Chamber honors business owners: Lopardo wins businessman of year

By Thor Jourgensen -- The Daily Item
Thursday, December 4, 2003

LYNN -- The Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday honored North Shore Spirit owner Nicholas Lopardo and other individuals and institutions that changed the face of the city in 2003.

Lopardo won the chamber's businessperson of the year award for bringing minor league baseball back to Fraser Field. Lopardo renovated Fraser Field and made it a summer location for family fun and social outings.

Lopardo friend and personal security aide Alan Melanson called the Spirit a testament to the values Lopardo learned as a young athlete and translated into business success. Lopardo built the world's sixth-largest money market fund before branching off into new ventures.

"Nick believes what set him apart in the business world was what he learned on the playing field," Melanson said.

The Chamber's Commitment to Lynn award winners reflect renewed efforts to revive Central Square and other neighborhoods.

Recipients include:

The Mayo Group, which has purchased 10 local buildings, including the Keith and Security Exchange buildings in Central Square; Russo Plumbing which relocated from Federal Street to Washington Street; and developer Cisco Meneses, who is renovating space under the commuter rail tracks along Mount Vernon Street.

Also, the Greater Lynn YMCA, which is adding 40 new single-occupancy rooms to its Neptune Boulevard building, and Equitable Cooperative Bank, which is building a new office on Broadway.

Developer David Solimine Jr. and the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development also received commitment awards.

The Chamber inducted two local business stalwarts into its hall of fame: Saul Gilberg, who spurred redevelopment on Lewis and Broad streets in the 1960s, and the late Morris Zimman, who founded the Market Street fabric and furniture store now operated by his grandson, Michael.

The Chamber also honored outgoing City Councilor-at-large Deborah Smith Walsh with its community service award. Walsh is capping off a political career that included eight years on the School Committee and six terms on the council.

"She always has been there on issues that were too hot to handle for others," Chamber Director Kevin Donahue said.

Restaurateurs Paul Petersiel and Michael Callahan were honored for their commitments to Swampscott and Nahant. Water and Sewer Commission Director Stephen Smith and Girl's Inc. Director Patricia Driscoll received good neighbor awards.

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