Middlesex Chamber Announces Philip J. Pessina as 2014 Michael L. Green Award Winner

Chairwoman Darlene Briggs of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2014 recipient of the Michael L. Green Award. 

The Michael L. Green Award is presented annually to a member of the police or fire community for his or her outstanding service to the community and to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

The 2014 recipient of the Michael L. Green Award is Philip J. Pessina of Middletown.

Retired Deputy Chief of Police Philip J. Pessina served in the Middletown Police Department for 33 ½ years, retiring in November of 2006.  Chief Pessina rose through the ranks of the department while dedicating his service to children and youth safety education. He continues to be on the forefront of improving the quality of life of our city’s neighborhoods, through his city government service as a former three term Republican member of the Common Council where he served as Minority Leader for two terms. He presently serves as Chairman of the Recreational & Community Services Commission, Vice Chairman of the Senior Community Center Building, and Vice Chairman of the Mattabassett Regionalization Building Committees. 

Chief Pessina continues to serve the Middletown community with distinction, pride and volunteerism. He has been a strong supporter of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, and has been dedicated to youth sports in Middletown for over 30 years. He is most noted for his former roles as Pre –K Safety Town & 6th Grade D.A.R.E. Coordinator, and Children & Youth Safety Educator within the Middletown School System. 

Chief Pessina, can always be found volunteering with the chamber’s many events and activities, and formerly served in the roles of McGruff the Crime Dog, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, where his positive and warm educational approach towards children instilled values and strengthened their self-esteem. His involvement also displayed the importance of the chamber’s continued partnership with community agencies.  After his retirement, Phil has continued to serve on various chamber Steering Committees including Motorcycle Mania and Cruise Night Main, and most notably as a longtime member of the Business After Work Auction and Taste of Downtown Committee, and Holiday on Main Street Committee.

Chief Pessina has been and continues to be an avid volunteer and mentor for youth sports, previously supporting the Town of Haddam Recreational Leagues, as well as serving ten years as a volunteer football coach with the Haddam Killingworth High School Football Team. He is currently a volunteer of over ten years for the Middletown High School Football team, and is looking forward to the 2014 season with the Dragons. 

Chief Pessina has been employed by the Southern Connecticut State University Police Department for the past seven years where he serves as the Deputy Chief of Police, the Incident Management Team Planning Chief, and as an active member of the university community. He also currently serves as a Board member of the Connecticut International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Association. 

Chief Pessina has been married for 40 years to his wife Shirley, and has three Daughters and four grandchildren.

Chamber President Larry McHugh noted, “Phil Pessina has dedicated a lifetime to public and community service in Middletown and in Middlesex County. He has been a great supporter of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and is a worthy recipient of the 2014 Michael L. Green Award.”

Chamber Chairwoman Darlene Briggs noted, “Phil Pessina is known throughout the county as a public and community servant. We look forward to honoring him at the Annual Awards Dinner on June 4th.”

The Michael L. Green Award will be presented at the Middlesex Chamber Annual Awards Dinner, to be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell.

For more information on the 2014 Annual Awards Dinner, please contact Johanna Bond at Johanna@middlesexchamber.com or 860-347-6924.