From the Director’s Desk

Fall is here, and with it comes one of my favorite times of year. The cooler weather, the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, the comfort of pumpkin & apple pie spices, and the joy of soup season always make October special. This season also brings our annual Halloween parade, as well as a sense of excitement as we move closer to the holidays.

One of the highlights of October is our Women in Business Expo. This event is always close to my heart because it brings together so many women from across our community and region to support, encourage, and inspire one another. I hope you’ll join us for this favorite gathering—you’ll find all the details inside this newsletter.

Looking back, September was a wonderful month! I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday for several days with friends and family, and I even managed a little much-needed relaxation. Knowing the Chamber was in such good hands made it possible. My gratitude goes out to our Chamber team and volunteers who kept everything running smoothly.

It was a busy month at the Chamber—we celebrated ribbon cuttings & grand openings, held a fabulous Businesswomen’s meeting at No Place Like Home Décor, and enjoyed a lively After Hours at Bayshore Homes. That evening was filled with fun, from a scavenger hunt to sweet treats from members like Grammy Stephie’s Cookies and Save Room for Dessert’s famous pretzel bites.

October is off to a strong start with After Hours at Armstrong on Wednesday, October 4th from 5–7pm, followed by our Businesswomen’s meeting on Monday, October 27th at Juniper Village, in their beautiful community room and tavern. And be sure to mark your calendars for our biggest event of the year—our Annual Auction Night on Wednesday, November 12th at The Movies at Meadville. This is the Chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year, and it’s always an unforgettable evening filled with bidding wars, laughter, and camaraderie. With food from Hunter’s Inn, desserts from Save Room for Dessert, and entertainment from our Board President David Gordon of ERA Richmond Real Estate and VP Adam Prenatt of UniFirst, it’s sure to be another fantastic night. Bid often, bid big, and have fun—you might just go home with a steal!

As we close out the year, please don’t forget to send us your company updates. Share changes in personnel, new contacts for our email list, or let us know if you’d prefer to receive only the electronic version of this newsletter. We’re also scheduling ahead for 2026—if you’d like to host an event or join one of our committees, now is the perfect time to reach out. Volunteers and fresh ideas are always welcome—we love hearing new perspectives that help us make the Chamber, our members, and our community the very best they can be.

Finally, a reminder that October 15th is not only our Women in Business Expo, but also National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day. Whether you’ve just joined or have been a member for years, please know how much we appreciate your support. We are proud to be one of the oldest Chambers in the U.S., carrying forward our mission: to build business and connect community, provide educational programs, promote our members, and empower the leaders of tomorrow.

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event and sharing the excitement of this season with all of you.

Sincerely,

Christa

2025 WOMEN IN BUSINESS EXPO

MEADVILLE MASTER THE MIC

  Chamber of Commerce Presents 2025 Annual Dinner & Diamond Awards

The Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its Annual Dinner and Diamond Awards at the beautifully renovated Hotel Conneaut.

Christa Lundy, Executive Director of the Chamber says, "The Chamber is delighted to be honoring these deserving individuals, nonprofit organizations and businesses that are doing so much for our community. That is why we always look forward to recognizing these Chamber members who have been doing remarkable things."

One of the biggest highlights of the evening is the recognition of the prestigious Governor Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service, presented by the Chamber, Allegheny College and Shafer Law Firm. Dan Crandall was honored as this year's recipient based on his decades-long volunteer service in Meadville. Among his contributions over the years, Dan, in addition to being the owner and operator of Fine Print Commercial Prints in downtown Meadville for decades, Dan has long believed in giving back to the community where he lives and works. His volunteer work spans a wide range of local organizations. He currently serves on the boards of Active Aging Inc, the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club, is chairman of ONE Federal Credit Union, is active in the Meadville Coin Club and a member of the Rotary Club of Meadville, in addition to serving on many past boards in our community. Dan was a past recipient of the Chamber's Small Business of the Year Award and the Jack Curtin Spirit Award. 

