Popper and Testa Honored at Chamber Annual Meeting
New board members announced as well as other award winners
BAR HARBOR—Need someone to announce the bed races?
Chris Popper is your man.
Desperate for someone to play Santa?
Again. Chris Popper is who you’re looking for, and if it’s for the good of the community? He’ll probably say yes to the request. It’s hard to find someone more full of kindness or as jolly all year round, or someone as passionate about kids, sports, and community as Popper is.
“He enjoys it all. He’s very happy…. He’s a selfless giver,” his wife Bonnie MacKay Popper said.
That giving nature combined with Popper’s drive and relentless work ethic are reasons that he received the Chamber’s prestigious Cadillac Award during its annual meeting on Wednesday night.
“To say that I was honored and embarrassed is an understatement. I have long been better at promoting others and telling other's stories, rather than promoting myself. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to promote the Wonderful Down East Area (WDEA) for 21 years. You have welcomed me into your homes, allowed me to share your stories and supported my requests for help. Living in Bangor, you have taken pictures for me, been my eyes and ears and together WE have made WDEA a part of the Downeast Community. You have invited me to events and listened to me telling the same stories, over and over,” Popper said.
Popper is the director of sports programming and senior account executive at Townsquare Media. His social media posts on WDEA and his own site are shared extensively and constantly. He has become a voice, a steady voice, a kind voice, a rational and occasional cheering with joy voice, for communities throughout Hancock County.
“He works really hard for everything he does,” his son, Collin Popper, said. “He puts his heart and soul into everything he does. I’ve learned all my morals from him. He’s a really caring individual.”
“Dad has always been so good to Collin and myself and our mother as well. We have always been priority number one. The way he feels about us has been what has driven his efforts,” his son, Craig Popper, said. His dad taught them the value of hard work and that you can get further in life with honey than with vinegar. “When the pomp and circumstance of this whole thing dies down, my dad will want to take my mom out and take some time with the dogs.”
Craig obviously knows his dad well because Popper made sure to mention his wife, his sons, and those giant dogs after receiving the award.
“I couldn't have done this without the support of my family. My wife of 35 years, and much better half, Bonnie. My children, who aren't children anymore, Craig and Collin. And, of course, Elmer and Pebbles (my great danes), who are waiting for me to take them for a ride,” Popper said on the WDEA website.
The Athletic Director of Ellsworth High School, Joshua Frost called Popper a valued member of the athletic department.
“We are truly blessed to have someone like him,” said EHS Boys Varsity Soccer Coach Mark Ensworth.
MDI High School Athletic Director Bunky Dow congratulated him as well, ending his remarks with “I love you, big guy.”
MDI High School Principal Matt Haney called him an unabashed cheerleader for the community and Popper continued that cheerleading in his post on WDEA, writing,
“When I have asked for your assistance whether it be to collect pasta, help firefighters, reroof a house, supporting someone in need, you have come through time after time after time. I have said that no one is as generous as someone from Downeast Maine, and that Mainers take care of Mainers and those they love, and you have proven me true, time after time.
“A special thanks to MDI and Ellsworth High Schools. You have granted me total access. When COVID locked down the gyms, I was 1 of 10 in the gyms, doing play-by-play and telling the stories. You have and continue to allow me on the buses, to get me to events and home safely. To the coaches, players and families thank you for letting me tell your stories. I've covered the exhilaration of State Championship victories and the crushing losses. I've had listeners tell me that they can tell how MDI and Ellsworth are doing just by listening to the tone of my voice, and without hearing the score. I am a proud cheerleader for MDI and Ellsworth. I have watched these kids grow up, sometimes from grade school through high school and beyond. I want them to do nothing but succeed.”
Chamber President Bo Jennings said, “Chris does a wonderful job of informing everyone of things happening in and around the island.”
He also has been known to dress up as the man in red at holiday events and also announcing the bed races and other things, volunteer moments that make him shine.
“When you think of Bar Harbor and you think of serving the community, you think of Chris Popper,” Jennings said.
“Chris Popper winning the Cadillac Award, I love this,” said former Chamber Director Alf Anderson.
He wasn’t the only one.
TOM TESTA - PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Popper wasn’t the only award winner on Wednesday night. Thomas Testa received the President’s Award, which Bo Jennings said was meant to reflect someone who fights for the soul of the town.
“Who brings integrity to the community in whatever platform they choose? Who would I be proud to stand to stand next to?” he said he asked himself during the process.
Once he asked himself those questions, his decision to award the honor to Tom Testa became very clear, he said. Testa has served on countless boards and helped the community in a multitude of ways. Of the many of the boards, Testa has served on Jennings mentioned the Chamber board and the Bar Harbor Historical Society.
“He is the founding member and current president of the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust. With family roots on the island dating back to the 1790s, Tom knows Bar Harbor and is constantly advocating for the residents and businesses of this town,” Jennings said.
