Lynn area chamber holds meeting, awards dinner

LYNNFIELD – The Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting Wednesday night, and presented its Business Excellence Awards as well, at Spinelli’s.Joe Rainert, chief executive officer of Kettle Cuisine, was named Business Person of the Year. Kettle Cuisine produces soups, stews, chilis and chowders for nationwide food service and retail channels.Two years ago, the business confirmed it was moving its entire soup manufacturing and distribution operation from Chelsea to Lynn, in the Clock Tower Business Center. The new facility opened in early 2014 and now has more than 240 employees.Kettle Cuisine’s commitments include My Brother’s Table, Lynn Public Schools and the Lynn Community Health Center.Also nominated were Patrick DeBoever, owner, Four Winds Pub & Grill; Bill Terlecky, general manager, North Shore Navigators; and Stephanie Vanderbilt, Coastal Windows & Exteriors.Eastern Bank received the Multi-Cultural Business Leadership Award. Eastern has been recognized by the Small Business Association as the No. 1 lender in New England for three years in a row, something that helps the bank take care of the needs of small and minority business owners.Also nominated were Community Credit Union, David E. Zeller Insurance Agency, Metro Credit Union and YMCA of Metro North.Dennis Cataldo of Atlantic/Cataldo Ambulance received the David J. Solimine Community Service Award. Other nominees were Virginia Doocy of Catholic Charities North, Lisa Morin-Plante of St. Mary’s, Carla Scheri of Centerboard and Stephanie Vanderbilt, Coastal Windows & Exteriors.Christine Pierce, manager of business development at Columbia Insurance Agency, received the Carol Vasapoli Volunteer of the Year Award. Other nominees were Diana Moreno of Metro Credit Union, Christopher Plourde of Precision Property Brokers, Inc. and Teresa Sarno of Eastern Bank.Buddy Fennell Hall of Fame Award recipients were Jim Appleton of Roland L. Appleton, Inc., Fran Dichner of R&L Associates, Dr. Nicholas Sarantopoulos of Community Credit Union and Ralph Sevinor of Wayne Alarms Systems.Lynn City Pride Award recipients were Essex Media Group, owners of The Item; Thomas Costin, former mayor of Lynn; James Cowdell, executive director of the Lynn EDIC; Juan Carlos Ferrufino, Ferrufino Consulting & Associates; Corey Jackson, Arts After Hours; Frances Martinez, North Shore Latino Business Association; and Lisa Nerich, Department of Public Works.The Swampscott Town Pride Award recipient was John McLaughlin, a resident of the town who was instrumental in overseeing the painting and carpentry repairs to Town Hall last spring.Leslie Gould is president and CEO of the LACC and Taso Nikolakopoulos of John’s Roast Beef is the chairman.