AUGUSTA — On Friday, Oct. 30, at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 annual meeting and dinner at the Augusta Civic Center, the chamber’s prestigious Alton “Chuck” Cianchette Business Hall of Fame award was presented to U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins.
More than 500 people attended Friday evening’s meeting and dinner.
Named in remembrance of Chuck Cianchette and awarded to those who reflect his values, the Alton “Chuck” Cianchette Business Hall of Fame award annually recognizes the contributions of an individual who demonstrates public service leadership, business success, and most importantly, embodies Cianchette’s spirit through compassion, courage and commitment.
Previous recipients of the award include Olympia Snowe, Angus King, Kenneth Curtis and several prominent Maine business leaders.
“We could not be more pleased to present the Maine State Chamber’s highest award to Sen. Collins for her decades of leadership and service to the people of Maine,” said Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors. “Sen. Collins is a true champion for our state, and a true champion for Maine’s business community. We are very humbled tonight to express our thanks for the countless ways she has served the people of Maine.”
“I am grateful for this very thoughtful recognition from the Maine Chamber,” said Collins. “I am especially delighted to receive an award named for Chuck Cianchette, who contributed so much to our state. He was a great business leader and a great public servant and I am honored to be associated with his legacy.”
First elected in 1996, Sen. Susan Collins is serving her fourth term in the United States Senate. Known for her work in facilitating bipartisan compromise, Senator Collins is a key leader in the U.S. Congress. During her entire time in the U.S. Senate, she has never missed a roll call vote, and was recently lauded for casting her 6,000th consecutive vote.
Larry Wold, president of TD Bank and second vice chair of the Maine State Chamber’s board of directors, presented the award to Collins. He was joined by Melinda Poore of Time Warner Cable’s New England Division, Maine State Chamber Board Chair, and Connors.
Following Collins’ remarks, the Maine State Chamber’s first vice chair, Wick Johnson of Kennebec Technologies, presented her with a commemorative Farmer’s Almanac provided by Geiger. The evening’s premier sponsor was Kaplan University.
