Trending
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its list of award recipients for the 2017 Chamber Annual Awards Banquet. Each year, we recognize leaders in business and community service, during what has become one of the largest gathering of business people countywide.
The Chamber's annual Economic Development Award is presented to a company or organization that has contributed significantly to the economic development, quality of life and stability of our region. This year that award is going to Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk, which recently completed a $4-million expansion project allowing it to retain 586 full time jobs and add 61 new jobs. In addition to the extra space, the company purchased new equipment to add two new production lines to manufacture specialty ice cream products. We are proud to recognize that dedication and to celebrate the jobs that Fieldbrook is sustaining and creating in the Chautauqua County.
The Person of the Year Award is presented to someone who is recognized for his or her outstanding achievements and contributions either within the past year or throughout their entire life. Our board has chosen to present this award to William Andrews, Managing Director/President & CEO of Monofrax LLC in Falconer. Bill has been with the company since June of 2016, and immediately stepped in to demonstrate leadership both internally and in the community. He opened his plant up for Manufacturing Day tours last fall, hosting hundreds of students and teachers from local schools. He is committed to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) education, serving on the WNY STEM Advisory Board and is a Junior Achievement volunteer. Bill has brought a positive energy and enthusiasm to Monofrax along with a plan and a commitment to the community.
Each Community Chamber also selects a Community Service Award recipient, recognizing those who are active and have contributed greatly to our area in the past or present.
The Dunkirk Community Chamber of Commerce has selected Carol Kozlowski to receive its Community Service Award posthumously. Ms. Kozlowski was a nurse at Brooks Memorial Hospital for many years, and even after retirement she continued to remain active as a volunteer for the Chautauqua Center clinic and the Dunkirk Senior Center before she passed away unexpectedly last December.
The Fredonia Community Chamber of Commerce has selected Todd Langworthy as its Community Service Award Recipient. The Town of Pomfret Historian since 2005, he has published five books on various aspects of Fredonia history and has presented lectures and tours. He has been active with the Festival Fredonia board and been a youth sports coach.
The Hanover Community Chamber will present its Community Service Award to Sue Briggs for her 25 years of consecutive service in organizing the annual Silver Creek Yard Sales. As the founder of Destinations Plus, Sue has actively worked to promote tourism here for 30 years marketing packaged motor coach tours. She has served for many years on the Silver Creek and now Hanover Chamber Board and is a member of the Silver Creek Planning Board.
John Williams, Parks Manager for the City of Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, is receiving the Community Service Award from the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce. While his job forces him to focus on the beauty of city parks, his commitment goes much farther as he works tirelessly in the background to ensure the success of a broad range of festivals and events held in Jamestown.
The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce has selected the Chautauqua Lake Central School Manufacturers Club as its Community Service Award recipient. Organized by community volunteers, the club began as a mid-day extracurricular experience for students, and then expanded to enhance the curriculum and include manufacturing courses. The Club focuses on careers in manufacturing through hands-on learning and field trips.
Marion and Don Eno of Westfield have been chosen Community Service Award recipients for the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber of Commerce. Together and individually, they have a long record of service to the community on behalf of the Jaycees, Rotary, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and Patterson Library, among others.
We hope you will join us in saluting all of these deserving award winners during the Chamber's Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 5 in the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Reservations are required by September 28. You can register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events or call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.
GIFT CARD DESIGNED TO BOOST YOUR SALES
If you are seeking to boost your sales, put the Chamber to work for you. Local businesses can sign up to participate in the Shoptauqua Gift Card program today. Businesses that currently accept a VISA card can participate. No additional point of sale equipment is necessary. This will be a closed-loop system, valid only for local, Chamber member businesses that choose to take part. Shoptauqua Gift Cards can be purchased pre-sale now and will be available starting October 2nd. In advance of that, please contact the Chamber to get your business on the list! You can call us at 484-1101 or 366-6200, and we'll be happy to answer your questions and set an appointment to come to your business and get you set up. It's fast and easy, and a great way to increase your sales.
HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT
Despite an array of changes in the health insurance market, the Chamber remains focused on helping all businesses access a wide variety of health insurance products, seek cost containment, and provide optimum customer support. The Chamber's licensed broker, Kevin Sixbey, will work with businesses and their employees to review the products available. Kevin works with small businesses and sole proprietors to find programs that suit their needs, including health, dental, vision, and other ancillary products either through our private Bright Choices Exchange or the public New York State Exchange for small businesses and individuals. For medium and larger size employer groups, the Chamber works in partnership with Lawley Benefits Group, a family-owned firm with local offices that is consistently recognized as one of the top brokers in the country. To help you make informed decisions for the coming year, the Chamber has scheduled a series of free informational and open enrollment sessions countywide. These sessions are sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank, Lawley Benefits Group, and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier. Check the Chamber website to find a meeting near you.