Excellence in Business Awards presented
The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce (CCC) presented the annual Excellence in Business Awards at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge on June 3, 2009. Over 300 business representatives gathered to celebrate achievements and community involvement by Cambridge-area businesses. The lead sponsor for this event was Amgen with contributing sponsorship by Cambridge Trust Company and Microsoft.
The following awards were presented to Chamber member companies and individuals:
New Member of the Year — Move Smart Senior Move Management
This award, recognizing a business or individual new to the CCC who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the Chamber and the community, was presented to Move Smart Senior Move Management Services. The company provides comprehensive move management services for the senior community and their families. Services include onsite project management, organizing, sorting and downsizing of household items, floor plans and furniture placement, arrangement of services including utility appointments, cleaning services, trash disposal, landscaping, packing and unpacking services and the selection of a mover. Move Smart founder Terry has invited hundreds of guests to various Chamber events. Approximately 25 to 30 of those guests have become members, most having renewed their memberships beyond one year. Complya Consulting Group, LLC and Healthassist were the other finalists in this category.
Small Business of the Year — Big Foot Moving & Storage Co.
The Small Business of the Year award honors a company with fewer than fifty employees that demonstrates excellence and professionalism in its industry. This award was presented to Big Foot Moving & Storage, Inc., a full-service moving and storage company with 20 employees, providing local and long distance services for residential and commercial clients. Since 2002, they have moved over 4,500 customers, tripling their workforce and truck fleet and doubling their warehouse space each year. Big Foot is environmentally-conscious, supportive of the community and has received top ratings with the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List. AGENCY 3.0 and ePlace Real Estate were also finalists for this award.
Nonprofit of the Year — Science Club for Girls
This award, which recognizes a Cambridge-area nonprofit organization that demonstrates superior performance, quality and consistency in the pursuit of its mission, was presented to the Science Club for Girls. Science Club for Girls provides free, after school programs designed to spark and nurture the curiosity of young girls from K-7th grade through hands-on explorations guided by volunteer mentor-scientists and adolescent assistants. By teaching the sciences with simple materials, especially in the younger grades, they demystify what science is, and who can do science. Executive Director Connie Chow exclaimed, “We are celebrating our fifteenth anniversary this year so this is the sparkling candle on top of our cake.” The other finalists in the category of Nonprofit of the Year were North Cambridge Catholic Corporate Work Study Program and James F. Farr Academy, Inc.
The Leading Edge — Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is an entrepreneurial pharmaceutical company dedicated to creating, developing and commercializing innovative human medicines focused on important human needs. They intend to be a fully integrated pharmaceutical company that develops and markets its own products, a strategy that has almost disappeared from the biotech playbook. Ironwood has a novel therapeutic agent, linaclotide, in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic constipation (IBS-C). Nine million patients in the US have been diagnosed with IBS-C and as many as 15 million suffer from it. Patients can be affected physically, psychologically, socially and economically. Currently with 160 employees, Ironwood intends to be a significant employer in Cambridge for many years to come. James O’Marra accepted the award on behalf of Ironwood.
Corporate Citizen of the Year — Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM)
The Corporate Citizen of the Year award was presented to Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM). Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. is a consulting, engineering, construction and operations firm delivering exceptional service to public and private clients worldwide. While a global firm, the company is involved in the communities where employees live and work. CDM employees have participated in many community events that help make Cambridge the great city it is, such at the annual Earth Day Charles River Clean-Up and the Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak race. Carol Rego accepted the award, saying that the company was founded in 1947 by two MIT professors and today they may have 4,500 employees around the world but CDM’s roots are in Cambridge. She said that Cambridge provides a dynamic, exciting workplace that is attractive to new hires. “We just love being part of Cambridge.”
Carl F. Barron Business Person of the Year — James C. Mullen of Biogen Idec
Named after Carl F. Barron of Putnam Furniture Leasing in 2000 to celebrate his 65 years in business and as a Chamber member, the Business Person of the Year award honors an individual who demonstrates professional excellence and outstanding leadership in the community. Jim Mullen was honored for his dedication to the City of Cambridge and the life sciences industry. Jim Mullen has served as President and CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Biogen Idec since the merger of Biogen and IDEC Pharmaceuticals in November 2003. Patients in more than 90 countries benefit from Biogen Idec’s significant products that address diseases such as lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Jim Mullen has been a leading voice for the biotech industry and actively promotes the importance of science education as critical to building the pipeline of human talent for Cambridge. In accepting the award, he noted the honor of being recognized in Carl Barron’s name.He added, “Cambridge is a unique place. There’s nowhere like it in the world and it will continue to flourish for many years.”
Ambassador of the Year — Lori Cowles of HMFH Architects, Inc.
This award recognizes a member of the CCC Ambassador Committee who distinguishes himself or herself as an invaluable asset to the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce. Lori Cowles’s dedication to the CCC is exemplified by her tireless efforts and involvement. The Ambassador Committee is the largest committee at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassadors assist with new member recruitment, ensure that existing members are getting the most from their Chamber investment, and serve as mentors for new or prospective members. They represent the CCC at Chamber events, as well as within the community. The Ambassador of the Year is selected by his or her fellow Ambassadors.
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