The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce puts together a broad variety of events throughout the year each designed for different purposes. While they are all opportunities to bring businesspeople together, one stands out as a true celebration of community. The Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet was held Thursday night at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia with 200 people in the room. The Annual Awards Banquet is always heartwarming as we spend an evening paying tribute to many individuals and organizations that help to make Chautauqua County a great place to live, play, and do business.

We’ll say more about the honorees in a moment. But first, we want to recognize some of the unsung heroes of the event. This banquet, and all Chamber functions, would never come to fruition without our sponsors. So, a sincere thanks to Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, LaBella Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and the Small Business Development Center. In addition, the program booklet was sponsored by the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, National Grid, and Shults Auto Group. Favors for the event were sponsored by AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, Artone, KeyBank, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.

Local beverage producers donated numerous cases of product to help make this event a success, including 21 Brix Winery, EBC Brewing on Chautauqua Lake, Johnson Estate Winery, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, Merritt Estate Winery, and Southern Tier Brewing Company. Thanks to them, complimentary bottles of wine were included on each dinner table, with additional wine and beer sales available in the room, plus a Wines of Chautauqua County gift basket for our raffle. The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel also generously donated a prize package for our raffle including some logo branded merchandise, an overnight stay, and a dinner voucher.

The staff at SUNY Fredonia FSA did an outstanding job! This year’s dinner was a buffet with a carving station. The tables were beautifully set and the Williams Center provided an ideal background for our tributes to the people and establishments that keep our county moving.

We were proud to present the Person of the Year Award to Jamestown attorney Greg Peterson. Having spent his entire career with Phillips Lytle LLC, Greg is not only well known in Western New York’s legal circles, but also for his deep ties to some community organizations. He is one of the founders of the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown, chair of the Jamestown Professional Baseball executive committee, and has served on The Resource Center Board of Directors. He has brought passion and accomplishment to each organization.

Our Economic Development Award was given to the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. The Partnership connects public and private resources and its work brings together more than 65 partner organizations to focus on business development, placemaking, workforce development, housing development, and infrastructure. In 2022 CCPEG secured nearly $1.5 million in funding and leveraged over $7.1 million additional.

The Chamber presented Community Impact Awards in each community where we have a standing Chamber committee. Bridget Majka accepted the award in Dunkirk where she oversees all fifteen programs at Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. She is also an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Community College in its Early Childhood Program. DFT Communications was given the Community Impact Award in Fredonia for its 125 history of connecting people in Chautauqua County through technology as well as its contributions to numerous local organizations. The Community Impact Award in Hanover was given to Rick Klisiewicz, who is retiring as the long time chair of the Chamber Committee in Hanover. He has worked to engage businesses in the Irving, Forestville, and Silver Creek areas. The Community Impact Award in Jamestown was presented to the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, which grants over $2 million annually to more than 45 nonprofits. In addition, the Foundation has recently coordinated a Downtown Beautification Committee in Jamestown to bring together partners to focus on green spaces and the visual beauty to better welcome both residents and visitors to downtown Jamestown. Sorena Gilkinson was presented the Community Impact Award in Mayville-Chautauqua. She has served as chair of the Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber Committee for several years and worked to maintain and upgrade the Mayville Winter Festival as well as sparked the development of the Mayville Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market. The Community Impact Award in Westfield-Barcelona was given to Janese and Tom Berkhouse who have been active in a number of community organizations including the Rotary Club, Chautauqua County Historical Society, YWCA of Westfield, Barcelona Harbor Commission, Patterson Library, and the Westfield Memorial Hospital Board.

We know that all of these people are very visible within their communities. When you see them out and about, please join us in congratulating them.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT SPLASH IS OCTOBER 18

The Chamber of Commerce has added another Business After Hours event this fall! Join us Wednesday, October 18 at Splash, 60 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point! This wine and tapas bar opened this year and is quickly becoming a local favorite. If you haven’t been yet this is the perfect time to try it out! Business After Hours is designed as a networking opportunity for local businesspeople. Conveniently timed to meet your needs between workday and evening activities. The Chamber’s Business After Hours runs from 5-6:30pm, featuring appetizers, a cash bar, and a brief program that lets you know who’s who in the room. Remember to bring business cards for networking. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no charge. For non-members or anyone above the two-person limit, the price is $10. Advance registration is not required but is appreciated for our planning purposes. Sign up online now through our web calendar at www.chqchamber.org. Business After Hours at Splash is sponsored by Splash, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal.