Dover Chamber announces annual award winners

posted on: 12/24/2019

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce this week announced the winners of its annual awards, which will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Gala on Jan. 17 at the Rivermill at Dover Landing. The award recipients are as follows:

Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by First Seacoast Bank, is Paula Daley DePlanche, vice president and partner with Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, P.A. DePlanche is a past board member and treasurer of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and she is the current chair of the Leadership Board for the American Lung Association, Northeast Region.

Educator of the Year, sponsored by Cognia, is Jeff Leaf, who teaches music and drama at Dover Middle School.

Small Nonprofit of the Year, sponsored by Newburyport Bank, is Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity, which works to strengthen families and communities through affordable homeownership opportunities.

Large Nonprofit of the Year, sponsored by Tufts Health Freedom Plan, is Cornerstone Visiting Nurses Association, which seeks to provide trusted, compassionate and expert health care to the community.

Business of the Year, sponsored by Cambridge Trust, is Calling All Cargo, a veteran-owned business that provides relocation services across the country.

Citizen of the Year, sponsored by D.F. Richard, is Michael Steinberg, chief executive officer of Relyco. Steinberg is involved in numerous local organizations including Dover Children’s Home, Dover Police Charities, End 68 Hours of Hunger, and the Woodman Museum. He is also one of the founders of the City’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration event.

Tickets for the Chamber’s Annual Gala are $90 each and can be purchased on the Chamber’s website, dovernh.org. The gala is hosted by Shaheen & Gordon. Additional sponsors include Jewelry Creations, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Eastern Bank, The Flower Room, Profile Bank, and Portsmouth Regional Hospital Dover Emergency Room.

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit association of businesses, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community. For details on Dover Chamber membership and programs or for a schedule of activities, call (603) 742-2218 or visit dovernh.org.