Haddam Town Attorney Richard D. Carella Recognized **
By Sierra Lopez.
(Middletown, CT.) Middlesex Chamber Chairman, Tom Byrne and Golf Committee Chairman, Dante Fazzina announced that Richard D. Carella is this year’s winner of the 2021 Robert Briggs Award.
The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Robert Briggs Award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of their contributions made to the community and to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce through the annual Golf Tournament.
“I am honored to present Rich Carella with the 2021 Robert Briggs Award,” said Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President, Larry McHugh. “Rich has been a huge asset to our community, the Chamber and our Golf Tournament for many years. His hard work and dedication to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is unsurpassed and the committee is truly honored to have Rich as our Robert Briggs Award winner this year.”
About Richard D. Carella- Rich Carella is an Attorney, Vice President and Shareholder at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. in the Middletown, Connecticut office. He has been in the private practice of law since 1993. A graduate of Xavier High School in Middletown and Fairfield University, he obtained his law degree in 1991 from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He started his own law firm in 1993 and eventually merged with Updike Kelly in 2010.
Although born in Stamford, Rich is a Portland, Connecticut native, having lived in Portland since 1968 and is proud that he and his wife Tamara are raising their two children, Caroline and Mitch, in the same house Rich grew up in. An avid outdoorsman, Rich and his family take full advantage of all the great outdoor amenities Middlesex County offers, including the Air-Line Trail, golf courses, the Connecticut River, and Powder Ridge. “We love being outside, and you can always find something great to do outdoors all year round in Middlesex County.”
Rich’s law practice focuses on commercial, industrial and coastal land use matters, zoning and real estate development. Although based in Middletown, Rich’s clients span the State, and his projects have included several propane distribution facilities, retail gasoline franchises, a year-round outdoor recreational sports complex, a 20-slip marina and campground facility located on the banks of the Connecticut River, several commercial solar electrical generation projects, and the expansion of public water service to municipalities requiring clean drinking water to resolve local environmental remediation issues. Rich takes great pride in having a results-oriented practice of achieving his client’s business interests while advancing governmental public policy agendas. In doing so, he and his clients are able to resolve strategic problems and create successful partnerships to achieve both business and government organizational goals.
An active leader of several community organizations, Rich is past Chairman and currently serves on the Executive and Legislative Committees of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. He is a former President of the Middletown Rotary Club and Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern Middlesex County YMCA. He currently serves as a President of the Middlesex County Bar Association, corporator of Middlesex Hospital, and a corporator of Liberty Bank, and is Town Attorney to the Towns of Haddam and East Hampton.
** This article was previously published in the Middletown Press (New Haven Register) on 5/27/21.
