Hundreds attend Chamber dinner

BANGOR – The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce attracted more than 690 people to its annual dinner Wednesday night at the Bangor Civic Center, enjoying the largest turnout in the event’s history. The Chamber presented its annual service awards and guest speakers lauded the organization’s accomplishments in the past year.

Guests mingled excitedly between courses but managed to give their attention and applause to the recipients of the business and service awards.

Edwin N. Clift, chairman and CEO of Merrill Merchants Bank, received a standing ovation when he accepted the Chamber’s major annual award, named after former Chamber president, Norbert X. Dowd. Clift, a 67-year-old Ellsworth resident, serves on numerous state and local boards, including the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation board of trustees and Maine’s Judicial Compensation Commission.

“You’ve probably heard more about Ed Clift tonight than you ever wanted to hear. This is a tremendous honor,” Clift said.

In televised video testimonials, friends and colleagues praised Clift’s contributions to the Bangor area and called him humble, scrupulously honest and always cheerful.

“He has really been like the rock of Gibraltar. He has been a really calm, steady influence on the board,” said Sister Mary Norberta, CEO of St. Joseph Healthcare. Dinner attendees also gave a standing ovation to Dr. Joyce Hedlund, president of Eastern Maine Community College, who received the Chairman’s Award, which recognizes significant contribution to the community.

“As active as she is on campus, she is deeply involved in her state and her community,” said outgoing Chamber chairman Tom Palmer, general manager of the Black Bear Inn.

Sargent Corp. was honored as the Chamber’s Business of the Year. Sargent provides excavation services to construction sites, landfills, airports and highways and employs more than 400 people in New England and the mid-Atlantic states. Palmer said Herb Sargent’s entrepreneurial spirit is a model for the region’s economic growth.

Palmer described the difficult beginning of 2006, with the closing of the Georgia Pacific Mill in Old Town. He said state and community support for the former mill and its workers had inspired a new sense of optimism, opportunity and confidence in the area.

Palmer outlined the successes of the Chamber’s Wellness Council, Leadership Institute, and Fusion group for young professionals. He also noted the Chamber’s fruitful efforts to oppose TABOR and to support the proposal to ban smoking in cars with children present.

Incoming chairman Mark Woodward, executive editor of the Bangor Daily News, noted the need for the Chamber to continue forging relationships with the University of Maine, Maritime Canada and Hollywood Slots, among other businesses and municipalities.

“The individuals here and the companies and institutions they represent have infused our economy with energy,” Woodward said. “But more important to our optimism about the future is a new attitude and approach to how we do business with each other, and how we cooperate and combine our energy to prosper as a region.”