The One SouthCoast Chamber is pleased to recognize organizations for their significant investment and contribution to the economic development, educational leadership and outstanding service of the region with the presentation of the 2018 Economic Impact Awards, Educational Leadership Award, and the Outstanding Service Award. The awards were presented on November 14, 2018 at the Chamber’s 132nd Annual Meeting at Century House. These businesses, through their investment, have generated economic growth, helped positively impact schools and provided outstanding service throughout the South Coast.

 

ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARDS PRESENTED BY SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER AND SYLVIA GROUP

Lockheed Martin, New Bedford Wind Energy Center & New Bedford Harbor Hotel

 

Lockheed Martin

For more than a century, Lockheed Martin has used forward thinking and innovation to positively influence the global economic climate while remaining an active contributor to the SouthCoast Region.

One of the area’s largest employers, Lockheed Martin’s plant located in Marion, employees a workforce of over 300. A strong supporter of employee growth and development they provide professional advancement opportunities through leadership workshops, seminars, and mentorships. These employee-growth programs provide academic scholarships that will both prepare and train our workforce while supporting local colleges and universities.

Lockheed Martin provides generous funding to STEM education for students of all ages. They support campaigns concentrating on student achievement and teacher development.  They collaborate with organizations such as Girl’s Inc., the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club on several outreach projects to make science fun, interesting and easily accessible. Their programs such has Generation Beyond, Engineers in the Classroom and Imagine Science have fostered an environment filled with diverse educational opportunities for the entire community.

Lockheed Martin supports several veteran initiatives and assists active service members transition their military skills into civilian employment opportunities.  These practices, amongst the countless hours Lockheed Martin’s army of volunteers has generously donated to community events, proves their dedication to the betterment of our region.

Lockheed Martin strives on retaining local talent while attracting new innovators to the area. With partnerships and customers from all over the globe, Lockheed Martin is responsible for creating international commerce for the local business community.

 

New Bedford Wind Energy Center

A trailblazer in developing the offshore wind industry, the New Bedford Wind Energy Center is a unique collaboration of three power players responsible for the development of offshore wind in New Bedford.  The New Bedford Economic Development Council, the New Bedford Port Authority and Bristol Community College are capitalizing on one of our greatest assets to bring sustainable clean energy to the SouthCoast.

A few miles south of New Bedford exist some of the strongest and most reliable winds in the country.  Their location and strength possess the capacity to fulfill roughly 40% of Massachusetts’ energy needs.  The Wind Energy Center’s advocacy has attracted international investors and named New Bedford a first-mover in the Off Shore Wind industry.

Aside from securing our position as a key player in the Off Shore Wind Industry, the Center’s work will produce countless job opportunities in a variety of fields; create new areas of study for our local educational institutions, and provide local vendors with new business.  The Wind Energy Center’s collaboration will generate long-term economic growth and sustainability in New Bedford, the SouthCoast and across Massachusetts at every step of the supply chain.

 

New Bedford Harbor Hotel

The latest hotel to open in our vibrant and culturally rich city, The New Bedford Harbor Hotel is a prime example of economic growth and progression.  This historic 46,000 square foot  building located in the heart of downtown New Bedford was restored into a fully operating hotel featuring 70 upscale guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and unique banquet and meeting spaces.

Currently, they have a workforce of 50 employees, 42 of which are residents of New Bedford.  Strong believers in using and retaining local talent the hotel works closely with educational institutions to prepare students for careers in the tourism and hospitality fields.

The New Bedford Harbor Hotel has maintained occupancy rates consistently above 85%, since it has opened its doors.  They invite tourists and business professionals to indulge in our local restaurants and retail shops while introducing them to our unique history and flourishing art culture.

This special economic development project was funded by a combination of private equities, outside investors, the City of New Bedford and the state of Massachusetts. From its very beginnings to its grand opening in July 2018, the New Bedford Harbor Hotel is validation of the general optimism for the city’s future and its economic progression.

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS PRESENTED BY SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER & BRISTOL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BankFive

BankFive has a passion for education and workforce development.  With 13 full-service branch locations they specialize in helping with all your banking and lending needs. BankFive has gone beyond putting this passion to practice, especially when it comes to preparing our future workforce for employment.

