ASHLAND — Local industry leaders, employees and public officials packed the Ashland University Convocation Center on Thursday night for the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual awards banquet.
The event’s 456 attendee saw local businesses and young leaders honored with a number of awards. Amy Daubenspeck, the director of operations for the chamber, took the stage to kick off the awards.
“We’re so excited that you’re all here to celebrate all of the excellence that’s happening in our (community),” she said.
Emily Grimm, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing, took over for Daubenspeck to announce the winners of the chamber’s new “4 under 40” awards for “highly motivated, emerging young leaders” under 40 years old that are “personally and professionally making an impact,” she said.
The chamber received over 20 nominations for the new award category, and the winners were selected by a secret ballot. The winners of this year’s 4 under 40 awards are as follows:
- Angela Ringler, President of Advantage Marketing
- Brittaney Reep, CFO at Ashland County Community Foundation
- Bri Noel, Financial advisor at Edwards Jones
- Stephen Knowlton, Integrator at Spire Advertising
The 4 under 40 awards will become an “annual tradition” at the banquets, Grimm said.
The chamber received 84 nominations for this year’s business awards, including 33 that qualified and 13 that had never gone through the awards process before, Daubenspeck said.
In order to qualify, businesses have to be current members of the chamber that have not won an award in the last five years, and they must send in applications outlining their firm’s business performance, customer service, and their community engagement.
The awards this year were divided into six categories. The winners of each are as follows:
- Small Business: The South Street Grille
- Manufacturing/Industry: Cowen Truck Line, Inc.
- Professional Services: Directions Credit Union
- Health & Medical Services: Brethren Care Village, Inc.
- Non-Profit & Social Services: Appleseed Community Mental Health Center
- Hospitality & Recreational Services: The Salvation Army Kroc Center
The night ended on a few literal high notes via a video compilation of chamber members confessing their favorite karaoke songs and occasionally singing them, as Daubenspeck — decked out in a cowboy hat — did throughout the video.
Leave a comment