Carl Berry, president and founder of C.P. Berry Construction Co., Inc./C.P. Berry Homes, and developer of the English Commons at Topsfield, was recognized with a Distinguished Leadership Award from the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at its 94th Annual Dinner Meeting on November 28th.
Berry began his career in Mass. as a brick mason 60 years ago and later grew to become one of the largest masonry contractors in the state. Subsequently, he expanded the operations to become one of the North Shore's most successful and respected real estate developers. Since its inception in 1984 to today, Berry has led C.P. Berry Construction Co. to evolve into one of the premiere builder/developers north of Boston and is known for well-designed and built luxury living communities. The company has completed nearly 1,000 new homes in the region, including Caldwell Farm in Newbury (named best active adult community in the country in the 2007 Best of 50+ National Housing Awards by the National Association of Home Builders), Ipswich Country Club Homes, Fuller Pond Village in Middleton, Bartlett's Reach in Amesbury, and Olde Salem Village in Danvers, among others
The company's most recent new community, English Commons at Topsfield, is achieving strong sales and interest, already 50% of the homes to be built have been sold. Berry and company were recognized with three national awards earlier this year at the 2012 International Builders Show for English Commons, including: Best New Community; Best Green Community and Best For-Sale Active Adult Community. English Commons offers its residents a maintenance-free lifestyle in homes with on-site amenities and over 50 acres of open space, all in the C.P. Berry tradition of high-quality, well-built homes.
As a developer/general contractor, Berry maintains a philosophy to keep things local - and "work in your own backyard." Part of that philosophy benefits the local workforce and other small businesses and sole proprietorships. C.P. Berry engages a vast number of sub-contractors, tradesmen, craftsmen, suppliers and professional service providers as it develops a new project from initial concept through to completion as a successful new residential community. The economic value of the communities the company has developed is substantial and measurable in the local economy and quantifiable in the new property tax revenues brought to the specific community in which the development is located. Community leaders and residents welcome C.P. Berry into their community based on the reputation of the company for building quality communities and being civic-minded members of the community.
When developing in a community, C.P. Berry is committed to giving back and being involved in the local community. The level of involvement has ranged from monetary donations, to installing a brick face veneer on the front of a town's fire department headquarters, to sponsoring golf tournaments for local charities and regional food banks, to a major fundraiser and facilities upgrade at a local elementary school. The company has focused its giving to those most in need on the North Shore.
The Distinguished Leadership Awards were initiated by the Chamber in 2011 and five recipients were recognized in the inaugural year, including: Bernie Gordon, founder, chairman & CEO of Analogic Corporation; Diane Stringer, president and CEO, Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston; Brian Cranney, president of Cranney Companies; Fran Dichner, president & CEO of R. & L. Associates, Inc.; and Paul Lanzikos, executive director at North Shore Elder Services.
Joining Berry as Distinguished Leadership Award recipients this year were: Retiring state senator Frederick Berry; Philanthropists Henry & Donna Bertolon; Tim Collins, president and founder of EBSCO Publishing; Robert Lappin, president and founder of Shetland Park; Joanne Patton, owner and partner of Green Meadows Farm; and Dr. Richard Wylie, president of Endicott College.