Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce Honors Dennis Friel and Connected By Water®
DENNIS FRIEL
mutliple-awards given for outstanding community efforts
The awards were presented by Chamber board members, and the honor was delivered to Dennis by Mayor Rex Hardin, former Mayor and current County Commissioner Lamar Fisher along with the City of Pompano Beach Commission.
recognition and honor
BY connie davis
In 2019, Dennis Friel, along with his wife and fellow artist Liz Friel were on hand this summer at the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner and Board Installation to receive the 2019 Arts and Culture Award on behalf of their art studio, Connected By Water®.
Each year the Chamber Recognizes a business and associated individual for their above and beyond contribution to the artistic and cultural betterment of the city.
In a beautiful evening set at the historic Hillsboro Club, Dennis was recognized by the Chamber for his above and beyond contributions to public art and his recent appointment as an AIP artist for the United States Mint. The chamber states, “We are a better place now that Dennis has brought his unique and artistic vision to our beautiful city.”
“To say that I am honored to receive this prestigious award as an understatement,” Dennis comments. “Who knew that to go from being a young boy years ago fishing out of this very inlet to one day being recognized by Pompano Beach like this… it’s a lifetime achievement for sure.”
The award was presented by Chamber board members, and the honor was delivered to Dennis by Mayor Rex Hardin, former Mayor and current County Commissioner Lamar Fisher along with the City of Pompano Beach Commission.
building a legacy
continued success
In the ensuing years, Dennis would continue his work in the community and continually show his support of the Chamber. Each year he stays involved in numerous ways. He hosts the Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade live broadcast alongside famed radio personality, Jeff Martin. He creates art and apparel every year for that event as well. Dennis continually remains a fabric of the Pompano community through his countless efforts in public art and is always there for donations and utilizing his talents for support at Chamber events.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce recognized Dennis and Connected By Water® with the year’s Small Business Champion Award in the Marine Category. Again, in 2023, they bestowed upon him the prestigious President’s Award for being an above and beyond member of the business community.
In receiving the President’s Award honor, the chamber invited Dennis to speak at the awards ceremony gala. “It’s certainly an honor to have all your hard work recognized,” notes Friel “but I take it all in stride. I was raised to grow where you are planted. To make where you are a better place no matter what. And I certainly have a lot of pride for Pompano Beach.”
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