NASHUA – Some 21 men, women and businesses – three in each of the seven categories – are in the running for a 2021 Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce Eminence Award, according to a finalists list compiled by the selection committee.

The nine-member committee, which chose the finalists from nominations submitted by community members earlier this year, is now in the process of selecting a winner in each of the categories. The winners will be announced at this year’s 19th annual Eminence Awards & Luncheon on Wednesday, May 18, at Sky Meadow Country Club.

A program, moderated by Amber Mortan and based on this year’s theme, “Celebrate Nashua: Past, Present and Future,” will take attendees back through some highlights of Nashua history, then bring everyone up to date on what’s going on in the present and finally, what is, and could be, in store for Nashua’s future.

Former Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, currently the chief executive officer of Southern New Hampshire Services, will explore Nashua’s past, while Rich Lannan, present of The Lannon Companies real estate and property management firm, will address present-day Nashua and

Matt Sullivan, city Community Development Division director, will offer a glimpse into the city’s future.

The Greater Nashua Chamber began the annual Eminence Awards program in 2003, the winners of which were presented their awards at a luncheon held in the spring of 2004.

The winners selected that inaugural year include Michael Timothy’s, in the small business category; top business person was Attorney Scott Flegal; the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year was Newt Coryell; the overall Volunteer of the Year was Joy Barrett; and chosen the top business was Oracle.

The first winner in the Young Professional category, which was added in 2013 and presented in 2014, went to Karen Cooper of Rivier University.

Two years later, in 2015, the Nonprofit of the Year was added, and won by the United Way, which accepted the award at the 2016 luncheon.

This year’s finalists and their categories follow.

For more information on the Chamber or the Eminence Awards, go to www.nashuachamber.com.

•••

Chamber Champion of the Year

• Donna Dailey, New England Career Services

• Pete Paladino, Bishop Guertin High School

• Christa Tsechrintzis, Marguerite’s Place

•••

Community

Volunteer

of the Year

• Dr. Amir Toosi, Rivier University

• Rich Lannan, The Lannan Company

• Brenda McDougald, Enterprise Bank

•••

Young Professional of the Year

• Ashley Fudala, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua

• Dr. Marie Elizabeth Ramas, Gatehouse Treatment

• Cecilia Ulibarri and Manuel Ramirez, Positive Street Art

•••

Business Leader

of the Year

• Brian Law, Law Logistics

• Michael Buckley, Michael Timothy’s Dining Group

• Mike Apfelberg, United Way of Greater Nashua

•••

Nonprofit

of the Year

• Nashua International Sculpture Symposium

• Greater Nashua Mental Health Center

• Nashua Community Music School

•••

Small Business

of the Year

• SkyTerra Technologies

• Pearl Marketing

• MI-BOX Southern New Hampshire

•••

Business

of the Year

• Harvey Construction Corporation

• Lovering Volvo

• Silverstone Living

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.