Community Achievement Award

MANCHESTER, CT, March 14, 2023 —The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2023 GMCC Community Achievement Award will be presented to Tamara Womack-Speaks of Manchester. Each year the Community Achievement Award is given to a special individual as gratitude for all they do to help make Manchester a better place to live, work, and do business. This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the true meaning of community; one who volunteers, who leads, who gives freely of themselves for the greater good of their community, and those who live in it. Tamara is the epitome of what it means to volunteer and give back to the community.

is a genuine person with an outgoing personality and does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes in creating successful projects/events. She loves working with children. She is Director of the summer STEAM program that she created and one of the reasons she is entering a para position in East Hartford is to become an elementary teacher in the future.

Tamara is an outstanding member of our community who has contributed to the betterment of our local economy and the well-being of our citizens through Manchester Adult and Continuing

Education (MA&CE) and serving on GMCC’s Board of Directors. She has been actively involved in various community events, organizations, and initiatives that have promoted local business growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation. (Jim Spafford)

In her role at MA&CE, Tamara has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and collaboration skills. She has been instrumental in creating partnerships among local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations that have enriched the quality of life for our community. She has volunteered for many years at the Manchester Road Race and helps coordinate elite runner publicity and the race’s Veteran’s Row tribute on race day.

Tamara has an excellent track record of developing and implementing innovative programs and initiatives within the community, e.g., participating in community events such as the Chamber’s open houses, coffee connections, Manchester Road Race volunteer, and MA&CE sponsored events within the community. In addition to providing the leadership and management responsibilities for MA&CE’s Continuing Education programs and the design of MA&CE’s course catalog twice per year, she creates and digitally distributes MA&CE’s weekly newsletter to over 3,000 recipients with educational, individual, and family support services from throughout the region that have helped people to thrive and succeed.

“I too have had the pleasure of working with Tamara for more than 3 years through the Chamber and can say that she is one of the most dedicated, hardworking, and community-minded individuals in our community. She follows through with her commitments and is a natural cheerleader of her peers. In addition to her professional achievements, Tamara has been a tireless advocate for social justice, equality, and community development. She has been actively involved in various social and environmental causes that have improved the lives of our citizens and the health of our region.” (Beth Stafford)

“I am completely humbled by this recognition. I look at the people who have won it in the past and know my name will now forever be remembered with some of the most dedicated people in this town” said Mrs. Speaks.