The esteemed Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service was bestowed on Leslie Briseno and Gloria Ulloa-Soto, both Allegheny College Seniors. Leslie was nominated for her service with Women's Services as a certified volunteer and advocate and through the Special Olympics as a certified coach for 4 years. She has volunteered through the on-campus coffee shop Grounds for Change and through Culture to Culture as a lead mentor for international students. Leslie has dedicated numerous hours to support the Teach Global Health program as well as the community health needs assessment in conjunction with MMC. Gloria was nominated for her service with Center for Family Services and with Special Olympics over the last 4 years as well as supporting FCCA for 3 years. She has dedicated her time as a student leader on campus through clubs like Union Latinx and Green SOCS. Gloria has regularly supported off-campus volunteer programs such as Service Saturdays and Make a Difference Day.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the 2025 Diamond Awards. And the winners are:

Emerging Leader, Male - Gabe Panchura, Hagan Business Machines of Meadville

Emerging Leader, Female - Virginia Dann, Acutec Precision Aerospace, Inc

New Business - Eternal Glow

Small Business - Lakeside Tranquility Massage & Spa

Mid-Sized Business - One Federal Credit Union

Large Business - Home Instead

Small Non-Profit - Meadville Area Free Clinic

Large Non-Profit - Meadville Family YMCA

Meadville Chamber Community Champion - Emily Courson

The Emerging Leader Award is presented to an individual in the early years of their career who has demonstrated leadership qualities within their businesses and community. The Emerging Leader Award was established to foster young leadership and enhance retention of young professionals in our community. All nominees have demonstrated professional leadership and a commitment to community service. 

Business of the Year Awards are issued to recognize local businesses that have achieved success and to support initiatives and organizations that enhance the quality of life in the Meadville-Western Crawford County area. All nominated businesses have demonstrated admirable performance, growth, innovation, creativity, and community involvement.

The Small Non-Profit and Large Non-Profit of the Year Awards celebrate local organizations that have achieved success while supporting initiatives and projects that enhance the quality of life in the Meadville-Western Crawford County area.

And the newly founded Meadville Chamber Community Champion Award symbolizes our commitment to acknowledging those unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes, dedicating themselves to the greater good without seeking recognition and the award recipient exemplifies everything this award stands for - service, resilience, and extraordinary impact. 

Congratulations, 2025 Diamond Awards Finalists!

Winners were announced during the Chamber's Annual Dinner & Diamond Awards at The Hotel Conneaut on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (* Denotes the winner in each category.)

Emerging Leader Award, Female
Jessica Hilburn, Crawford County Federated Library System

Kati White-Hartman, Bush Investment Group

* Virginia Dann, Acutec Precision Aerospace, Inc.

Emerging Leader Award, Male
Casey Dickson, Crawford County Planning Office

* Gabe Panchura, Hagan Business Machines of Meadville

Joshua Sherretts, Crawford County Historical Society

Nick Novosel, Howard Hanna Bainbridge Kaufman Real Estate

Dr. Ryan Pfeifer, Anchor Performance Clinic

Yoda Botka, Good Karma Jiu Jitsu Academy

Small Business Award
Finney's Chocolate Shoppe

Kathleen Layer Coaching, LLC

* Lakeside Tranquility Massage & Spa

Meadville Market House

Save Room for Dessert

Yoga Spot Meadville

Mid-Size Business Award
* One Federal Credit Union

Riverside Brewing Company

The Meadville Tribune

Large Business Award
* Home Instead Senior Care

Interim HealthCare

Juniper Village at Meadville

New Business Award
43 Artisan Co.

Anchor Performance Clinic

* Eternal Glow

Hello Sunshine Children's Boutique

Small Non-Profit
Crawford Central Community Foundation

The Learning Center K-8 School

* Meadville Area Free Clinic

Large Non-Profit
Crawford County Fair Association

* The Meadville Family YMCA

United Way of Western Crawford County