Sotiropoulos is honored businessperson
The Gorham Business & Civic Exchange presented Angelo Sotiropoulos, owner of Gorham House of Pizza, with its 12th annual Business Person of the Year, May 3 at Crockett Interiors.
Before announcing the winner, Dana Redmond, executive director of the exchange, reviewed the selection criteria. Nominees must be involved in the community; promote business in the community; be currently doing business in Gorham; be a mentor and leader in the community; and be creative and imaginative in business.
“This year we were fortunate to have several outstanding candidates and it is not an easy task to determine which one is most deserving. The winner is someone who has been a business owner and part of the Gorham community for 26 years,” she said.
When he started in business, he appreciated the welcome extended from the Gorham community, and as people got to know him, he remarked, “It made me feel like I belonged here,” and he knew there wasn’t any other place he’d want to be.
“He stays in constant communication with his customers, and each day he continually goes out of his way to make customers feel welcome when they come in,” said Redmond.
Sotiropoulos is a member of Gorham Historical Society. He supports the school’s DARE program, Project Graduation, sports teams ranging from softball to auto racing, hockey and basketball. He gives the business exchange members a discount and donates to exchange events, as a sponsor and with gift certificates as prizes.
Redmond said nominees must also promote business in the community.
“Angelo lets other associations put banners outside his business to promote events in our community. He provides a community bulletin board. Of his 18 employees, most are or were local students,” she said.
A nominee for the award must be a mentor and leader in the community. “This is something Angelo believes strongly, as it was part of his upbringing in the small Greek village he grew up in, where all the youngsters received a lot of love and support from the community. According to Angelo, everybody else’s father, not just his own, had the right to ‘pull his ear’ if he misbehaved, and he would have never dared talk back to them,” Redmond said.
Redmond said over the years, there have been kids who would go into Gorham House of Pizza and trash the place. “Instead of yelling at them, Angelo would give them a hug and ask them if they treated their home like that. He always wanted to let the kids know that he cared about them,” Redmond said.
Over the years, Sotiropoulos has given his shop many facelifts, first in 1985, again in 1994, and then also a couple years ago. Improvements included new restaurant equipment, signs, floors and altering the floor plan.
Redmond said the business is a work in progress. “At 6 each morning, Angelo still makes the pizza dough and sauce himself,” Redmond said. “His belief that as neighbors and business owners, we should work together to improve the quality of life for each other and our children, is one reason Gorham is a great place to live and do business.”
Sotiropoulos was presented with the traveling wall plaque that includes previous winner’s names. He will keep it for one year.
Hamblen Memorial Day reminder
Calvin Hamblen, a former own councilor and state representative, is urging citizens to turn out for Gorham’s Memorial Day parade and observances on Monday, May 28.
Gorham has parades in the village and Little Falls. Memorial services are held at Eastern Cemetery, Main Street; Hillside Cemetery, Huston Road; and Phinney Park, South Street.
Smith on dean’s list
Erika Lynn Smith of Gorham has been named to the dean’s list for the winer quarter at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga. Smith is a fashion major.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on May 3 that the U.S. public debt was $8,814,266,478,817.87
Cutline (business person of 07)
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