Submitted by Sierra Lopez.
(Middletown, CT) Tom Byrne, President of Connecticut Rental Centers, Inc. has been elected Chairman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.
Byrne will serve a one-year term, which began on June 18, 2020. He takes over for Don DeVivo, President and CEO of DATTCO. Byrne was selected to serve as Chairman by the Board of Directors of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Byrne, President of Connecticut Rental Centers, Inc. was born and raised in the Middletown area. He started working in his Dad’s rental business (then Taylor Rental Center in Portland) sweeping floors and washing equipment on the weekends. Tom graduated from Xavier High School in 1980 and went on to get his degree in Economics from Stonehill College in 1985. All throughout high school and college, he worked summers for his father servicing equipment, washing dishes, and installing tents. After graduating from college, Tom learned the ropes of how to run a business from his Dad. That same year, Taylor Rental of Middletown became Connecticut Rental Center. In 1986 Tom married Dawn Mancarella of Middletown and they had three children, Meaghan, Garrett, and Riley. Tom and Dawn have one grandchild, Deveny. In 2011, his father retired, and Tom became President and owner of Connecticut Rental Center. Dawn came into the business as Vice President, his son Garrett as General Manager, and his son Riley as Assistant Manager. Truly a family owned business.
His father Bob, a past Chairman and Distinguished Award Winner, always told him how important it was to support and to be a part of the community to have a successful business. In 1985 and 1986 Tom chaired the Middlesex Expo for the Chamber and was Chairman of the Chamber’s CBB between 2015 and 2019. He served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for many years and the Executive Board for several years. In 2013 Tom received the St. Francis Xavier Award from Xavier High School. That same year Tom and Connecticut Rental Center were honored at the Middletown Mayor’s Ball with the Corporate Citizenship Award. In 2014 Connecticut Rental Center was awarded the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year (1-30 Employees) award. In 2017 the store received the American Rental Association’s Image Award for “a commitment to improve the rental industry through a remodeling, rebuilding, or renovation project.” On April 25, 2019 Connecticut Rental Center celebrated 50 years in business and the Mayor of Middletown, Dan Drew, proclaimed that day to be Connecticut Rental Center day in Middletown. Tom also received the Al Award for Volunteerism from the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and his company received the Distinguished Business Award from St. Vincent DePaul of Middletown in 2019.
Middlesex Chamber Chairman, Tom Byrne noted, “I am thrilled to be taking on Chairmanship of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to carrying on the great work of Don DeVivo, our past Chairman, and I look forward to working with the entire Chamber staff. Our greatest strength is our membership and together we will continue to overcome today’s challenges to become stronger in the future.”
Chamber President, Larry McHugh noted, “Our Annual Meeting, usually held in conjunction with our Annual Awards Dinner, marks the official changeover in the leadership of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. As of June 18th, DATTCO President Don DeVivo will hand the reigns over to Tom Byrne, President of Connecticut Rental Centers, Inc. “I’m especially happy and very proud to welcome Tom into this leadership role. His dad was one of the people responsible for my move into the Chamber position in 1983 and a longtime supporter and friend. A big thanks to Don who has done a great job throughout his tenure as Chamber Chairman. We are once again excited to welcome a new Chairman, Tom Byrne and vice Chairman, Tamera Jackson owner of Firefly Ventures CT LLC.”
