DANVERS — Brian Kelly, Heidi Riccio and Jamie O’Brien were recognized at this year’s North Shore Good Scout Awards Breakfast on Nov. 20 at the Danversport Yacht Club. The event, hosted by Scouting’s Spirit of Adventure Council, celebrated the three community leaders for exemplifying the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
The North Shore Good Scout Award each year is bestowed upon leaders, companies, or civic groups who have made a significant contribution to the community and have given of themselves to the benefit of others, and who captures the respect and imagination of local youth.
Kelly, the president of Kelly Automotive Group, was born and raised in Danvers. He started working at his father Roland Kelly’s Used Car Lot at age 13 and never looked back. Today, he employs about 400 people, and during the past 59 years the Kelly family has become an integral part of many communities north of Boston. Kelly’s love of people, cars, and his community have helped him build a highly respected automotive group and family business.
Riccio, the superintendent-director at the Essex North Shore Agricultural Technical School, is well-known for her devotion to empowering youth and giving back by serving on several boards, including the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Children’s Museum, School Safety Advocacy Council and others. She is also a member of the Life Science Consortium of the North Shore and is committed to bringing rigorous academic courses to vocational school students.
O’Brien, the general manager at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, is a fixture of the North Shore whose community contributions are plentiful. Prior to leading the Topsfield Fair, O’Brien was the general manager of Brooksby Farm in Peabody for 29 years. He is an Eagle Scout and serves as district vice-chairman and vice-president of development for the Spirit of Adventure Council. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations that make a positive community impact, including his current service as a member of the Essex North Shore Agricultural Technical School.