President/CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank Recognized for Business and Nonprofit Leadership Benefiting the Community
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is pleased to announce that Michael Rauh, President/CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank, has been named Citizen of the Year. He will be honored at a dinner celebration on May 28, 2020, 6 p.m. at Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa.
The Citizen of the Year award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions on behalf of the civic and business community. Recipients are nominated for positive impacts made within their organization, through outreach to the community and in service to nonprofits in the region.
Michael Rauh has brought his genuine and intense passion for service to many community boards and committees. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for L&M Healthcare and 2019 chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT. He is a past Chairman of the Connecticut Bankers Association and is on the boards of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Yale New Haven Health System, the Norwich Free Academy Foundation, the Norwich Community Development Corporation, URI Harrington School of Communication and Media, and the Providence Mutual Insurance Company, in addition to the Chelsea Groton Bank board and Chelsea Groton Bank Foundation board.
A strong believer in nurturing growth in individuals and communities, he focuses his efforts on fostering learning, sharing knowledge, collaborating to forward important causes, and reinvesting in the local community in meaningful ways.
Demonstrating the intersection of these values, the Chelsea Groton Foundation made grants totaling $300,000 to the Norwich Community Development Fund for the Global City initiative in downtown Norwich for innovative multicultural programing and assistance to multicultural entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in occupying downtown Norwich storefronts. This collaborative approach characterizes Rauh’s leadership in supporting thoughtful, impactful solutions to economic and community development.
Dedicated to nurturing talented leaders, Rauh and his leadership team launched Chelsea Groton’s Circle of Excellence program in 2019. Available to every bank team member, the program develops the next generation of leaders, instilling in them the bank’s extraordinary culture of promoting high-quality service, trust, collaboration, innovation, and positive contributions. He encourages staff to participate throughout the region in leadership positions and programs that develop leaders of self, leaders of others, and leaders of leaders.
In accepting the nomination, Rauh said, “I am honored and humbled to be considered for this award. I have been blessed to work with extraordinary people throughout our region, each doing their own part to make this special place we call home even better. My professional career has been all about helping people achieve their dreams and I’ve also had the opportunity to spend time on causes that help strengthen our region. I really feel like I’ve gotten so much back personally from the things I’ve learned and the people I’ve met that this award seems like icing on the cake.”
“Michael brings energy, thoughtful engagement, and a positive outlook to every endeavor,” said Tony Sheridan, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT. “His knowledge, gained through years of professional experience as a community banker, enables him to think creatively and collaboratively about regional issues and assess ways to derive the greatest benefits for all involved.”
Past Citizens of the Year include Rodney Butler, of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Louis Ziegler of the Mohegan Tribal Housing Authority, Mary Lenzini of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern CT, Neil Ryan and Scott Gladstone of Wireless Zone, Mitchell Etess of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Maria Miranda of Miranda Creative, Alice Fitzpatrick of the Community Foundation of Eastern CT, and Dr. Grace S. Jones of Three Rivers Community College.
For information about event sponsorships and tickets, contact the Chamber admin@chamberect.com or 860-701-9113.