Business Association Recognizes Local Professionals

Members of the Newtown Business Association gathered Tuesday morning in the atrium of to hold the organization's annual awards and recognition breakfast.

The association honored leading professionals who have contributed to the group and Newtown community over the past year.

The breakfast meeting kicked off with the organization’s president, Mick Petrucci, honoring the dozens of members who help keep the group running and plan the group's yearly Easter egg hunt, car show, business card exchange and other events.

“These are the people that keep our organization running,” he said of the honorees.

Petrucci handed out the awards, such as the Community Service Award and Humanitarian Award.

This year’s award recipients are:

Community Service Award

Paul Salvatore, of Keller Williams Realty in Langhorne, was honored for his tireless work in helping run a countless number of Newtown’s popular yearly events.

“For those of you who don’t know Paul, he’s Mr. Newtown,” Petrucci told the crowd.

Salvatore has been instrumental in a variety of local efforts, including to the giving project, , the and others, Petrucci said.

President’s Award

Ken Ogborn, owner of , was honored with the President’s Award due to his “outstanding contribution” to the local community, Petrucci said.

“Whenever we ask for help, not only do you come, but you send 20 of your students,” Petrucci said.

After receiving the award, Ogborn said he was “humbled” to receive the plaque.

Distinguished Service Award

Jacki Pitkow, team manager and independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, was honored for her outstanding contribution to the NBA. Jacki has ushered the NBA into the social media age and runs the organization’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, Petrucci said.

“I’m taken back and I appreicate this honor,” Pitkow said.

Unsung Hero Award

Newtown residents Joe and Marlowe Gordon were honored for their “selfless” commitments to the community and the NBA.

The Gordons, who are not members of the NBA, enjoy helping with Newtown events and consider the members of the organization a “second family,” Joe told Patch.

As Joe was honored with the award, members of the organization began to call out all the events the Gordon couple helps with.

“If [the NBA] needs help, I’m there,” Joe said to the crowd.

The Officer Brian Gregg Humanitarian Award

Amy McKenna, of Newtown-based , was honored for her work to improve the area. The award is named after fallen Newtown Borough Police Department Officer Brian Gregg, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2005.

McKenna, a Newtown resident since 1997, told the members of the organization she was “happy to give back.”

Business of the Year Award

, headquartered in Newtown, was named the NBA’s Business of the Year by the members of the organization.

The regional bank has helped support the NBA’s mission of “promoting Newtown as an ideal place to live, shop and work,” according to the organization.

Kent Lufkin, president of the bank, accepted the award and told the crowd that the Third Federal team is “happy to support community events.”