Chamber chooses banker for Dibble Award

0
87
Charles Boulier III

NAUGATUCK — When the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce holds its 95th annual meeting a couple weeks from now, Charles Boulier III will join a distinguished list of borough businesspeople.

The chamber will present Boulier, president and CEO of Ion Bank and its parent company Ion Financial, with the Lewis A. Dibble Sr. Award at the annual meeting on Jan. 11.

The award is named after the man who founded the Naugatuck Chamber in 1921. The chamber gives the award each year in recognition of an individual’s outstanding contributions to business and the socioeconomic well-being of Naugatuck.

“Being a banker and leader at Ion Bank … that’s my job. We’re supposed to be out in the community,” Boulier said.

Boulier, a 60-year-old Wolcott resident, joined Ion Bank, formerly Naugatuck Savings Bank, in 2004 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In 2009, he was elected president and director of Castle Bank & Trust, which merged into Naugatuck Savings Bank. Previously, he was senior executive vice president, treasurer and CFO for American Financial Holdings, and senior vice president of finance and investments at Centerbank.

Boulier’s community involvement resume is just as impressive. He is president of the Ion Bank Foundation and chairman of the American Savings Foundation and America’s Mutual Banks. He is also a board member for the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater Waterbury, and Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

Additionally, he serves on the United Way of Greater Waterbury 2016 Campaign Committee, the Investment Committee of the Connecticut Community Foundation, and the Finance Committee of St. Margaret Church.

Naugatuck Chamber Chairman Ronald Pugliese, president and CEO of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation and a past recipient of the Dibble Award, said Boulier is a community-minded person who has the “spirit of Naugatuck in his heart.”

Pugliese said recognizing Boulier is also about honoring what he represents in Ion Bank and the Ion Bank Foundation. The combination of Boulier being a good person, a great businessman, a great banker and the philanthropic work of the foundation made the decision to give him the Dibble Award an easy one, Pugliese said.

“It will be my distinct honor to present the award to him,” said Pugliese, who has been friends with Boulier for some time.

Boulier emphasized the award is not only about him, but also about the people of Ion Bank, a mutual savings bank, and the Ion Bank Foundation building lifelong relationships and meeting the needs of the community. The foundation financially supports local organizations and nonprofits, and bank employees have donated thousands of hours volunteering, he said.

On a personal level, Boulier said he is truly honored and humbled to win the award, especially since two people he described as mentors — Mark Yanarella and the late Richard Coe — are among the past recipients.

Yanarella and Coe are past presidents of Naugatuck Savings Bank. Yanarella is now chairman of the Ion Bank Board of Directors. Boulier said the men left a legacy of service at the bank.

“That legacy they left behind is easy for me to lead and continue,” Boulier said.

The annual meeting is at the Crystal Room, 98 School St., and begins at 5:30 p.m. The deadline to register is Jan. 4. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information or to register, visit www.naugatuckchamber.com or call 203-729-4511.