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Thank A Police Officer Day founder Lisa Stanley wins Citizen of Year award

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Lisa Stanley, right, receives the coveted Citizen of Year Award from Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Laura Ring during last night's virtual awards ceremony. (Courtesy photo)

At the Chamber's Virtual Awards Banquet held on Thursday the Chamber announced the 2020 Citizen of the Year is Lisa Stanley.

The award is presented each year by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community and has made significant contributions to the vibrancy and strength of the Greater Rochester area.

Lisa Stanley is a resident of Rochester, and co-owner of Wit-Way Supply, a plumbing wholesale company in Rochester. Since opening the business in 1996, Lisa became actively involved in the Rochester community.

Lisa initially became a volunteer at the Chamber serving on committees such as the Holiday Auction Committee securing donations that raised thousands of dollars for the organization. In addition to other chamber committees, Lisa also served for 7 years on the Chamber board of directors, serving as Treasurer of the organization for several of those years.

Lisa has also been a very active member of the Rochester Rotary Club since 1996, an organization of business and professional persons who provide humanitarian service. Because of her leadership, she also served on the club's board of directors for a number of years as is a past president of the club. She is one of the Club's top volunteers. Based on her substantial contributions, Lisa is a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Benefactor.

Lisa has been instrumental in initiating a number of programs into the Rotary Club.

  • RISING STAR program - to recognize a Spaulding student for special achievement each month.
  • BELMONT PROJECT - a fund raising project Lisa chairs for the club that involves games of chance at the Belmont Lodge.
  • WMEX ROTARY DAY - a fund raiser where Rotarians sell radio advertising spots to local businesses and individuals to promote the Rotary Club.
  • HOMELESS SHELTER FOR STRAFFORD COUNTY - a service Lisa initiated to have members of the club volunteer at the shelter.
  • ROCHESTER PRIDE RIDE - A Motorcycle Poker run to benefit the needy and the homeless in our community.
  • ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROJECT - a clean-up project Lisa participates in picking up debris along Route 11.
  • CLOTHING DRIVE
  • WINGS AND WHEELS
  • FEAST BOXES
  • END 68 DAYS OF HUNGER CO-CHAIR
  • TEEN CENTER
  • HOWIE'S FIELD OF DREAMS

CITY OF ROCHESTER INVOLVEMENT

Lisa is very involved with the City of Rochester. She has served as a member of the JOB Loan Committee, the Land Use Master Plan Committee, Downtown Master Plan Committee. She also served on the City's Utility Advisory Board and the Rochester Economic Development Commission.

Based on her dedication to her community, Lisa became active in City politics, serving as City Councilor for Ward 5 from 2006-2007.

And for the past several years, Lisa serves on the Rochester Police Commission.

Lisa also served for many years, until recently, on the Frisbie Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Board of the Southeast Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

Because of her commitment to downtown Rochester, Lisa was one of the initial organizers for CORE, the organization which later became Rochester Main Street.

Lisa is the founder and leader of the Thank A Rochester Police Officer Day, now in its third year.

Lisa has been and continues to be a dedicated member of the Rochester community, continually giving her time and resources to causes that affect the greater community.

According to Mayor Caroline McCarley, "Lisa is someone that does so much behind the scenes and does not seek any recognition." According to fellow Rotarian Diane Bessey of the Monarch School of New England, "despite the countless hours Lisa spends owning and operating a business, she goes the extra mile to help others. She is a role model for volunteerism."

According to Chamber president Laura Ring, "Lisa is extremely dedicated to causes she believes in. She becomes fully committed to those causes and provides an excellent example of citizenship and philanthropy."

2020 NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

At the Chamber's Virtual Awards Banquet held on Thursday evening, September 17, 2020, the Chamber presented the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year to HAVEN.

The Non-Profit of the Year award presented by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is one of the Chamber's most prestigious business awards. This award, sponsored by Lydall, Inc. is bestowed upon a nonprofit that demonstrates excellence in their organization and in their community. It also recognizes a Chamber member that has provided a significant impact to the betterment of the greater Rochester area.

HAVEN, formerly known as A Safe Place and SASS officially merged In July of 2015 becoming the largest violence prevention and support services agency in NH.

HAVEN is dedicated to addressing public health through violence prevention and improving the well-being of children and families. Preventing abuse and providing support for those impacted by domestic and sexual violence can lead to healthier and more secure children and adults.

HAVEN's mission is to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking and to support and empower women, men, youth and families to heal from abuse and rebuild their lives, HAVEN Is dedicated to addressing public health through violence prevention and improving the well-being of children and families.

This violence prevention program is further supported by a comprehensive client services program that includes:

  • Emergency shelter 24-hour confidential crisis and support hotline 1-603-994-SAFE (7233)
  • 24-hour accompaniment to police stations and hospital emergency rooms
  • Accompaniment to courts and assistance obtaining restraining orders
  • Support and accompaniment for families at the Rockingham and Strafford County Child Advocacy Center
  • Support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and Trauma Sensitive Yoga.

HAVEN's vision is to End Violence and Change Lives.

HAVEN has a strong history of producing positive results and making a significant impact.

Eliminating barriers for individuals seeking services in combination with providing comprehensive and responsive services to our community was a primary goal of the merger in 2015 and HAVEN continues to see significant results today.

