The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, each designed for different purposes. If they are so many opportunities to bring business people together, one of them stands out as a real well-being program. The annual Chamber Awards Banquet was held Thursday night at SUNY Fredonia’s Williams Center with more than 220 people in attendance. It was a host site, marking the full return of a highly anticipated event held with some restrictions last fall. The annual awards banquet is always heartwarming as we spend an evening honoring the many people and organizations that help make Chautauqua County a great place to live, play and do business.
Along with a huge enthusiastic section of staff, board and community members, Steven Cobb humbly accepted the Chamber’s Person of the Year award. Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Mental Health Association, he has been instrumental in bringing together a wide variety of people from all walks of life to empower those with behavioral health and addiction issues to recover, grow and thrive in our community. He expanded the service to allow the organization to operate throughout the county.
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce proudly presented its Economic Development Award to the JCC Small Business Development Center. With a very small staff, the SBDC has taken on more work than ever since the pandemic, helping local small businesses receive more than $33.5 million in federal and state COVID relief funds, helping them build and retain more than 2,400 jobs.
Each of our six community chambers of commerce recognizes a local person with a community service award. Dunkirk’s community service award went to Dan Palmer, who celebrates 49 years in local radio and is the longtime morning host on WDOE as well as a play-by-play sports announcer. Ian and Kyle Muldowney of Muldowney Brothers Lawn Care are twin brothers who received the Fredonia Community Service Award for emphasizing giving back to their community. The Hannover Community Chamber selected Bill Merritt of Merritt Estate Winery for his long career in winemaking and for his service to several organizations including the Chautauqua County Wine Trail, Farm Bureau, Boy Scouts, Red Cross and United Way. Tom Benson received the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce Award for his outstanding influence and dedication to revitalizing downtown Jamestown through the National Comedy Center, and now his commitment to the new Jamestown YMCA. The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber honored Fairlee Fischer for 27 years of commitment to the Thrift Shop in Mayville and outreach to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, as well as her work with the Canine Rescue in Westfield and the council of planning for the village of Mayville. Sue Poster received the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber Award for her efforts around numerous projects including the Lake Shore Center for the Arts, First Responders Tribute, Village Beautification Committee, Lincoln Festival, Farmers Market, Cemetery Tours, and more.
Sincere thanks to our sponsors: Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Community Bank, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Forecon, Jamestown Community College, LaBella, Lake Shore Savings, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal and Small Business Center of development. Please join us in congratulating all of the recipients who have been honored this year.
JOIN THE CHAMBER FOR AFTER HOURS AT TWO UPCOMING EVENTS
Hot on the heels of a highly successful Business After Hours event at Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is offering two more networking opportunities this fall. The next one will be on October 27 at 21 Brix Winery on West Main Road in Portland, followed by a perennial favorite at the Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood on November 8.
Networking is crucial for business people, regardless of where they work. When you get to know others on a personal and professional level, you increase sales opportunities and potentially increase your supply chain, workforce, and more. The Chamber of Commerce helps showcase local businesses in the room at our Business After Hours events. These can be very useful for any business, as individuals meet in a comfortable setting.
The Chamber’s Business After Hours events are deliberately held in various locations around the county and designed for business people to show up quickly after their day’s work from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., meet people and enjoy a drink and a snack. ‘a quick snack, then go to dinner or go home afterwards. Chamber member companies can send two people at no cost, and non-members or anyone above the first two pay only $10 per person. Admission includes finger foods, a cash bar, a chance to win door prizes when you submit your business card, and great networking opportunities with other local business people.
Business After Hours at 21 Brix is sponsored by 21 Brix Winery, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER and The Post-Journal.
Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing is sponsored by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, LaBella Associates, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER and The Post-Journal. Space is limited at Southern Tier Brewing, so there will be a blackout for this event. We recommend that you register early.
Learn more or register for either or both online through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.
