WATERVILLE — Dave Roy is no stranger to long hours spent working with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. For those long hours, Roy was recognized with an award he didn’t quite expect.

Roy, 55, the senior vice president and chief risk officer for Kennebec Savings Bank, was named the 2018 winner of the Elias A. Joseph Award. The award is given in honor of Joseph, who dedicated more than 28 years as a chamber volunteer, to individuals who display similar service to the chamber.

Roy said he never met the man who became the namesake of the award, but he has met Joseph’s family, whom Roy called “class acts.” He said Joseph’s history of volunteering with the chamber was an “incredible” feat.

“I can’t compare myself to Elias Joseph,” Roy said. “He set the bar pretty high.”

Roy has a long background of volunteering with the chamber himself, which he said began “on the outskirts,” mostly volunteering for breakfast events and social networking events. In 2008, he was recruited to join the board of directors for the chamber. In those years, he served as chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee, was a member of the Investment Committee, and was a member of the Executive Committee for five years, eventually serving as the chair in 2016.

“I try to support the chamber in any way I can,” Roy said from inside the Main Street location of the bank. He goes to every meeting he can, whether it’s a ribbon cutting, the business breakfast series or other events. “The chamber is so important to our business community.”

Kimberly Lindlof, the president and chief executive officer of the Mid-Maine Chamber, praised Roy for his work.

“Throughout the years, Mid-Maine Chamber has had some dynamic and devoted leaders,” Lindlof said. “Dave Roy can certainly count himself among that distinguished list. His quiet demeanor should not fool you. Dave is effective in his drive to strengthen central Maine’s economy. He’s a no-nonsense achiever.”

Roy, who was born and raised in Waterville, left the area for college. For a handful of years after graduation he worked in southern Maine, where he got into banking. After a number of years, he said he was able to return to Waterville when a former boss from a southern Maine bank relocated to Waterville and asked him to come along.

“My roots are here,” he said.

In addition to his time spent volunteering with the chamber, Roy said he was very active with the Central Maine Youth Hockey Association, where he coached for over 15 years and was on the board of directors for a decade. His term on the board expired recently, and he decided to step away to let “new blood” in. Roy was also director of the Waterville Industrial Development Corporation and has been involved in many school booster organizations and industry related groups.

While this is Roy’s first time being recognized with an award by the chamber, he said Kennebec Savings Bank had been awarded the Business of the Year Award in 2007, when the bank was adding on an addition.

“This is truly a community bank, which ties in with the chamber’s mission,” he said.

The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony is 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in the Carter Hall Gymnasium at Kennebec Valley Community College on Western Avenue in Fairfield.

Colin Ellis — 861-9253

cellis@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @colinoellis

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