Brodsky named ‘Citizen of the Year’ by Greater New Hampshire Chamber

Co-founder and chairman of CGA Global Partners will be honored at April 4 celebration

Howard Brodsky, co-founder and chairman of CCA Global Partners and a long-time philanthropist and community leader, has been selected Citizen of the Year by the Greater Manchester Chamber.

Brodsky, whose most recently philanthropic effort is Open Arts United, a nonprofit that brings the arts to underserved communities, will be honored April 4 at the chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration at from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. The event is presented by Elliot Health System.

Brodsky’s roots in Manchester include attending Ash Street School and Central High School. His father founded Dean’s Carpet, a small, family carpet store on Hanover Street, according to a press release issued by the chamber Thursday. At a young age, Brodsky lost his father to cancer, which fueled his lifelong dedication to small businesses and his community.

After taking over the family flooring store after college, Brodsky co-founded the Carpet Cooperative of America, now known as CCA Global Partners, in 1984.

CCA Global, now a $14 billion company, is the second largest privately held company in New Hampshire and the 14th largest cooperative globally. Its collection of cooperatives include child care, sporting goods, lighting and more. The child-care business under CCA Global serves more than 35,000 children in New Hampshire and close to 2 million nationwide.

“Howard’s leadership style is characterized by inclusivity, transparency, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others,” said Keith Spano, president at CCA Global Partners, in a statement. “He preaches ‘people before profits’ and has shown an exceptional ability to bring people together, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose within our community.”

Brodsky’s community work includes founding the New Hampshire Better Business Bureau in 1998, which champions ethical business practices. He also helped create the BBB NH scholarship fund, which has been giving out five scholarships to New Hampshire students each year for more than 20 years. Howard and his son, Jeff, worked with the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications to create the Brodsky Prize at Central High School, a $5,000 scholarship annually awarded to a star New Hampshire high school student pursuing a career in journalism.

Brodsky has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire and helped facilitate the merger of the Elliot Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

“CCA Global was our very first Site-Based Workplace Mentoring Partner. Mr. Brodsky has also been a long-time Big Brother to a child who has since aged out of the program. To this day, they have kept in touch and have a bond that will last a lifetime,” said Stacy Kramer, CEO of the nonprofit.

Brodsky’s recent venture, the nonprofit Open Arts United, aims to bring the arts to underrepresented communities and underprivileged youth. The nonprofit collaborated with the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester and the YMCA to host its inaugural events in November and December. (Brodsky talked about the founding of Open Arts United in a recent edition of NH Business Review’s Down to Business podcast.)

Howard Brodsky’s philanthropic endeavors extend to Pine Haven Boys Center in Allenstown, a residential facility for boys with behavioral, educational, or emotional difficulties. He had established a Social Entrepreneurship Student Leadership program, contributing to the development of young leaders dedicated to community improvement.

“What distinguishes Howard from so many is how he moves through this community. For Howard, it always starts with relationships, with human connection, and care,” Paul LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University and Past Citizen of the Year, said in a statement. “Howard is the first person many turn to for wise counsel. He is the first one to call when many of us are struggling. He is a cheerleader for everyone else’s success, while modest about his own considerable accomplishments.”

Brodsky’s leadership and vision have significantly contributed to the growth of the cooperative business model worldwide, said Heather McGrail, president and CEO of the Greater Manchester Chamber.

“And yet right here, in the city where he was raised, Howard has also positively impacted and supported many community organizations and individuals,” McGrail said. “The exceptional duality of giving so much to the greater Manchester community, while sparking meaningful international progress, makes Howard a very deserving Citizen of the Year.”

For more information about the April 4 event, visit www.manchester-chamber.org/citizen-of-the-year-celebration.