The Waterbury Regional Chamber has announced that Judge James L. Lawlor, chairman of Waterbury Housing Authority and retired probate court administrator for the State of Connecticut, is the honored recipient of the Chamber’s highly-prestigious 2015 Malcolm Baldrige Community Award. Donald C. McPartland, Esq., a partner with Secor, Cassidy & McPartland, is recipient of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2015 Leadership Award, and Susan Burton, employment consultant with Connect-Ability-BRS, is recipient of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award.
The three awards will be presented at the 21st Annual Malcolm Baldrige Chamber Awards banquet on Wednesday, October 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. The annual event is being coordinated by event co-chairs Jaci Carroll, CEO/founder of Jaci Carroll Staffing Services Inc., and Tim Bergstrom, Webster Bank Regional President. The evening is a major event for the not-for-profit Waterbury Regional Chamber to raise funds for economic development efforts and will include a silent auction.
One of the largest chambers in Connecticut, the Waterbury Regional Chamber (www.waterburychamber.com) currently has over 1,000 member businesses. “We are delighted to present the highly-prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Community Award to Judge Lawlor in honor of his role as a notable area leader,” stated Lynn Ward, Waterbury Regional Chamber President and CEO. “The Malcolm Baldrige Award is given annually to a community leader in recognition of that individuals’ commitment to the Waterbury community exemplified by their vision and leadership in the area of economic development and growth. Malcolm Baldrige believed in community, leadership and volunteerism, and for those qualities our staff selects individuals to receive the Chamber’s prestigious leadership and volunteer awards. The Chamber staff awards individual members we believe exemplify the globally-recognized and honored world-wide achievements of business and community leader, Malcolm Baldrige.”
A former resident of Woodbury, Malcolm Baldrige guided Waterbury’s Scovill Manufacturing Company for more than two decades. He was appointed President Ronald Regan’s Secretary of Commerce during which time he implemented new laws to help American businesses grow. Malcolm Baldrige’s accomplishments are chronicled worldwide in newspapers, magazines, documents and journals. His name is well-known throughout United States business arenas, and in Russia and China where he negotiated trade talks during his tenure in Regan’s cabinet. He is acknowledged for his legacy of success through quality. Nominees for the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Malcolm Baldrige Award are considered for their community leadership, role in supporting employment opportunities, for enhancing the overall economic growth and quality of life, and for playing a leading role in initiating new business or development.
2015 Malcolm Baldrige Community Award recipient, Judge James Lawlor of Waterbury is nationally-recognized for streamlining the Connecticut Probate Court System and as an aggressive advocate for expansion of services to children and needy recipients. He served as a probate court administrator for the State of Connecticut since February 2002 after serving as a probate judge for twenty-five years for the Waterbury, Middlebury and Wolcott communities between 1978 and 2002. As a probate judge, he developed a database computer program to improve the Waterbury Court that was adopted in 1985 by the Probate Assembly for all Connecticut courts. Upon his retirement from the court system, Jim began volunteering countless hours to lead the City’s Housing Authority, a post that supports economic development and quality of life for our community. Cathy Smith, recipient of the Chamber’s 2014 Malcolm Baldrige Community Award, stated, “As chairman of the Waterbury Housing Authority, Judge Lawlor reorganized and rejuvenated economic development for the region by redesigning the organization’s structure, reducing overhead, significantly reducing expenses and saving the City millions of dollars. In this position his impact on the local population is recognized as being unparalleled in taking on responsibilities in areas of blighted housing, economic growth, and quality of life issues.” Judge Lawlor has served as a board member of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce; Waterbury Association of Retarded Citizens; Easter Seals Association and Waterbury Exchange Club Family Life Foundation. He has also served as an incorporator and ambassador for Saint Mary’s Hospital; past chairman of the United Way Campership Committee; member of the Connecticut State Energy Advisory Board; and a volunteer for the St. Vincent DePaul Society Shelter. Currently he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community Foundation and the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools.
Donald C. McPartland of Southington, recipient of the 2015 Waterbury Regional Chamber Leadership Award, is a partner with the Secor, Cassidy & McPartland law firm in Waterbury and his practice includes civil litigation and workers’ compensation. He is an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the Association’s Litigation and Technology Committees; Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association; Waterbury Bar Association and serves on the Association’s Board of Directors. In 2001, McPartland graduated from the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Leadership Greater Waterbury Program and has since served as a mentor of other participants. Currently he serves as chairman of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee, and a member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He is also on the Board of Directors for Main Street Waterbury and Holy Land USA in Waterbury. Don McPartland is also currently a member of the Lions Club International and serves as a curriculum consultant for Post University’s online legal studies course development. He also serves on Post University’s Editorial Board of Directors for its online Academic Journal, Digital Life and Learning (digilifelearn.com), and as the publication designer and technology manager for that journal. “Don is a visible supporter of public policy events statewide. As the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee representative each year he attends numerous public policy-related events outside the Chamber including testifying at the state capitol regarding ongoing legislation,” stated Ward. “Throughout every year, he also speaks with new Chamber members and describes how they can get involved.”
Susan Burton of Litchfield, recipient of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2015 Volunteer Award, has been a notable supporter of the Chamber over the past three years as a member and volunteer. Burton is a member of the Malcolm Baldrige and Watertown Oakville Annual Meeting Silent Auction Committees, and has volunteered as an ambassador for two years. Ward commented, “Susan has also been a faithful volunteer to the Chamber’s annual Membership Campaign, Burton has brought in over 35 new members in two years. She is also an active member of the Chamber’s Membership Advisory Council and the Watertown Oakville Chamber Board of Directors. In 2014, Susan Burton was named Waterbury Regional Chamber Ambassador of the Year and is recognized as a dependable, willing and highly-devoted Chamber member.”
The Waterbury Regional Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and silent auction donations for the October 7th Malcolm Baldrige Chamber Awards Dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Reservations can be made by visiting www.waterburychamber.com, calling the Chamber at 203-757-0701 or via email to info@waterburychamber.com.