BankFive offers valuable work and learning opportunities for our area youth. This summer, they provided a New Bedford High School student with a 120-hour paid internship.  Their talented intern Marcos worked diligently with BankFive staff as a Compliance Assistant.  His position required him to assist with daily operations including preparing statistics, monitoring new business accounts, and researching loan accounts.  His attention to detail and efficiency transitioned Marcos into employment beyond the summer internship and into his present school year.

BankFive volunteers with several community organizations and works closely with Junior Achievement and other outreach programs to connect with local students.  In addition, BankFive offers full and part-time employee’s educational advancement opportunities through tuition assistance for associates, bachelors and master’s degrees.  They are also a major sponsor for Leadership SouthCoast a local yearlong course that engages, educates, and empowers diverse individuals shaping them into civic minded community leaders.

 

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED BY SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER CHAMBER

Tom Menchi, Toyota of Dartmouth

A SouthCoast resident for over 30 years, Tom Menchi has been an advocate for local businesses while remaining actively involved in the community.  Tom is a graduate of Milton High School and later attended Burdett Business School in Boston.  As a hands-on, loyal employee for Toyota of Dartmouth for more than three decades, he has managed and directed several departments.  Today, he is the Vice President of Fixed Operations and Community Relations and supervises a staff of more than 25 technicians and employees.

Happily married for 45 years, with two children and three grandchildren, Tom has dedicated his little free time to the advancement of SouthCoast region.

One of his main priorities is to develop Toyota’s personnel while preparing and retaining our future workforce.   To accomplish this goal, Tom works directly with all local vocational high schools schools, MTTI Technical Institute, New England Tech, and Mass Bay Community College as an Advisory Volunteer Member.

Under Tom’s leadership, Toyota has supported countless community programs that are a driving force behind the betterment of the South Coast.  They are major sponsors for Junior Achievement, Bristol Community College Earth Day Fair, Boy Scouts of Westport, the Wareham Elder Expo and the Lion’s Club of Mattapoisett.

A front-runner in economic development, Tom is an active ambassador for both the Bristol County and SouthCoast Chambers.  He hosts networking events annually that connect local organizations and business professionals generating new partnerships.  Tom works diligently every day to ensure that Toyota’s operations have a positive impact on the SouthCoast’s economic environment and enhance our quality of life.

 

In addition to the awards, the Chamber recognized incoming board members: Kathy Carter, Charlton College of Business, UMASS-Dartmouth; Paul Chasse, REALTOR® Association of Southeastern Massachusetts; Doug Glassman, SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford & Marion / Middleboro; Cheryl Bartlett, New Bedford Community Health Center; Mike Tavares, Horacio’s, Inc.; and Luke Lehman, BankFive. They join existing board members: Nathan Araujo, R4L Management; Henry Arruda, WJFD-FM; Kevin Carando, Acushnet Company; Dr. Laura Douglas, Bristol Community College; Stephen W. Connulty, Paul & Dixon Insurance; Gail Fortes, YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts; Jeffrey Glassman, Darn It, Inc.; Ellen Gitlin, Diversified Marketing Group; Chuck Lord, AHEAD; Lynne Mastera, Precix; Douglas Rodrigues, JMR & Company; Kristy Roussel, Lafrance Hospitality; Derek Santos, New Bedford Economic Development Council; Carmen Sylvester, Southern Mass Credit Union;  and Robert Unger, Unger LeBlanc. The Chamber’s executive committee members were also appointed as follows: Chair of the Board, Kim Perry, Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home; Chair-Elect, Ron Ellis, Edward Jones; Treasurer, Carl Taber, BayCoast Bank; Vice Chair of Government Affairs, William Burns, Southcoast Health Systems; Vice Chair of Community Affairs, Chris Howard, First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union; Vice Chair of Membership, Jeff Pagliuca, Bristol County Savings Bank; Vice Chair of Economic Affairs, Rose Lopes, Sylvia Group; and Immediate Past Chair, Dave Maher, Lockheed Martin.

 

The corporate sponsors for The One SouthCoast Chamber’s 132nd Annual Meeting were Southcoast Health System and St. Anne’s Credit Union. Supporting sponsors included Bristol County Savings Bank, Bristol Community College, BayCoast Bank, Lockheed Martin, Sylvia Group, and Waring-Sullivan and Rock Funeral Homes – Dignity Memorial.