Business Bulletin

Greater Haverhill Chamber Awards Top Honor to Team Haverhill

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Team Haverhill—celebrating its 20th anniversary transforming Haverhill—is taking home the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s top honor next month. The Charles E. Billups Award, the Chamber’s most prestigious honor since 1985, goes to the nonprofit civic organization during the Chamber’s 110th Annual Dinner. Team Haverhill is the brainchild of Sally Cerasuolo-O’Rorke, who was the president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce when the group was founded. It has since become its own all-volunteer, independent nonprofit. Charles E. Billups served Essex County Gas Co., a natural gas utility, for 35 years, retiring as chairman of the board.

Business Bulletin

Health Scare Prompts Search for New Benedetti’s Deli Owner

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Benedetti’s Deli, Haverhill’s oldest, continuously operated and family-owned restaurant, is for sale. Edward Benedetti, who owns and operates the Mount Washington landmark with his sister, Mary DiBartolomeo, said a health scare last year prompted the move. “I had open heart surgery for a quadruple bypass and, after being out for three months, it occurred to me that it was time,” Benedetti, 59, told WHAV. “The full weight of the restaurant fell to my sister when I was sick. I just realized that working 12-hour days had gotten too much for us.”

The pair’s grandparents, Molly and Marcy Benedetti, bought the building at 350 Washington St.

Business Bulletin

Rodríguez Joins Board Advising Statewide Disabilities Commission

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Attorney Richard Rodríguez was recently selected as a member of the newly created Advisory Council of the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, a state body that seeks to strengthen inclusion, assess barriers and promote equitable practices for people with disabilities across the state. Advisory Council Chair Oswald Mondejar said Rodríguez, who also serves as Lawrence’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, “rose above the stellar candidates evaluated.”

“We wanted diversity not only in perspective but also across the state, and Richard’s profile was perfect,” he said. He added that the combination of professional background and community commitment was decisive: “Not only does he have lived experience, but he has been an advocate. He knows the laws, he is a community leader, and that was really important.”

Rodríguez’s appointment also received support from state Rep. Frank A. Moran, second assistant majority leader. “I am glad that this appointment will allow Richard to continue serving some of our Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents in a larger capacity, to improve their quality of life and help them lead happy, independent lives.”

The Advisory Council, officially launched in January, serves to advise, identify gaps, promote inclusive practices and support the Commission’s efforts across the state.

Business Bulletin

Pentucket Bank Formally Opens New Downtown Haverhill Branch

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Pentucket Bank is officially open at its new White’s Corner branch in downtown Haverhill after an absence of about two years. The One Merrimack St. branch occupies the ground floor of the newly completed 660-space parking garage at the corner of Main and Merrimack Streets. It is the latest milestone in the mixed-use project that will ultimately bring 395 apartments, restaurants and retail space to the center of the city. “Downtown revitalization doesn’t happen through abstract market forces alone.

Business Bulletin

MassHire Merrimack Valley Receives $1 Million for Youth Jobs Program

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MassHire Merrimack Valley is receiving about $1 million to help provide summer and year-round jobs for 300 youth this year. MassHire Merrimack Valley, which operates job matching and training services, says it will offer service, project-based learning and subsidized work experiences across various industries including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; education; performing arts; and finance. The Healey-Driscoll Administration said nearly $14.4 million was allocated across the 16 MassHire regional workforce boards statewide to hire 3,786 youth and young adults for summer and year-round jobs through the state’s YouthWorks program. The administration also launched the Youth Employment and Skills—called YES—initiative, to connect employers with opportunities to support youth employment and skills development. The YES initiative builds on the Gateway Youth Employment Pilot, launched last December, that encourages MassHire regional workforce boards to engage with more than 560 employers.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack Valley Chamber to Honor 37 Small Businesses in June

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Keegan Shepardson, district director of the Massachusetts District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is scheduled to speak next month as the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce honors 37 area businesses. Among the honorees, one segment salutes such family-owned businesses as Battle Grounds Coffee Co., Colony Foods, George’s Bakery, Koopman Lumber and P & Co. Real Estate. Another set highlights innovation with awards in that category going to Haverhill-based Historic New England and Worden Marine of North Andover. Small Business Award recipients in other categories include Business Assistance, Essex County Community Foundation and Enterprise Center at Salem State; Discovery/Education, Central Catholic and Chang’s Tae Kwon Do America; Environmental, Ground Care Landscaping and Groundwork Lawrence; Healthcare, Andover Hearing Center and lnCare Pulmonary and Sleep Specialists; Longevity, LW Bills Co.

Business Bulletin

River Run Names Scamporino Vice President, Internal Audit Manager

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Matt Scamporino has been named vice president, internal audit manager at River Run, based at Pentucket Bank’s Stadium Branch office. Scamporino, of Haverhill, who has more than a decade of experience in the banking industry, previously served as internal audit supervisor. “Matt has developed a strong reputation for his attention to detail, thoughtful analysis and commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accountability,” said Kimberly Matsumoto, senior vice president, internal audit director. “His work helps ensure that River Run continues to operate with strong governance and effective risk management.”

In his new role, Scamporino leads and executes risk-based internal audits across the organization, evaluating the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal control processes. He oversees audit staff, manages audit engagements from planning through reporting and works closely with senior management and the Board Audit Committee to ensure compliance with banking regulations, internal policies and industry standards.