From the Director’s Desk

May has arrived and we are so excited! We experienced a busy and rewarding April with many ribbon cutting & anniversary celebrations and celebrated our Annual Diamond Awards at the end of the month. We recognized finalists in many categories and announced our winners in the Emerging Leader, Non-profit and Businesses of the year, as well as featuring this year’s Raymond P. Shafer Award recipient, Mr. Rob Smith. Over two hundred people enjoyed a lovely evening at the Pampered Palate for this prestigious event. Thanks to all our sponsors, and those who attended. Congratulations to all the finalists for being nominated, I know the judging was difficult. Congratulations to this year’s winners! Thanks for all that you do in our local  community, we sincerely appreciate you!   Please check the awards page for more details. 

May brings many important things to many of us. Celebrate Mother’s Day with those special moms, if you are blessed to have yours or someone like a mother in your life.  Graduation season is upon us for high schools and colleges. Warmer weather brings ball games, more time outside, boat time, and time to explore our incredible communities. We are blessed to have many trails, golf courses, waterways and more to explore. Enjoy local fairs and festivals. Many restaurants open patios soon and most have live music on a regular basis. Take advantage of this. Many businesses stay open longer in summer. Take advantage of these summer fun things to do. Shop local. Eat local. Drink local. Explore local. Adventure local. Support local musicians. Park your car. Walk around small towns and communities. Enjoy Mother Nature and all that our region has to offer.

We are busy with our monthly After Hours, anniversary celebrations, ribbon cuttings & grand openings, Businesswomen’s Roundtable meetings, Human Resources Consortium meetings and more. We are gearing up for our golf outings, Thunder in the City and then our signature fall events like our Wine, Brew & Spirits Walk and the Women in Business Expo. There is always something to plan and be working on. We are also working on membership and growing our Chamber. We want to learn more about your business and other local   companies. Please reach out to the Chamber to arrange a meeting, let us share information about the Chamber while learning more about your company.

Be sure to register for our upcoming signature events. The Women’s Golf Outing is on July 24^th and the Fall Golf Outing is on August 28^th. Our biggest community event, Thunder in the City is August 2^nd & 3^rd. Mark your calendars for our Annual Wine, Brew & spirits Walk on Saturday, September 14^th!

I hope that you have a wonderful beginning to summer. I would like to challenge you to help the Chamber if you feel inclined. We want our Chamber to continue to grow, to prosper and be a resource for the business community. If you have a testimonial for the Chamber, please share it with your fellow business colleagues and friends. If you would like to learn more about us, schedule a meeting. If you haven’t attended any Chamber event or meeting in a while, choose one and be present. If you would like to be in our Leadership Program, apply today. If you would like to get more involved in any way, please contact any of us here at the Chamber office. First and foremost, we are here for you; our members.

Sincerely,

Christa

2023 WOMEN IN BUSINESS EXPO

MEADVILLE MASTER THE MIC

  Chamber of Commerce Presents 2023 Annual Dinner & Diamond Awards

The Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual Annual Dinner and Diamond Awards at Saegertown's Pampered Palate Catering and Conference Center.

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. There are so many wonderful acts happening. 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. Jan Van Tuil was honored as this year's recipient based on her decades-long volunteer service in Meadville. Among her contributions, Van Tuil served on the Crawford Central School Board for decades, now serves on the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Meadville, as well as on Greendale Cemetery's Board. She also served the First Christian Church for more than 40 years.

The esteemed Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service was bestowed on Kaitlyn Royal, an Allegheny College junior. Royal's work with "4th Graders as Scientists", a cooperative program of Partners in Education and the Crawford Central School District. She is also an active volunteer with His Work, His Way and the First Baptist Church of Linesville and participates in various French Creek Valley Conservancy volunteer projects. On campus, Kaitlyn works as an educator with Creek Connections, an environmental education program. Honorable mention recognition was presented to Autumn Peterson, a senior who was nominated for her service with Juniper Village of Meadville, where she prepares and leads activities for residents. She has also served two years with the Meadville Area Free Clinic and participated in the Health Coach program with the Meadville Medical Center.

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the 2023 Diamond Awards. And the winners are:

 Emerging Leader, Male -  Evan Kardosh, City of Meadville

Emerging Leader, Female - Sarah Miller, Women's Services, Inc.

New Business - Cup n' Spoon

Small Business - Chateau Christine

Mid-Sized Business - Hunter's Inn

Small Non-Profit - St. James Haven

Large Non-Profit - Vallonia Industries

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. 

Both the Small, Mid-Sized and Large Business Awards Small 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.