The Annual Dinner is the capstone event of the Chamber’s program year and the event where the Annual Awards are bestowed.  This celebration will recognize four outstanding individuals with the Charles E. Billups Award, Jerry Loy Award, Community Leadership Award and the Chamber Service Award.

This year’s theme is “Made in Haverhill” and will celebrate the innovators, entrepreneurs and industry made in Haverhill.  Lifelong resident, entrepreneur and artist, Dale Rogers, will be the keynote speaker and share his experience of success and how the greater Haverhill community supported his dream to become a working artist.

This Annual Dinner will also serve as the introduction of Dougan Sherwood, new Chamber President & CEO.

Chamber members and the community are invited to join the Chamber in this celebration being held on Thursday, June 7th from 5:30-9:00PM at Bradford Country Club. Tickets are available for $80 a person or $775 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets go to www.haverhillchamber.com or call (978)373-5663.

This event is being presented by Pentucket Bank.  Additional sponsors include Trinity E.M.S, Lowell Five, National Grid, Northern Essex Community College, Align Credit Union, Northeast Computer Services, Holy Family Hospital and Nunan Florist and Greenhouses.

The 2017 Awards Recipients are as follows:

Charles E. Billups Award:

The Charles E. Billups Award was established in 1985 to recognize an outstanding organization or individual in our service area that continuously and selflessly supports the efforts of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. This annual award is presented to an organization or individual that has made a positive impact on the success of the Chamber of Commerce, going above and beyond in their participation, leadership and overall support of the mission.

Eric LaFleur, President & CEO NorthEast Computer Services, LLC

Eric LaFleur is President & CEO of NorthEast Computer Services, LLC in Haverhill, Massachusetts.  Eric started the company in 2003 and will be celebrating his 15^th year in business this fall.  He is very proud to have earned recognition this year in the MSP Pioneer 250 CRN list which recognizes the top 250 MSP’s (Managed Service Providers) in the country serving small businesses. Prior to starting NorthEast Computer Services, Eric was a Regional Service Delivery Executive spending 20 years with Electronic Data Systems (EDS).  Eric continues to be very active in the community including: Haverhill Exchange Club: Past club President, Past New England District President, Board Member and Volunteer Field Representative (VFR), Past Chairman of the Board of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Former Cub Scout Den leader and Boy Scout Troop leader, Past President and Board Member of HC Media, Past Haverhill Public Schools Technology Advisor and Haverhill High School STEM advisory board, Volunteer with the Northeast Medical Reserve Corps, and Longtime Boston Marathon volunteer.

Eric graduated Franklin Pierce University with a degree in Computers and Management.

Eric is also the recipient of the Haverhill Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds Award, Exchangite of the Year and was also recognized as both a Club and District Distinguished President from the National Exchange Club.

Eric resides in Haverhill with his girlfriend Lori Ataya and is the proud father of son Eric Jr.

Jerry Loy Outstanding Director Awards:

The Jerry Loy Outstanding Director of the Year Award is presented to an individual from the current Board of Directors who goes above and beyond in their efforts to support the chamber’s mission, its programs and events, and the organization’s financial viability.

Jason Petrou, Founder of CEO Beverage

Jason is not one to wait around for a solution to come to him, he’s the kind of guy who creates one for himself.

A long time health and fitness enthusiast, Jason saw a void in the beverage market and it got him thinking. Finding himself consuming sugary energy drinks and high calorie sports drinks, he knew there had to be a better drink option to help compliment his healthy, active lifestyle. Jason leveraged his natural entrepreneurial spirit which he inherited from his grandmother, Toula Petrou, a longtime local restauranteur, and created CEO (Clean Energy Organics), a line of organic energy drinks in 2015.  In this short time, Jason has brought CEO’s distribution from local fitness facilities and coffee shops to the region’s foremost grocery store chain, Market Basket.  Recently Jason competed in Mass Innovation Night and his beverages earned the designation of “Favorite Product.”

Although raised in Plaistow, Jason has made Haverhill his home and has immersed himself in the community serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and fundraising for the Boys & Girls Club.

Community Leader:

The Community Leadership Award is presented to acknowledge and recognize a person within the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce community that has made a positive impact to improve the quality of life throughout our catchment area.

Thomas J. Sullivan

Tom is serving in his fourth term on the Haverhill City Council, currently as Vice-President.  He is a life-long resident of Haverhill residing at 77 Longview Street with his partner, Jonathan Baron, who is a co-owner of NorthEast Computer Services.  He is the father of two daughters, Julie, who recently graduated from Teacher’s College at Columbia University with a Master’s Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education, and Ellen, who is currently enrolled at Boston College working towards her Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration.

Tom is a graduate of Suffolk University, a rare “Triple Ram”, having earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Government, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA), and a Juris Doctorate degree from Suffolk University Law School.  While working toward his degrees, Tom amassed twenty years of state government experience, first as Legislative Aide to former State Representative Frank Emilio and then as Chief of Staff to former State Senator James P. Jajuga.

Tom is now a small business owner of the downtown Law Office of Thomas J. Sullivan, specializing in residential and commercial real estate transactions in MA and NH.  He is past President and current member of the Board of Directors with Career Resources Corporation, a local non-profit organization serving the developmentally disabled community and brain injured veterans.  He is Vice-Chairman of the VFW Santa Parade, now in its 54^th consecutive year and founded in 1964 by his dad, the late John T. Sullivan, and the dedicated Veterans of Lorraine Post 29 Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Upon his father’s death, Tom served as Parade Committee Chairman from 1985 to 2001.  He is Vice President of Development of the Winnekenni Foundation, which is responsible for operating, maintaining and promoting community events at Winnekenni Castle.  He is a member of the city of Haverhill’s Forest Management Committee, responsible for implementing a forest stewardship program and a Municipal Open Space Management Fund to ensure the healthy preservation, protection, and perpetuation of actively managed forests.  He serves as an advisor to Haverhill’s Brightside Adopt-a-Park program.  He is a past Commissioner and member of the Board of Directors of the Essex National Heritage Commission, and a former member of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as a past Commissioner of the Haverhill License Commission.

Chamber Service Award:

This Chamber Service Award is designed to recognize a person who has committed themselves to promote the mission and values of the Chamber and demonstrates leadership, integrity, creativity, resource management, and loyalty which has contributed pointedly to the Chamber service area’s viability, image, or quality.

Eva Montibello, Brand Evangelist of Alpha E Consulting

Eva Montibello founded Alpha E Consulting, a full-service business development consultancy focused on business strategy; sales programming; marketing, public relations, communications, online, and media strategies that empower results for her clients.

Throughout her 25-year career, Eva has managed business operations, sales programming, marketing, domestic and international communications, media, and public relations strategic campaigns in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.   She was previously the Director of Marketing and Business Development at one of the most profitable franchisees of Panera Bread, where she oversaw media programming, sales and marketing, customer service excellence and non-profit relations.

Eva holds a Master of Science in Communications Management from Simmons College where she completed her degree with a thesis on communications frameworks for preventing child sexual abuse. Her thesis was used for the policy work to pass five bills in the Massachusetts State Legislature.  She completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Salem State College.  Eva continues to support this important work through volunteerism and advocacy.

Tickets are available for $80 per person/ $775 for a table of 10 and are expected to sell out. Reservations may be made through the chamber office (978) 373-5663. Additional information may be found at www.haverhillchamber.com.

About the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business alliance composed of businesses and organizations from over 14 area communities.  The Chamber creates and fosters a prosperous business environment and supports the growth and profitability of its members, providing the resources, advocacy, information, networking and marketing opportunities for members’ success.