Varnum, Collins, and Wieczorek to be Honored for Lifetime Achievement

On Oct. 24, former Dartmouth-Hitchcock chief executives James Varnum and John Collins and Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek will accept Lifetime Achievement awards at the Business and Industry Association's 99th Annual Dinner, Lifetime Achievement and New Hampshire Advantage Awards Celebration from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel/Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes business leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership in their professions, communities and New Hampshire. Award recipients help shape their local communities and the state through their successful business endeavors, active participation in civic and town organizations, involvement in boards, and service to local and state government.

James Varnum served as president of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital from 1978 to 2006. Throughout his 28-year career, he guided the young, rural academic medical center through dramatic change, including: creation of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Alliance; formation of the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of NH and VT; construction and expansion of a 225-acre medical campus in Lebanon; and creation of two regional cancer treatment centers. In 2006, the trustees of MHMH created the James W. Varnum Quality Health Care Endowment to recognize national leaders in health care quality improvement and acknowledge the leadership and service of Dartmouth-Hitchcock employees and volunteers.

As CEO of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic from 1975 to 2007, John Collins oversaw expansion efforts that culminated in a comprehensive network of clinics throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. Today, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic comprises a network of nearly 1,000 primary and specialty care physicians and includes practice facilities in Lebanon, Manchester, Bedford, Concord, Keene, Nashua and Bennington, Vermont. He led the acquisition of the Matthew Thornton Health Plan, invested Dartmouth-Hitchcock in the Vermont Health Plan and created the self-insured Dartmouth-Hitchcock professional liability program. He continues to serve as chair and president of Hamden RRG and Hamden Assurance Company.

Ray Wieczorek is the founder of Wieczorek Insurance and has been in business for 48 years. In 1989, he was elected mayor of Manchester and served five terms. During his tenure, Manchester underwent a complete transformation. Wieczorek was responsible for the expansion of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, the opening of the Verizon Wireless Arena, and the revitalization of the Millyard and Downtown. In 2000, the Mayor and Board of Alderman voted to name the block housing the Verizon Wireless Arena Raymond J. Wieczorek Square. In 2011, the new Manchester airport access road became known as Raymond Wieczorek Drive. Wieczorek has served as executive councilor in district 4 for the past 11 years.

Last year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipients were former BIA President John Crosier and former U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg. Recipients from prior years include Stephen Barba, the Balsams Grand Resort; John Broderick, former N.H. Supreme Court chief justice; Patrick Duffy, P. Duffy and Associates; Sylvio Dupuis, Notre Dame College; Lew Feldstein, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation; Courtland Freese and George Freese, Jr., Globe Manufacturing Co.; John Frisbee, New Hampshire Historical Society; William S. Green, Sheehan, Phinney, Bass and Green; Saul Greenspan, Seco; Eli Isaacson, Isaacson Structural Steel; Andrew Lietz, University System of New Hampshire; Malcolm McLane, Orr and Reno; Jack Middleton, McLane, Graf, Raulerson and Middleton; John Morrison II, Hitchiner Manufacturing; J. Bonnie Newman, Kennedy School of Government; Walter Peterson, Franklin Pierce College; Henry Powers, Sprague Energy; David Putnam, Markem Corp.; Dr. Stephen Reno, University System of New Hampshire; F. Fuller Ripley, Troy Mills; William Ruger, Sr., Sturm Ruger and Co.; Neil Tillotson, Tillotson Corp.; James Wagner, Nexfor Fraser Papers; and Kimon Zachos, Sheehan Phinney Bass and Green.

Tickets for the 99th Annual Dinner, Lifetime Achievement and New Hampshire Advantage Awards Celebration are $1,000 for a table of 10 or $110 per person and may be purchased online at BIAofNH.com. For more information, call 603-224-5388 x116.