A florist, a distillery owner and a longtime Brass City manufacturer will be honored during the 23rd annual Harold Webster Smith Awards breakfast later this month.
The Waterbury Regional Chamber will present the awards on Jan. 22 from 7:45-9:30 a.m. at the Aria Wedding & Banquet Facility in Prospect. The annual awards recognize smaller companies and small-business executives who have achieved excellence.
Recipients of the 2020 Harold Webster Smith Awards are: Entrepreneur of the Year Virginia O’Rourke Cookson, owner of O’Rourke & Birch Florist in Waterbury; Small Business of the Year Litchfield Distillery of Litchfield; and Manufacturer of the Year Seidel Inc. in Waterbury.
The event also will feature keynote speaker David Lehman, commissioner of the state’s Department of Economic & Community Development. Lehman, who also serves as Gov. Ned Lamont’s senior economic adviser, most recently was global head of real estate finance for the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs.
Harold Webster Smith founded First Federal Savings of Waterbury in 1935 to help people build and buy homes. He served as CEO until 1937, and as chairman of the board until 1995, when First Federal was renamed Webster Bank to honor his legacy. Today, Webster Bank is among the largest financial-services organizations in New England, and the Waterbury chamber annually celebrates small-business leaders who, like Smith, have the vision to expand, diversify and prosper.
“In honor of Harold Webster Smith’s legacy and small business inspiration, we recognize small companies and entrepreneurs who share his passion for business development and his commitment to the positive economic progress of the Waterbury region,” said Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber. “Throughout his career, he served as an inspiration for countless small businesses. We are very pleased to recognize companies that share his ideals.”
The chamber’s 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year Award is Virginia (Ginny) O’Rourke Cookson of O’Rourke & Birch Florist at 170 Freight St. in Waterbury. The business was founded by her father and aunt in 1922 at 417 North Main St. O’Rourke Cookson took the reins of the business 40 years ago and has run it since, surviving and prospering even as the internet and online shopping created new challenges. Her business employs a staff of 12.
The 2020 Small Business of the Year Award is Litchfield Distillery at 569 Bantam Road in Litchfield. Founded as a hobby in 2014 by brothers David, Jack and Peter Baker and master distiller James McCoy, the enterprise began with one small still and quickly grew into a thriving concern offering several flavors of bourbon, vodka and gin.
Manufacturer of the Year Seidel Inc. in Waterbury specializes in anodized and decorative finishes for aluminum alloy parts, primarily for the cosmetics industry. The company recently acquired two other Waterbury manufacturers, Eyelet Crafters and Eyelet Design, bringing its combined workforce to more than 200.
For tickets to the Harold Webster Smith Awards Breakfast, or to learn more visit www.waterburychamber.com, phone 203-757-0701 or email info@waterburychamber.com.
