Joseph J. Bevilacqua, standing next to his son Michael, receives the award from Massachusetts District Director Robert Nelson. (Courtesy photograph.)
Joseph J. Bevilacqua, president of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, recently received the 2017 District Director’s Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Massachusetts District Director Robert Nelson presented the award during the annual SBA awards lunch at Granite Links Golf Club, Quincy.
“The SBA District Director Award is presented annually to a business, individual or entity that stands out amongst the small business community with support of SBA and its programs,” said Nelson. “Joe Bevilacqua has been a tireless champion of the small business communities North of Boston and in the Commonwealth for over 20 years—and we value his work as a true partner and champion.”
The Merrimack Valley Chamber is the region’s economic development and business assistance resource providing real assistance under the award winning MV Chamber’s Economic Development Program and the award winning MV Chamber’s Clean Energy Program. The Chamber is active in member networking, women in business assistance, business trade shows, government affairs, small and family-owned business assistance, human resource programs, young people in business, economic development and customer connection.
Bevilacqua has served as the Chamber’s president and CEO since 1992, growing the membership base from 400, when he started, to more than 1,000 members today. Previously, he served as planning and economic development director for the City of Haverhill and also as a five-term elected representative of Haverhill School Committee. Currently, he serves as Haverhill City Councilor.
“Whatever success I may have achieved, including the receipt of this important SBA recognition should not be credited to me, but to my mother and father – Louis and Shirley Bevilacqua,” said Bevilacqua.
Through the years, Bevilacqua has contributed to the economic development of the region in countless ways, receiving such recognition as:
- Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Innovation Award
- SCORE National – Special Award
- SBA National – Administrator’s Recognition
- United States EPA – Environmental Merit Award
- New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives – Economic Development Achievement Award
- The New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives – New England Chamber Executive of the Year Award
- North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau Leadership in Tourism Award
- Massachusetts Association of School Committees – Outstanding School Partner Award
- Yankee Clipper Council Boy Scouts – Distinguished Leaders Award
- Northeastern Economic Developers Association – Program Of The Year Award
- Massachusetts Economic Development Council – Member Of The Year Award
- Massachusetts Grand Lodge Sons of Italy – Public Service Award
- United Way – Community Leadership Award
- I Migliori Award