By Tom Dalton
SALEM — A company that builds wind turbines and a businesswoman who went to New Orleans to help after Hurricane Katrina are among more than two dozen award nominees at the Salem Chamber of Commerce's 86th annual dinner.
Thomas Groom of Groom Construction, which builds wind turbines, and Wendi Goldsmith, head of The Bioengineering Group, which worked on the post-Katrina efforts, are nominated for businessman and businesswoman of the year. Six individuals or businesses are nominated in each category, a list that includes "new business of the year" and "excellence in retail."
More than 230 tickets have been sold to the Celebrate Salem Awards dinner, which will be held Wednesday, April 16, in the atrium at the Peabody Essex Museum.
"People love the idea of having a major event in the museum and being part of the downtown," said Rinus Oosthoek, executive director of the chamber.
For tickets or information, call 978-744-0004 or go to www.salem-chamber.org. The ticket deadline is tomorrow.
Award nominees
Businessman of the Year
William Goldberg, Goldberg Brothers
Thomas Groom, Groom Construction
Paul Herrick, Keller-Williams Realty, Paul Herrick & Co.
Mark Leavitt, Salem Car Wash
Robert Lutts, Cabot Money Management
Hugh Kerr, A Passage to India, Witch City Rickshaw, Kerr Leathers
Businesswoman of the Year
Karen Andreas, The Salem News
Janet Barsanti, J. Mode
Jennie Cudmore, Crunchy Granola Baby
Wendi Goldsmith, The Bioengineering Group
Jacqueline Hazel, Jacqueline's Gourmet Cookies
Barbara Szafranski, Angelica of the Angels
New Business of the Year
Aggregate Designs
Gulu-Gulu Café
Radiance Aveda
Rouge Cosmetics
Salem Wine Imports
Upper Crust Pizza
Long-term Achievement Award
Coffee Time Bake Shop
Court House Deli
Crosby's Market
Healthworks Fitness Center for Women
In A Pig's Eye
O'Donnell Funeral Home
Community Service Award
William Howard, Beverly Co-Operative Bank
John Neely, Hawthorne Associates, and Christine Sullivan, Enterprise Center at Salem State College
Salem Arts Association
Salem Rotary
Salem YMCA
Bruce Whear, Wire 4 Hire
Excellence in Retail
A&J King Artisan Bakers
David Eng's Flowers
Gardner Mattress
Peabody Essex Museum Gift Shop
Treasures Over Time
Winer Brothers Paint and Hardware
