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Waterbury Regional Chamber Honors 2025 Harold Webster Smith Award Recipients WATERBURY—The Waterbury Regional Chamber will honor a local entrepreneur and two businesses during its 27th Annual Harold Webster Smith Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at the Aria Wedding & Banquet Facility in Prospect. The annual breakfast event recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs who exemplify the spirit of innovation, community engagement, and excellence in small business. During the event, the Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Courtney Ligi, founder of The Social Circle, LLC. Since launching her agency in 2021, Ligi has worked closely with small business owners to develop personalized social media strategies that elevate brand awareness and engagement. A former membership director with the Waterbury Regional Chamber, she is deeply involved in the community through organizations such as the Watertown Foundation, the United Way of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls, and the Mattatuck Museum. Her entrepreneurial journey began as a Poshmark reseller and expanded to co-owning Jimmy’s of Watertown, a family-run restaurant serving the community since 2001. In June 2025, she opened a new office on Waterbury Road in Prospect. The Small Business of the Year award will be presented to Allstar Home Appliance Center of Waterbury. Founded in 1984 by John and Pamela Ciccio, Allstar has built its reputation on personal service, product expertise, and customer care. The business, located at 1215 Thomaston Ave., offers appliance sales and service across leading brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid, helping customers find affordable, high-quality options through both new and scratch-and-dent inventory. Carpin Manufacturing, Inc., based in Waterbury, will be recognized as the Manufacturer of the Year. Founded in 1984, Carpin is a leading producer of metal-stamped and plastic-injection molded products serving industries from education and office furniture to industrial equipment. With nearly 3,000 product SKUs and a skilled workforce averaging 20 years of experience, Carpin continues to drive Connecticut’s manufacturing excellence through innovation, quality, and customer partnership. Sean Scanlon, the Comptroller for the State of Connecticut, will provide the event’s keynote address. The event’s Premier Sponsor is Webster Bank and the Supporting Business sponsors are Carpin Manufacturing, Inc. and Ives Bank. The Small Business Sponsors are Fascia’s Chocolates, Inc.; Green Wealth Management Group, LLC; JCSmith Advisors; Muni Insurance; Pisani Steel Fabrication, Inc.; Powerstation Events; Prospect Memorial – The Palmerie Family Funeral Home; TBI Construction: a Tomasso Company; The Next Street; Winvian Farm, and WORX. The event is open to both Chamber members and non-members. For more details and to register, visit waterburychamber.com ###
Waterbury Regional Chamber Honors 2025 Harold Webster Smith Award Recipients
WATERBURY—The Waterbury Regional Chamber will honor a local entrepreneur and two businesses during its 27th Annual Harold Webster Smith Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at the Aria Wedding & Banquet Facility in Prospect. The annual breakfast event recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs who exemplify the spirit of innovation, community engagement, and excellence in small business.
During the event, the Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Courtney Ligi, founder of The Social Circle, LLC. Since launching her agency in 2021, Ligi has worked closely with small business owners to develop personalized social media strategies that elevate brand awareness and engagement. A former membership director with the Waterbury Regional Chamber, she is deeply involved in the community through organizations such as the Watertown Foundation, the United Way of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls, and the Mattatuck Museum. Her entrepreneurial journey began as a Poshmark reseller and expanded to co-owning Jimmy’s of Watertown, a family-run restaurant serving the community since 2001. In June 2025, she opened a new office on Waterbury Road in Prospect.
The Small Business of the Year award will be presented to Allstar Home Appliance Center of Waterbury. Founded in 1984 by John and Pamela Ciccio, Allstar has built its reputation on personal service, product expertise, and customer care. The business, located at 1215 Thomaston Ave., offers appliance sales and service across leading brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid, helping customers find affordable, high-quality options through both new and scratch-and-dent inventory.
Carpin Manufacturing, Inc., based in Waterbury, will be recognized as the Manufacturer of the Year. Founded in 1984, Carpin is a leading producer of metal-stamped and plastic-injection molded products serving industries from education and office furniture to industrial equipment. With nearly 3,000 product SKUs and a skilled workforce averaging 20 years of experience, Carpin continues to drive Connecticut’s manufacturing excellence through innovation, quality, and customer partnership.
Sean Scanlon, the Comptroller for the State of Connecticut, will provide the event’s keynote address.
The event’s Premier Sponsor is Webster Bank and the Supporting Business sponsors are Carpin Manufacturing, Inc. and Ives Bank. The Small Business Sponsors are Fascia’s Chocolates, Inc.; Green Wealth Management Group, LLC; JCSmith Advisors; Muni Insurance; Pisani Steel Fabrication, Inc.; Powerstation Events; Prospect Memorial – The Palmerie Family Funeral Home; TBI Construction: a Tomasso Company; The Next Street; Winvian Farm, and WORX.
The event is open to both Chamber members and non-members. For more details and to register, visit waterburychamber.com
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