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.
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