In 2016, during HAVEN's first year, there was a 10% increase in demand for programs and services as a direct result of strategic outreach, letting individuals impacted by sexual and domestic violence know that there is an agency to support their needs. During the last fiscal year, HAVEN provided critical support services to nearly 1,500 individuals in the Greater Rochester community. The following data points provide a snapshot of a sampling of critical services HAVEN provides:

On an average day, HAVEN receives between 10-14 calls through the free and confidential hotline.

In an overage week, HAVEN advocates visit the Child Advocacy Centers in Rockingham and Strafford Counties 14 times to provide support to families while their child is being interviewed

for alleged neglect or abuse.

In an average month, 54 individuals visit one of our offices to speak with a trained advocate.

In an overage year, 60 women and children fleeing imminent danger seek safety in our shelter.

Annually, approximately 7,500 K-12 students in the Greater Rochester area participate in the HAVEN Safe Kids Strong Teens program, Schools have reported reductions in incidences of sexual harassment and bullying, increased help-seeking skills and improved decision-making as a result of the program.

Involvement in the community

HAVEN plays an active role in the community beyond providing support services and violence prevention educational programming. Each year, HAVEN participates in community events throughout the Greater Rochester area such as National Night Out, Rochester Pride Day, various church group events, and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce events.

Award/honors received

HAVEN is fortunate to be led by Executive Director, Kathy Beebe who has been recognized by the Preventions Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire as their 2015 PlRC Practitioner of the Year. She has also been recognized by the NH Attorney General's Office with the 2015 Sandra Matheson Award for her work in combating domestic and sexual violence.

In 2016 - 2020, HAVEN was received the following awards:

  • Non-Profit of the Year award from the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce (2020)
  • Non-Profit of the Year award from the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce (2017)
  • Citizens Bank, Champions in Action (2017)
  • WOKQ Year of Service Award Winner (2016, 2017)

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the efforts and programs consistently provided and was delighted to present its 2020 Non-Profit of the Year award to HAVEN.

2020 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

At the Chamber's Virtual Awards Banquet held on Thursday evening, September 17, 2020, the Chamber was pleased to present the 2020 Business of the Year award to Service Credit Union.

The Business of the Year award is one of the Chamber's most prestigious awards celebrating excellence in a business' industry and in their community. This award, sponsored by Index Packinging, recognizes a Chamber member who has demonstrated leadership and involvement for the betterment of the business community and the greater Rochester area.

Service Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with locations across the state of New Hampshire; Falmouth, MA; Grand Forks, ND; and U.S. Army and Air Force bases in Germany.

The credit union has two branches in Rochester: a traditional branch and an in-store branch in Walmart.

The company's Indirect Lending and Special Accounts departments are also both based in Rochester.

Service Credit Union's mission is to do what is right for its members by improving their financial well-being, supporting the communities they serve and creating value and enduring relationships. As part of their mission to serve and support our communities, the Service Credit Union team is dedicated to giving back to the people of Rochester not only as an organization, but also as individuals.

As a supporter of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Service Credit Union was an underwriter of the Rochester Community Expo and job fair in 2019, giving many local businesses the opportunity to showcase themselves on a larger scale. They have also helped brighten up downtown Rochester by participating in the "Adopt-A-Spot" program.

During Thanksgiving, Service Credit Union helped residents celebrate the holidays by donating $3,000 to We Care Food Pantry Inc., formerly the Revolution Food Pantry of Rochester. They also donated volunteer time and a new van for transporting food. Both of their branches in Rochester conducted food drives to donate nonperishable goods to the Rochester community. The credit union has served as the primary sponsor for Rochester's Holiday Parade and provides support to the Rochester Tree Lighting.

Service Credit Union was an active participant in Thank a Police Office Day and has sponsored the Rochester Child Care 5K and donated money to the Rochester Tennis Team to fund their new uniforms.

Service Credit Union truly enjoys giving back to the Rochester community. In February, Service Credit Union celebrates Random Acts of Kindness in all branches. Branch staff hand out Visa gift cards and offer sweet treats and RAOK coupons that encourage members to pay it forward.

Not only is the organization, as a whole, very active in the Rochester community but so are various Service Credit Union employees. Several employees donate their time volunteering at chamber golf tournaments, lunches to the YMCA of Strafford County, serving on Rochester Social Club and on the Rochester School Board.

On a larger scale, serving the state of New Hampshire, Service Credit Union partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to accept donations in every branch for its Pack a Pack backpack drive to help local children in need start the year off right with school supplies; coordinated a holiday food drive in cooperation with the New Hampshire Food Bank; held a Toys for Tots donation drive with the U.S. Marine Corps to ensure thousands more children woke up with a toy under the tree on Christmas Day; and participated in a "Mac Off" to pack boxes of mac n' cheese to donate to the New Hampshire Food Bank. Thanks to member contributions at each of our New Hampshire branches, including Rochester, we were able to collect 2,700 backpacks, donate 800 holiday gifts and pack 11,664 mac n' cheese meals.

Over the years, Service Credit Union has been named Best Credit Union in the Best of the Seacoast Awards and received the NHBR Best of Business Award. Service Credit Union also received the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Award for Excellence in Member Service, and our Education team was recognized with the Excellence in Financial Education Award from the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), reflecting the credit union's ongoing commitment to improving members' financial literacy. Most recently, DepostAccounts.com named Service Credit Union, "One of the top healthiest credit unions in America."

According to Chamber President Laura Ring, "Service Credit Union is always there to offer their support to various needs in the communities they serve, and we thank them for their commitment."

For these reasons, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce was proud to name Service Credit Union as its 2020 Business of the Year.

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