BANGOR — The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will recognize John Simpson, a retired CEO and tireless community leader, with its highest honor, the Norbert X. Dowd Award, at its annual dinner set for Jan. 21.
“I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than John Simpson,” said Andrew Hamilton, chairman of the Bangor Region Chamber Board. “John’s business acumen is well known, but in recent years his leadership in the community has helped transform Bangor.”
Simpson was the CEO of H.E. Sargent Inc. until his retirement in 2005 after 40 years with the company. He is credited with being a strong and steady leader of one of the region’s largest general contracting firms.
After his retirement, Simpson threw himself into the community. He is on the board of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, the University of Maine Foundation and is president of the Katahdin Council Inc., Boy Scouts of America. Five years ago he was one of the driving forces behind the formation of Mobilize Eastern Maine, a collaboration of the region’s economic development entities.
The Norbert X. Dowd award is given each year to a member of the business community whose commitment of time, resources and talent has made the Bangor region a better place to pursue one’s livelihood and dreams. The selection criteria typically take into account the honoree’s achievement over the course of his or her career.
In addition to the Dowd Award, the Chamber will recognize six other individuals and organizations that have contributed to the region’s vitality:
The Business of the Year award will go to R. H. Foster, a Hampden energy company employing 350 people statewide. R.H. Foster will be recognized for its ability to reinvent itself after the home heating and energy markets began to shift away from the simple heating oil delivery model to a range of technologies and alternatives.
The Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service will go to Bangor Mayor Ben Sprague and Brewer Mayor Jerry Goss. They will be recognized for their work furthering the cause of collaboration among municipalities, including joint efforts to confront opiate abuse in the region and to make Bangor and Brewer attractive communities for all ages.
The Jane Irving Community Service Award will go to retired Bangor Daily News Editor Mark Woodward. His work as chairman of Eastern Maine Development Corp., a board member of Penobscot Community Health, an active member of Mobilize Eastern Maine, as well as work on the opiate abuse issue are just a few examples of Woodward’s efforts on behalf of his community. Woodward also was instrumental in the campaign to win voter approval of the arena project that became the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The Nonprofit of the Year award will go to the University of Maine Innovation Center. The center has worked closely with numerous area businesses to help them be innovative. It also has promoted an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit among students at the university and throughout Maine through education programs and internships.
The Arthur Comstock Professional Service Award will be given to Dennis Marble, executive director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. Marble has used his professional role to advocate for the city’s neediest and attack problems such as addiction, mental illness and, of course, homelessness. But he also has served on the Bangor Region Chamber board and is a tireless advocate of economic opportunity.
The Bion and Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award will go to C&L Aviation Group of Bangor. The aircraft service and restoration business has experienced growth beyond expectations, going from a handful of employees to more than 120 in just a few years.
All awards will be presented at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Dinner, set for Jan. 21 at the Cross Insurance Center. The gathering is one of the largest of its kind in the state, drawing nearly 1,000 area leaders.
One additional award will be handed out this January at the Chamber’s annual breakfast and business meeting. The Chamber Volunteer of the Year award will go to a person who, through his or her volunteer efforts, has made an exceptional contribution to the chamber in furthering its mission. The winner is selected by the chamber staff. This year that honor will go to given to Betsy Vickery of W.S. Emerson in Brewer. Vickery has been chair of the chamber’s membership committee for the past four years and has helped the organization grow from 670 members to more than 830 today. She will be honored at a breakfast event scheduled for Jan. 7.
For information, visit bangorregion.com.