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Previdi Leaders Luncheon

Previdi Award is presented each December by the Chamber of Commerce along with the State of the City Address by Danbury's Mayor.

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The Previdi Award

Honors the late Cecil J Previdi, the former President of Danbury Printing & Litho later known as Banta. Through his leadership and guidance, he restructured the family business, relocated to a new facility on the west side of Danbury and grew the business to a 20-million-dollar organization. Tragically in 1987 Cecil Previdi along with 5 others from the company were killed in a plane crash in Wisconsin. Individuals nominated for this award are limited to those Entrepreneurs from the Greater Danbury Business Community who embody the spirit of Cecil J Previdi, and who have demonstrated a progressive business attitude, leadership abilities, vision, and who have contributed to the growth of a local business.

Previdi Award Recipients:

2023     Gary Hawley, President - Hawley Construction Corporation

2022     Lucie Voves, Founder & CEO - Church Hill Classics

2021     Robert Bedoukian Ph.D, President - Bedoukian Research

2019     George Mulvaney, President & CEO - Mulvaney Mechanical

2018     Mary Jean Rebeiro, President & CEO - NY-CONN Corporation

2017     Greg Smith, President & CEO - Maplewood Senior Living

2016     Jim Kennedy, CEO & Founder - The Network Support Company

2015     Todd Ingersoll, Owner - Ingersoll Automotive

2014     Jeff Levine, President - Levine Automotive

2013     Paul Dinto, President & CEO - Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors

2012     Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President, CEO - Ethan Allen Interiors

2011     James Marquis, President - Kimchuk

2010     Stew Leonard, Jr., President & CEO - Stew Leonard's

2009     Frank Kelly, President & CEO (retired) - Danbury Hospital

2008     Richard Steiner, President - Steiner, Inc.

2007     Albert Salame, Owner - Albert Salame Affiliated Companies

2006     Robert Sallick, Co-Founder/Sr. VP of Engineering - Waterworks

2005     Paul Scalzo, Founder - Scalzo Group Real Estate

2004     Jerry Leitman, Chairman & CEO - FuelCell Energy

2003     Deno Macricostas, Executive Chairman - Photronics

2002     Hank Zaccara, Owner - Chuck's Steak House

2001     Gene Banucci, Co-Founder - ATMI

2000     Ted Baruch, President & CEO - Heli-Coil

1999     Seymour Powers, Founder - Seymour Powers Company

1998     Jack Marcus, Founder - Marcus Dairy

1997     A. Searle Pinney, Attorney/State Representative - George, Hull & Pinney

1996     Joseph Engelberger, Robotics Pioneer/Founder - Unimation

1995     Bernard Baker, Founder/Chairman - FuelCell Energy

1994     Ervie (Bud) Hawley, Jr., Real Estate Developer - The Hawley Companies

1993     Anthony Rizzo, Sr., Founder - The Rizzo Companies

1992     Norbert E. Mitchell, Sr., Founder - Norbert E. Mitchell Co.

1991     Pearl Dent - Dent Electrical Supply

1990     Anthony Pellegrino, Founder - Topex, Inc.

1989     Roy Young, Chairman & CEO - Fairfield Processing

1988     Albert Casazza, MD, Oncologist and Entrepreneur