Retiring from the position of Aqua America’s CEO might have given Nicholas DeBenedictis more free time, but it has not slowed him down in the least. During his tenure which ended this July, Aqua America’s market capitalization grew from $100 million to $4.5 billion with 15 years of record earnings.

DeBenedictis, still the Non-Executive Chairman of Aqua America, stood on Tuesday in front of nearly 600 supporters to receive the 2015 Executive of the Year award, from the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry.

Talking about the choice for this year’s award, chamber President & CEO, Guy Ciarrocchi, noted that “If you went to Hollywood producers and said, ‘create a character who is the quintessential business leader, someone who has grown his business, been a public servant, a civic leader who promoted job creation, transportation and tourism and someone who has mentored countless business and political leaders,’ the producers would say, ‘no, no one like that really exists.’ Well, he does. Thank you Nick.”

The evening was full of accolades for seventy-year-old DeBenedictis, who started his career with a Master’s degree in environmental engineering and science from Drexel University in 1969 before earning the rank of Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers. He then went on to two government positions, as the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources and Director of the Office of Economic Development.

During his fruitful career DeBenedictis was President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce as well as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs for PECO Energy, before he became Chairman and CEO of Aqua America in 1993.

Addressing the attendees, DeBenedictis highlighted the importance Chester County has played in the success of his career.

“The Chester County Chamber was officially established about the same time Aqua, then Philadelphia Suburban Corporation, expanded into Chester County,” he said. “Both organizations have experienced success that really mirrors the county’s phenomenal economic growth.”

He also recalled when he led the Philadelphia chamber and was trying to start the Chester County chamber, the idea was not that popular with county business leaders as some of them thought it would end up making their smaller chambers irrelevant. However, once some of the most prominent business leaders became supporters, the rest was a formality.

It was a good decision he stated, as “the CCCBI has become one of the most respected chambers in the state.”