ASHLAND — There were 99 businesses nominated for the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce awards, but in the end, seven stood out among the rest.
The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce recognized those local businesses, selected from a pool of 36 finalists, during its annual awards banquet Thursday.
The event brought together business owners across several sectors to celebrate their achievements over the past year. The ceremony followed a business expo, where chamber members and attendees had a chance to learn about several Ashland-area businesses.
Amy Daubenspeck, president of the chamber, said the event reflects the chamber’s mission to serve its members.
“To our award finalists, you’ve set a remarkable example,” Daubenspeck said. “Your hard work and commitment inspire all of us to be better and to do better. You’re not just shaping the future of Ashland.
“You’re making it a place where dreams can flourish, businesses can thrive and families can find a true sense of home. Tonight is your moment to shine, and we are all so grateful for the impact you’ve made on this wonderful community.”
Awards honored businesses across seven categories, based on “their business performance, customer service, community involvement and promotion of Ashland County and the surrounding areas,” according to the chamber’s website.
To become finalists, nominees had to submit two applications based on those criteria. Daubenspeck said the Hilliard Chamber’s leadership judged all finalists to select the award winners.
Below are the award winners by category and photos of each:
- Small Business (25 or fewer full-time employees) — American Carpet Cleaning
- Industrial/Manufacturing Business — Cabinet Restylers, Inc.
- Retail Business — Buehler’s Fresh Foods
- Professional Services — Main Street Bank
- Health & Medical Services — Gregg Orthodontics
- Non-profit & Social Services — Ashland Senior Citizen Center
- Hospitality & Recreation Services — Ashland Public Library
Since 2023, the Chamber has also honored four individuals each year with a “4 Under 40” award. The award celebrates achievements of emerging young leaders in the county.
Recipients are nominated for the honor and selected by the Chamber’s board. Sixteen people were nominated for the award this year.
The winners of this year’s “4 Under 40” award are listed below:
- Charlene Tolbert, Ashland Public Library
- Jake Jones, Spreng-Smith Insurance Agency
- Kari Reidenbach, Charles River Laboratories
- Lindsey Hoover, Simonson Construction Services, Inc.
