Bedford Man Named Manchester Chamber Citizen of the Year

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), Thursday night, announced that Joseph B. Reilly, President & CEO of Centrix Bank has been named the Chamber's 2013 Citizen of the Year.

The announcement was made at the Chamber's annual Citizen of the Year Celebration on Thursday, March 14 at the Radisson in Manchester. The Citizen of the Year Award is an annual tradition which began in 1954. More than 700 members of the business community attended the event.

Since 1954 the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has presented one outstanding individual the Citizen of the Year Award. This outstanding group of individuals has been paramount in shaping the Chamber's agenda and the community. The Citizen of the Year award recognizes an individual with outstanding leadership and citizenship in the community, while demonstrating exemplary vision, civic pride and commitment to the betterment of society. To be nominated, the individual should live in the greater Manchester area, and/or his/her activities should be centered in the same area. Recognition is given for leadership and performance in several areas of community service over a period of years. The individual recognized does not have to be a member of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce or the business community. It may be an individual from any walk of life, and there are no requirements or restrictions relating to gender, race, religion or ethnic background.

Planning for the 2013 Citizen of the Year event began last August by the Chamber's Citizen of the Year Celebration Committee. Beth Roberts, Vice President of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare of New England, chairs the committee made up of the following individuals: Susan Walsh and Beth Innarelli of m5 Marketing and Communications, Nick Soggu, SilverTech Inc., Rick Brenner, NH Fisher Cats, Ellie Cochran, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Gail Garceau, Well Sense Health Plan, Linette Handschumaker, Gemma Waite French, Julie Picard and Alex Amadeo of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

This year the theme is "Dial "M" for Mystery." In addition to the incredible networking opportunities, (800+ business people will be there) the Committee is planning to build suspense and mystery around the Citizen of the Year recipient through the mysterious theme! The night will include clue cards, evidence items that attendees will collect, various rooms where clues can be found using the spyglass they receive at the beginning of the night and finally the unveiling of the Citizen of the Year.

The celebration event could not be made possible without the generous support of Chamber members and the business community.  Through corporate sponsorships the committee has raised more than $100,000. Sponsors include: Dial "M" for Mystery Sponsor, Bellwether Community Credit Union; Evidence Sponsor, AutoFair Automotive Corporation; Spy Glass Sponsor, Centrix Bank; Don't Get Caught Red-Handed Sponsor, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare of New England; Past Citizen of the Year Reception Sponsor, Public Service of New Hampshire; Mug Shot Sponsor, Southern New Hampshire University; Room Sponsor, FairPoint Communications; Printing Sponsor, Spectrum Marketing Companies, Design Sponsor, m5 Marketing Communications; Audio Visual Sponsor,  Events United; Website Sponsor, SilverTech Inc.; Beer Sponsor, Howe, Riley & Howe, CPAs; Wine Sponsor, St. Mary's Bank; Signature Cocktail Sponsor, Lavallee Brensinger Architects; Crime Tape Sponsor, People's United Bank; and Registration Inspectors, Bank of America & Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester. The Detective Sponsors are: Catholic Medical Center, Cross Insurance, Citizens Bank, Devine, Millimet & Branch, P.A., Elliot Health System, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Northeast Delta Dental, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA and TD Bank. The Suspect Sponsors are: Altos Marketing, Anagnost Investments, Inc., Baker Newman Noyes, Bank of New England, Bank of New Hampshire, Bigelow & Company CPA PC,  Fidelity Investments, Gamache Enterprises, Manchester Monarchs Hockey Club, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Roedel Companies, Sowa Entertainment, SMG - Verizon Wireless Arena, Stebbins Commercial Properties, Trivantus and Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, P.L.L.C.

This is the Chamber's largest annual event and will be held at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester on March 14 from 6-9 p.m. Tickets for Chamber members are $100 per person, or $125 for non-members. A special discount to parties of ten is also available. The ticket price includes dinner, complimentary glass of wine or beer, games, a photo booth and the big announcement of the Citizen of the Year.

For more information about the event, visit www.gmcccmystery.com.

About the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce: Incorporated in 1911, the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) is the largest business organization in the greater Manchester area with close to 1,000 members. The GMCC focuses its efforts primarily on Manchester and the surrounding communities of Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett, Litchfield, Londonderry, and Merrimack.  It is the Chamber's mission to be the leading force in the improvement of the business environment, the economic health and the general vitality of the region. The GMCC provides members with marketing and networking opportunities, economic indicators, legislative bulletins, and representation in both local and state government.  For more information visitwww.manchester-chamber.org<http://www.manchester-chamber.org/>.