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Waterbury Regional Chamber Honors 2026 Harold Webster Smith Award Recipients WATERBURY, Conn.—The Waterbury Regional Chamber will honor a local entrepreneur and two area businesses during its 28th Annual Harold Webster Smith Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., at The Grand Hall at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury. The annual breakfast recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs that exemplify innovation, community engagement, and small-business excellence. The keynote speaker will be Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas. Christy Greco is the founder, CEO and executive chef of The Local Gourmet Kitchen & Market in Southbury, Connecticut, and the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year. A lifelong food-industry entrepreneur, she previously owned and expanded the Watertown Meat Center, growing the business by more than $5 million over nine years. She later helped nearly 100 independent grocery stores across New England strengthen their prepared-food programs before opening The Local Gourmet in 2018. The Small Business of the Year award will be presented to Secor Cassidy P.C., a general-practice law firm with roots in Waterbury dating to 1865. From offices in Waterbury and Southbury, the firm serves individuals, businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations throughout Connecticut. Its attorneys and staff also support charitable, cultural, educational and religious organizations as volunteers, board members and advisers. Hubbard-Hall, Inc. of Waterbury will be recognized as Manufacturer of the Year. Founded in 1849, the sixth-generation family business is the oldest independent chemical distributor in the United States and a global manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemicals. Led by CEO and Chair Molly Kellogg, Hubbard-Hall, Inc. helps manufacturers improve surface-finishing and wastewater-treatment processes while reducing cost, complexity, and chemical consumption. The awards honor the legacy of Harold Webster Smith, who founded First Federal Savings of Waterbury—later Webster Bank—in 1935. A former member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s board of directors, Smith was a steadfast supporter of small-business development in the Greater Waterbury region. Webster Bank is the Premier Sponsor of the event. To date, Supporting Business Sponsors are Albert Bros., Inc.; Cornerstone Realty, Inc.; and Thomaston Savings Bank. For more information, to register, or sponsor, visit waterburychamber.com. ###
Waterbury Regional Chamber Honors 2026 Harold Webster Smith Award Recipients
WATERBURY, Conn.—The Waterbury Regional Chamber will honor a local entrepreneur and two area businesses during its 28th Annual Harold Webster Smith Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., at The Grand Hall at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury. The annual breakfast recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs that exemplify innovation, community engagement, and small-business excellence.
The keynote speaker will be Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas.
Christy Greco is the founder, CEO and executive chef of The Local Gourmet Kitchen & Market in Southbury, Connecticut, and the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year. A lifelong food-industry entrepreneur, she previously owned and expanded the Watertown Meat Center, growing the business by more than $5 million over nine years. She later helped nearly 100 independent grocery stores across New England strengthen their prepared-food programs before opening The Local Gourmet in 2018.
The Small Business of the Year award will be presented to Secor Cassidy P.C., a general-practice law firm with roots in Waterbury dating to 1865. From offices in Waterbury and Southbury, the firm serves individuals, businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations throughout Connecticut. Its attorneys and staff also support charitable, cultural, educational and religious organizations as volunteers, board members and advisers.
Hubbard-Hall, Inc. of Waterbury will be recognized as Manufacturer of the Year. Founded in 1849, the sixth-generation family business is the oldest independent chemical distributor in the United States and a global manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemicals. Led by CEO and Chair Molly Kellogg, Hubbard-Hall, Inc. helps manufacturers improve surface-finishing and wastewater-treatment processes while reducing cost, complexity, and chemical consumption.
The awards honor the legacy of Harold Webster Smith, who founded First Federal Savings of Waterbury—later Webster Bank—in 1935. A former member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s board of directors, Smith was a steadfast supporter of small-business development in the Greater Waterbury region.
Webster Bank is the Premier Sponsor of the event. To date, Supporting Business Sponsors are Albert Bros., Inc.; Cornerstone Realty, Inc.; and Thomaston Savings Bank.
For more information, to register, or sponsor, visit waterburychamber.com.
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