Croatti Gets Biz Leader Award

Michael Croatti stands with Sr. Paula Marie Buley, IHM, president of Rivier University, after being named the 2016 Outstanding Business Leader by Rivier.

Michael Croatti, senior vice president at UniFirst Corp., Wilmington, MA, recently was selected as the 2016 Rivier University Outstanding Business Leader award recipient, according to a news release. Croatti was presented with the award at the Rivier Alumni Dinner held at the university campus in Nashua, NH, on Sept. 24. The award recognizes a business or community leader who demonstrates a commitment to ethics in the workplace and achievement within his or her profession or industry.

“I’m extremely honored to receive this award,” Croatti said. “I had first chosen Rivier because their mission and values were so closely aligned with the family values instilled in me by my grandfather and father – values I have continued to promote in my work life and in the UniFirst workplace. I feel extremely proud that the people at Rivier believe I have continued to carry on those values and that I represent the university in a positive way.”

Croatti joined UniFirst in 1987 and has held many positions in production, service and sales before being promoted to operations management in 1995, regional vice president in 2002, and senior vice president of service in 2012. Croatti oversees specified regions in the U.S. and UniFirst’s overall service operations.

Croatti earned his MBA in 2009 from Rivier and has continued to support Rivier since that time, serving as a member of the alumni council, an alumni mentor, and a member of the President’s Circle Leadership Committee – a group of committed business leaders who work to raise the visibility of the university throughout the corporate community through innovative programming.

“We’re proud to present Mike with this honor,” said Karen Cooper, vice president for university advancement at Rivier. “The outstanding leadership that he demonstrates in his profession and his commitment to giving back to both the community and the university epitomize what this award is about. He is yet another outstanding alumnus who has utilized his Rivier education to make a difference.”

Croatti also volunteers with Operation Care for Troops and, in 2012, he started the “Thanks from Home” program at UniFirst. This program recognizes the sacrifices made by U.S. troops overseas and shows them a measure of gratitude by sending much needed care packages.