The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce announces Claudia Walker as its 2019 Citizen of the Year. The Chamber will honor the Concord businesswoman and civic leader with an award ceremony at its 100th Annual Meeting and Citizen of the Year award celebration presented by Merrimack County Savings Bank on Nov. 6 at the Grappone Conference Center. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
“This award represents the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce,” said Chamber President Tim Sink. “We received numerous nominations for Claudia Walker and are proud to present her with this award for all she has done for the community in many ways over many years. Claudia embodies the very definition of good citizen.”
New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Philip Emma nominated his former Merrimack County Savings Bank colleague, writing, “Claudia has always been a leader in many civic activities with the highest level of integrity and compassion. Claudia’s work as a founder of the Concord Hospital Rock ‘N Race for the benefit of the Payson Center is only one of her many activities focused on our community. She has served on numerous Boards and Committees and also been very active in City Committees.”
Concord Coalition to End Homelessness Executive Director Ellen Groh agreed, saying, “Claudia has served on the City of Concord’s Steering Committee for the Plan to End Homelessness since its inception in 2014. When CCEH was constructing the Emergency Winter Shelter, she helped us solicit donations through the business tax credit program; she served as Honorary Chair of our SouperFest fundraising event; and she has personally contributed to CCEH.”
Pamela Puleo, chief advancement officer at Concord Hospital, said “Claudia served on the Concord Hospital Board of Trustees for 12 years and is currently the past Board Chair for the Concord Hospital Trust. She has represented our organization with excellence. Her efforts directly affected thousands of people with cancer through access to needed support programs and services.”
“Claudia was a tireless leader while guiding the group during a challenging time for Healthcare and fundraising,” wrote fellow Concord Hospital Board of Trustees board member Tom Brown. “She has been a very valuable advocate for Concord Hospital.”
Retired principal and former Concord School Board president Clint Cogswell shared, “Claudia is a citizen who has been actively and wholeheartedly involved in our community for 35 years. She has taken on leadership roles, dived into active participation, and done so with the sort of good-naturedness and enthusiasm which lifts every one up and encourages them to do more. Claudia co-chaired the Rock ‘N Race for 11 years, during which the event raised over $5 million in the fight against cancer. Additional community participation activities include being a board member of Concord Community Music School, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, Concord Business Group and the Home Builders Association.”
“I know she has been involved in too many community-benefiting activities to count,” wrote attorney David K. Fries of Cleveland, Waters and Bass, P.A., in nominating Claudia. “She has already deservedly been honored with the Chamber’s Business Leader of the Year Pinnacle Award and the CRDC Commercial Real Estate Lender of the Year Award. It’s not just that ridiculously long list of activities and honors she has racked up that make her so remarkable and so worthy. It’s her unrelenting energy and commitment to these roles. It is her unflagging geniality, good humor and good will with which she approaches everything she does. She leads by example, grace and encouragement, always ready to give everyone else the credit.”
Fellow volunteer and Citizen of the Year recipient Mark Cibrowski stated, “I see Claudia at countless community events. She is among the most positive people I know. Claudia Walker has contributed enormously to make Concord a better community and embodies all the qualities that make her an excellent choice for the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award.”
Concord Coalition to End Homelessness Community Relations Director Ellen Fries added, “She cares deeply for her community as evidenced by her involvement over many years with things ranging from the Planning Board and Municipal Housing Commission to the Robert Eli Whitney Scholarship committee. What’s most impressive is that Claudia has the status and business acumen to do anything she chooses, and what she chooses is to do good in and for her community through her many years of service in so many fields, always for the betterment of all.”
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce has recognized an outstanding individual from the local community with its most prestigious award for over 50 years and is honored to recognize Claudia Walker of Premier Properties Inc. as its 2019 Citizen of the Year.
To register to attend the Chamber’s 100th Annual Meeting and Citizen of the Year Award event on Wednesday, Nov. 6 in Concord, visit concordnhchamber.com /key-events or call 224-2508. The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by a seated dinner, and culminates in the Citizen of the Year presentation ceremony. This year’s Annual Dinner commemorates the Chamber’s 100th anniversary as New Hampshire’s state capital chamber of commerce. The Chamber extends special thanks to Presenting Sponsor Merrimack County Savings Bank, the 2019 Citizen of the Year Committee and all who contributed nominations.
For more information about the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, call 224-2508, email info@concordnhchamber.com or visit ConcordNHChamber.com.
Kristina Carlson
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
October 30, 2019
CONGRATULATIONS to CLAUDIA & WELL DESERVED! She is a real Asset to the Concord Community.