Lee Gaudette is the President and Treasurer of Gaudette Insurance Agency, Inc. He is the third generation to own and operate the family business, which was founded in 1926 by his great-uncle, Roy Gaudette. Lee joined the agency in 1990 starting as a commercial account executive. He became the sales manager in 1996, vice-president of sales in 1997 and president of the agency in 1999. He acquired full ownership the agency in 2003.
Shortly after his promotion to president in 1999, he oversaw the acquisition of a major local competitor, the Carrick Insurance Agency. One year later, Gaudette completed a merger with a second agency, Anderson-Bennett Insurance Agency, Inc. of Grafton. Over the ten years since he became president, Lee has led the Agency to almost triple in size.
Gaudette Insurance was honored nine times, 2001 through 2009, in an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) "Best Practices" Study Group. The Agency ranked in the top thirty nationwide, based on its outstanding customer services, growth, stability, and financial management. In 2005 and 2008, the Agency was recognized by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents by earning their "Five Star Award". Less than forty of the nearly two thousand agencies in Massachusetts have earned this distinction.
In addition to holding Insurance Broker Licenses in all the New England states, he has earned the national professional designations of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Accredited Adviser of Insurance.
Lee is an active volunteer in the community, particularly working with local schools. In 1995, he was elected to the Town of Northbridge School Committee, serving two terms. He is a Past Chairman of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is one of the founders and currently the President of the BVCC Education Foundation and a Director of both the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and Community Health Charities of New England. Lee has been elected corporator of several organizations including: Milford Regional Medical Center, American Red Cross of Central Mass., Whitin Community Center and UniBank for Savings.
Gaudette also volunteers with insurance industry organizations. He is currently a Director of both the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents and the Worcester County Insurance Institute. He also is the President of the CPCU Society of Central Mass.
Lee graduated with honors from Worcester Academy, earned a Bachelors Degree from Tufts University and an MBA from Babson with highest honors. In his spare time, Lee enjoys cycling, boating, stamp collecting and crushing tee shots deep and right into the woods at Whitinsville Golf Club. He grew up and still lives in Whitinsville with his wife, Dina, and three children, Nicole, Caroline and Peter.