Maria Miranda, owner of a Norwich-based marketing and communications firm, was named today the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s 64th Citizen of the Year.

The owner of Miranda Creative Inc. will be honored with a dinner May 9 at a location yet to be determined.

“Her record of contributions to the community, especially the nonprofit sector, has benefited all of us,” said Tony Sheridan, the chamber’s president and chief executive, in a statement released today. “She brings energy and enthusiasm to every project, large or small.”

Miranda said she was shocked by the award, which she found out about for the first time when chamber officials arrived at her office Monday. Miranda thought they had come to talk about the person she nominated for Citizen of the Year.

Dianne Kent nominated Miranda, citing her spirit as well as her work on the boards various organizations, including Norwich Rotary, Waterford Country School, the SouthEastern Connecticut Enterprise Region and the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition.

“Smart, positive, happy, stylish, kind, compassionate, selfless and all with a quick with and wild sense of humor,” Kent said. “Maria makes everyone feel special and valued.”

Among Miranda’s contributions to local businesses has been a series of Tourism Boot Camps and monthly brown bag social media seminars. Miranda also has done pro bono work for projects ranging from the CT Farmers Market Trail to the website for CT Cheese.

Miranda Creative started as an ad agency 25 years ago, but has since morphed into a full-service communication company that offers website design, social media management and branding among a smorgasbord of other abilities.

Miranda said there are two lessons from her Citizen of the Year Award.

“First, for everyone who is raising a strong-willed girl, don’t quash that spirit,” she said. “And secondly, to entrepreneurs out there — and this is as much a calling as it is a job — they should know that their efforts can and are being recognized.”