Linda Hatfield Named 2012 Birmingham-Bloomfield Business Person of the Year

The Bloomfield and Birmingham business community honored one of its own Thursday morning, and named Linda Hatfield the 2012 Business Person of the Year award from the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber.

Hatfield, vice president of marketing at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Credit Union, is also on the board of directors for the chamber as well as a several other area non-profits, including the Birmingham Rotary and CECAC. She received the award during the chamber's 65th annual meeting Thursday morning at the Birmingham Athletic Club.

During her acceptance speech, Hatfield said there have only been a few times during her 17 years with the credit union that she's been speechless.

"To say this is an honor is an understatement," Hatfield said, getting choked up as she spoke to a room of nearly 50 other business leaders. "When I think of Birmingham, I think of community. ... My involvement has enabled me, I feel, to be a better person."

"I encourage you all to be a part of your communities," Hatfield added.

Hatfield was nominated for the award — given to someone in the Birmingham and Bloomfield business community every year — by the Birmingham Rotary, Birmingham Public Schools and Bob Kupfer of Birmingham's Tiffany Florist.

"Linda lives every day with an enormous passion for doing good in the community she works in and also the one she lives in," Hatfield's nomination reads.

Hatfield was also presented with a tribute from Bloomfield Township Trustee Corinne Khederian, director of district affairs for State Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Troy), signed by Pappageorge and State Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham).

"(Hatfield) embodies the word ambassador," Khederian said. "She has the personality that could light up a room with her great big smile."

Also during the annual meeting, the chamber's president, Joe Bauman, honored the new and outgoing members of the chamber's board of directors. New to the board in 2013 are:

• Gary Andrus, a property owner at South Adams Square
• Jennie Cascio, of the Children's Charity
• Annie VanGelderen, of the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center

Meanwhile, Jack Farrow, Brian Henry and Betsy Reich are wrapping up their final year on the chamber board.