber recognizes its most dedicated volunteers by induction into the Chamber Hall of Fame. Past inductees include:
2012
James Garfield
2011
Frank R. Buonocore, Jr., Founders Insurance Group, Inc.
2010
Ann Bowen, Bowen Agency, LLC
William O. Riiska, Law Office of William O. Riiska
2009
Fred & Josephine Bruni
Susan M. Burton, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
Douglas K. O'Connell, Howd, Lavieri & Finch, LLP
2008
Doreen Roy, Northwest Hills Credit Union
Robert E. Teittinen, The First National Bank of Litchfield
Annual Job Fair
Join the Chamber for our 9th Annual Job Fair
Thursday, February 21st
City Hall Auditorium, 140 Main Street, Torrington
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please bring multiple copies of your resume.
Professional resume writers will be available to critique your resume.
Brought to you by:
The City of Torrington
The Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board
FM 97.3 WZBG
Connecticut Department of Labor
The Register Citizen
Hotjobs by Monster
Republican-American
For more information or the list of exhibitors, call the Chamber at 860-482-6586.