ROCKPORT – John P. “Jack” Williams of Camden National Bank was this year’s winner of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year award.

“He worked tirelessly with Mrs. Philbrick and Camden National Bank to turn a dream into a reality,” said Chamber President Jane Dagley in announcing the award at the 83rd annual awards dinner Saturday at the Samoset Resort.

“He made personal and professional commitments to ensure that the Spear Block remained an integral part of Rockland’s downtown community. His hard work and dedication are an inspiration to all of us,” she said.

“It’s something I never expected,” Williams said as he accepted his award. “Thank you all.”

Williams is cited by the Chamber as a founder and current president of the Maine Coast Skaters Association, an organization that serves more than 200 area youth and represents a nearly 20-year commitment to developing an outlet for youth hockey in the mid-coast.

He coaches pee-wee level hockey and is a current member of the following boards: Penquis, The Riley School and United Mid Coast Charities. He serves on the advisory board for the Knox-Waldo County Regional Economic Development group and the Kno-Wal-Lin assisted living community.

He is an active member of the Rockland Rotary Club and the finance committee of Atlantic Challenge and is chairman of Camden National Bank’s donations committee.

More than 360 people from Chamber member businesses and the community attended the event.

Awards and tributes to the accomplishments of many organizations and individuals include:

? New Commercial Building award to John and Susan Ware of Maritime Energy Co. for a business or organization that has constructed a new commercial building and improved a site.

? Business Expansion and Interior Renovation to Tara Barker and Josh Hixson of Sage Market for the business that has increased its investment through renovation and expansion demonstrating a commitment to growth in one of the downtown areas in the Penobscot Bay region.

? Family Business award to Everett and Bill Spear, fourth generation members of the Spear family, of E.L. Spear Inc. for a family business that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the community through economic enhancement and ongoing community involvement.

? Downtown Business District Interior and Exterior Improvement to Warren Bodine of the Reading Corner, a book store on Main Street in Rockland for more than 30 years.

? The Commercial Building Conversion award to Bill Burke of Billy’s Tavern of Thomaston for a business or organization that has converted a commercial building demonstrating a commitment to growth.

? Retail Building Renovation award to Joseph Berkinbile of Kelsey’s Appliance Village for a retail business that has performed a significant renovation, demonstrating a commitment to growth in the Penobscot Bay region.

? Commercial Building Renovation to Connie Russell, general manager of the Samoset Resort on behalf of the Walsh Family and Ocean Properties, for a business that has performed a significant renovation, demonstrating a commitment to growth in the Penobscot Bay region.

In 1999, the family owned Ocean Properties, founded in Bangor and one of the largest independent hotel operators in the nation, bought the resort, bringing their expertise, years of experience and personal interest to the Mid-Coast.

? Commercial Building Conversion and Renovation award to President Greg Dufour on behalf of Camden National Bank for a business that has converted and renovated a building, demonstrating a commitment to growth in the Penobscot Bay region. The bank renovated the Spear block at Main and Park.

? Business Expansion and Renovation to Bettina Doutlon and John Tynan of Cellardoor Vineyards in Lincolnville.

? Beth Bowley, owner of kit and kaboodle – fourTWELVE, for a business that has made a comprehensive economic and community investment in the Penobscot Bay region. Rockland’s newest women’s clothing and accessories store is the lifelong dream of Bowley, a native Mainer who graduated from Parsons School of Design and launched her own line of clothing in 1998.

? The Neighborhood Beacon to Sandi Dillon of Ripples Inn at the Harbor for a small business owner who has made a significant financial commitment to the continued improvement of a community neighborhood. She has restored a landmark property with an eye for today’s function and style.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

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