Testa has been the president and CEO of Testa’s Inc. since 1992 and throughout his life, he and his business have supported community efforts big and small, always doing so with a keen eye toward what he believes was right.
“Protecting Bar Harbor with its unique combination of beauty, community, and opportunity for all is a lifelong priority for Tom,” Jennings said, “and I can confidently say most people in this room have benefitted from Tom’s pursuit of that priority. He’s a legend and he’s become a friend.”
REEL PIZZA CINERAMA - BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Reel Pizza, which began in 1995 in half of an ancient Darling’s auto parts store was awarded Business of the Year. Owned by Chris Vincenty and Lisa Burton, Reel Pizza eventually tore down the building and made the current cinema. They’ve supported local nonprofits, shown outdoor movies and welcomed school groups, said Curtis Simard, president and CEO of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, which was the presenting sponsor.
Everal Eaton said during the event that though Acadia National Park visitation numbers are so far down approximately 1.5% this year.
“Despite that decrease,” Eaton said, “our visitor center and kiosk serviced over 2,000 more vistors this year compared to last, representing a 2.5% increase in the use of our services.”
The Chamber’s website also saw over 477,000 unique visitors last year, and its app saw 33,000 total users and more than 333,000 page views, a 12% increase from last year.
This next year, the Chamber will finalize its strategic plan for 2024 through 2026. Jennings said that the true heroes of the Chamber are the staff, which includes:
Everal Eaton, executive director,
Aubrie Boyce, events coordinator
Chris Graten, director of finance and operations
Melanie "Mel" Graten, director of visitor services
Donna Hutton, visitor center staff member
Peter Huckins, visitor center staff member
Rick Bernstein, visitor center staff member
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CHAMBER
On Wednesday evening, November 1, members of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce gathered as the Chamber presented several awards to deserving businesses and community leaders at its annual dinner held this year at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center.
Awards were presented in the following five categories.
The Neighbor Business of the Year Award was bestowed upon a business member located outside of Bar Harbor that has made meaningful contributions to the local business community and displays an overall commitment to its employees and customers.
The Community Impact Award honors a business or individual who displayed an extraordinary commitment to making our community a better place for its residents, businesses, and guests.
The member business that has demonstrated a commitment to high standards of customer service, employee relations, and operational excellence is named the Business of the Year.
Business of the Year, Neighbor Business of the Year, and the Community Impact Awards were all voted from a list of nominees by members of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce.
The President’s Award is selected by the chair of the board of directors to honor the business or person they admire most in our community. Board chair, Bo Jennings has selected Thomas Testa to receive this honor.
During the dinner, the Chamber also honored the winner of this year’s prestigious Cadillac Award, which is given to a person who epitomizes the virtues of leadership, service, and sacrifice and the quest for personal excellence.
The 2023 awards recipients are:
Business of the Year: Reel Pizza Cinerama
Neighbor Business of the Year: Volta
Community Impact Award: Open Table
MDI President’s Award: Thomas Testa
Cadillac Award: Christopher Popper
The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce also recognized the 2023 Board of Directors and announced four newly elected directors starting in January.
The 2023 Board of Directors include:
Bo Jennings (president),
John Bench (first vice president),
Todd Graham (second vice president),
Brenda Fernald (treasurer),
Stephanie Clement (secretary),
James Allen,
Victoria Conner,
Rachel Crater,
Krystal Jordan,
Eben Salvatore,
Heather Sorokin, and
Lauren Tucker.
Graham, Allen, Conner, and Sorokin will be completing their terms at the end of the year and passing the mantle onto four newly elected directors.
The new directors announced were:
Kristi Bond of FishMaine Restaurant,
Steven Boucher of Acadia Cornerstone,
Kat Dougan of Havana Restaurant Group, and
Brandon Monroe of Stay Bar Harbor
They were among candidates representing active Bar Harbor Chamber members and voted on by members of the Chamber over the course of several weeks.
Board President Bo Jennings said, "We were thrilled to have so many qualified candidates for the Board of Directors this year. I am so grateful to all the candidates who ran and look forward to working with our newly elected Directors. All Board members, new and returning, will continue the important work of promoting the business interests and general welfare of the town of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Hancock County, and surrounding areas while providing exceptional services to visitors."
The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce 2023 Annual Dinner was presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and sponsored by First National Bank, Machias Savings Bank, Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center, and Bangor Savings Bank. Additional contributions were made by The Acadia Shop, Bay Ferries, Dobbs Productions, and Queen Anne’s Flower Shop. The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank everyone who made the night possible and congratulate all award nominees for the work they do within our community.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
The Cadillac Award video, produced by Jeff Dobbs, featuring Chris Popper.
Thanks for the pics! Sorry to miss it this year. Great choices for the winners 🌸