The Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce, Inc. hosts the Annual Southington Business & Community Achievement Awards to recognize the dedication, leadership, and valued contributions of our area’s most engaged professionals and businesses. Honorees are presented with their awards at the Chamber’s Annual Evening of Excellence Awards Dinner & Auction. Anyone may nominate a person, group, or business for an award by completing the appropriate nomination form (click the link below). All recipients must be Southington Chamber member businesses in good standing for a reasonable period or be employees of Southington Chamber member businesses in good standing. At its discretion the Chamber will also introduce a single year award(s) to recognize outstanding achievement in a specified area not listed in the annual categories.
Nominations are now closed for the 2024 Awards Program. 2024 Winners will be notified by February 14, 2024, and honored on Tuesday, March 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Evening of Excellence Gala at the Aqua Turf.
Nominations for the 2025 awards program will open in September, 2024.
To submit a nomination, click the corresponding link to the specific award below. Nominations for the same business, group, or individual may be submitted in more than one category if they meet the criteria. Detailed information must be included with the nomination.
Nomination Forms:
Riccio Brothers Business Person of the Year
Description: Presented in honor of Ralph and Vito Riccio, who owned Riccio Brother’s Clothing Store for 38 years on North Main Street. Ralph and Vito were successful businessmen and civic leaders. They understood the importance of a well designed and developed central business district and initiated several revitalization and beautification projects throughout town including the town green. The brothers were very involved with the Southington Chamber of Commerce having served the Board and multiple committees.
Presentation: The recipient will be an outstanding business owner who has demonstrated a sound commitment to greater Southington as a businesses owner, civic leader, and community advocate. The recipient must be a Chamber member in good standing.
Industry Leader of the Year Award
Description: Presented to a business that exemplifies the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and individual initiative in their industry (manufacturing, finance, health, retail, hospitality, etc.). Nominee should show how the business has made a difference in the Southington community in a positive way from a professional and community engagement viewpoint.
Mat Florian Renaissance Award
Description: Presented in honor of Mat Florian in celebration of the design, passion, creativity, energy and drive for perfection that he sought in his buildings, residential and commercial developments and community projects. Mat’s fastidious attention to detail inspired an entirely new generation of development within Southington’s central business districts, communities and town projects. Mat raised the bar and we now get to enjoy the new level of streetscapes, buildings and design, here in Southington. Mat Florian served the Chamber Board of Directors for several terms and served on multiple town committees and boards.
Presentation: Presented annually to a property owner or developer who has demonstrated creativity in design and attention to detail in all aspects of a newly constructed or remodeled project. The project must demonstrate a passion for quality in all aspects from inception, through design/build and to completion. The recipient must be a Chamber member in good standing.
Gail Depaolo Community Spirit Award
Description: Presented annually in honor of Gail DePaolo, Owner of DePaolo’s Fine China, Crystal & Collectibles store in downtown Southington. She was a successful business woman and community leader having served many organizations throughout town. Gail was the Chair of the Chamber’s Merchant’s Association for over 20 years and had a natural ability to draw people to work together for the good of the community at large.
Presentation: The recipient will be an individual, group of persons, organization or business that succeeded in bringing together a diversity of people for the good of a common cause. The recipient must be a Chamber member business or organization in good standing.
Veteran Owned Business of the Year Award
Description: Recognizes a veteran-owned, small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies significant contributions made by veteran owned businesses in the country. The business must be at least 51 percent owned or controlled by one or more U.S. veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101 (2).The daily operations controlled by al least one (1) U.S. veteran. The business must be a Chamber member in good standing for a reasonable period of time.
Ann Hauver Employee of the Year Award
Description: Presented in honor of Ann Hauver, who served the Chamber staff as Secretary for 27 years through 1993.
Presentation: The recipient will be an employee of a Chamber member business who exemplifies the spirit and ethics of their business. The recipient must work for a Chamber member business in good standing.
Chamber Member of the Year Award
Description: Presented annually to a member business in good standing that has demonstrated a commitment to the mission and purpose of the Chamber by engaging its employees and working to maximize their member benefits by participating on committees; helping to increase membership; assisting with creating a new event or promoting an existing one; bringing the organization to a new level; assisting to develop new and better membership services. The criteria for this award covers a broad field of eligibility.
For more information on the Southington Business & Community Achievement Awards Program call the Chamber office at 860.628.8036.