From the Director’s Desk

Summer is here, and we are busier than ever! I had the pleasure of attending my first Chamber Day at our Capital in early June. I visited with fellow Chamber colleagues from across our state, enjoyed being a tourist in Harrisburg and was fortunate to have a fun yet educational experience. I look forward to attending again and continuing to ensure that our Chamber and the northwest PA region is represented well at statewide events and programs.

June was a great month of preparation for the upcoming signature events we will be holding. The Chamber staff was blessed to be part of several ribbon cuttings, anniversary, and grand opening celebrations too! Check out the photos in this newsletter and be ready to celebrate with more of these events this month!

One of my favorite nights each month is our Businesswomen’s Roundtable on the fourth Monday of every month. Last month was one of my favorites so far! Special thanks to Debra Yoder of Lakeside Tranquility Massage & Spa for including us in her Anniversary Celebration! Over twenty-five businesswomen participated in her event, many of them new to our group! We enjoyed sweet treats from Cup n’ Spoon, toured the incredible space and heard all about Debra’s vision for not only her space but her business. I love seeing small businesses grow and blossom and this is one of those remarkable stories. Ladies, please join us at our next meeting on Monday, July 22^nd at Bayshore Homes, which I know will be another favorite!!

Our next signature event is our Women’s Golf Outing on Wednesday, July 24^th at Mt. Hope Golf Course. We are looking forward to an enjoyable day of golf, tasty food, beverages, fun, prizes and so much more! We have several new teams joining us this year and hope to see some new friendships made. Be sure to register with your team, whether you are a good golfer or not. This is a scramble, ladies, find one golfer who knows golf etiquette and come have fun! We will have over 125 people on the course and are still in need of items for prizes, the auction and hole sponsors are only $100. Please reach out to the Chamber if you are interested in being part of our day.

Thunder in the City is August 2^nd & 3^rd this year and we have an awesome line up for you! We will always have the car show, the bike parade and show, crafters & vendors, food trucks and such. The two new events from last year are going to be even bigger and better this year! The Meadville Master the Mic singing competition and the Meadville Power Wheels Grand Prix Race showed off some of our local talent and brought people together! Chek out the details for both events on our social media pages. New this year is a family friendly movie in Diamond Park, sponsored by Armstrong.

Our Fall Golf Outing rounds out August on Wednesday, the 28^th. Be sure to register your team or sponsorship for this fun-filled full day on the course. We usually fill the course with teams and have the best volunteers to ensure a fun day is had by all. Thanks to everyone who makes this day possible, and we are looking forward to another fun golf outing this year. I hope you enjoy the holiday this month and celebrate our Independence Day. Enjoy time with loved ones, have a picnic, attend any of the local freedom festivities across our region, enjoy some fireworks and be safe.

I look forward to seeing you soon. Please be sure to follow our social media pages, read your newsletter, attend an event, stop by the office or call to set up a one-on-one appointment.

Sincerely,

Christa

2023 WOMEN IN BUSINESS EXPO

MEADVILLE MASTER THE MIC

  Chamber of Commerce Presents 2024 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. Rob Smith was honored as this year's recipient based on his decades-long volunteer service in Meadville. Among his contributions over the past 30 years, Smith, in addition to being the former President and Owner of Acutec Precision Aerospace, has served on the Crawford Central School Board, on the Board of Trustees of Allegheny College, the NTMA Board, The Chamber of Commerce Board and serves on the Women's Services Board, the Meadville Medical Center Board, the Academy Theater Board and the Board of Corporators for the Economic Progress Alliance and MMC just to name a few. He remains on the Board of Directors for Acutec Precision Aerospace and is active with the National Tooling and Machining Association, the Meadville Literary Union and is bringing his vision of revitalizing the Meadville Community with the Cussewago Square project. This project is an active renovation of the former Race Street Lumber Co. property being redeveloped with restaurants, a community theater, an artist studio and gallery space and more in hopes to become a destination draw.

The esteemed Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service was bestowed on Ashley Tipton, an Allegheny College junior. Tipton was nominated for her work with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mentoring Program at Meadville Area Middle School. She's worked with the Tamarack Wildlife Center and as a tutor with Operation Reads and the MAMS Saturday Study Help program, with the Fourth Graders as Scientists Program and Crawford County 8th Grade Career Awareness Fair. Honorable mention recognition was presented to Bianca Sanchez, a senior who was nominated for her service as a four-year project assistant with Creek Connections, a program that supports regional K-12 schools in turning their local waterways into outdoor environmental laboratories. She is active with Green Students of Color Society and with the Center for Political Participation as an Andrew Goodman Foundation Ambassador. She formerly served as the Director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs for Allegheny Student Government. 

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the 2024 Diamond Awards. And the winners are:

Emerging Leader, Male - Adam Prenatt, UniFirst Corp.

Emerging Leader, Female - Jayne Martin, Bayshore Homes Inc.

New Business - You Matter, LLC

Small Business - Confections of a Cake Lover

Mid-Sized Business - Inspire Salon & Spa

Small Non-Profit - Hunters Sharing the Harvest

Large Non-Profit - Family & Community Christian Association (FCCA)

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 and Mid-Sized Business 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.

Congratulations, 2024 Diamond Awards Finalists!

Winners were announced during the Chamber's Annual Dinner & Diamond Awards on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Emerging Leader Award, Female
Virginia Dann, Acutec Precision Aerospace, Inc.
Jayne Martin, Bayshore Homes, Inc.
Amber Pfeifer, Anchor Performance Clinic

Emerging Leader Award, Male
Gabe Panchura, Hagan Business Machines of Meadville
Adam Prenatt, UniFirst Corp
Corey Young, French Creek Framing & Fine Art and Hospice of Crawford County

Small Business Award
Blue Canopy Marketing
Confections of a Cake Lover
The Woolen Mill

Mid-Size Business Award
Inspire Salon & Spa
Riverside Brewing Company
The Meadville Tribune

New Business Award
Anchor Performance Clinic LLC
Black Bear Hemp Dispensary
Chalets by the Lake
You Matter, LLC

Small Non-Profit
Hunters Sharing the Harvest
Meadville Community Theatre
The Learning Center K-8 School

Large Non-Profit
Family & Community Christian Association (FCCA)
The Arc of Crawford County
The Meadville Family YMCA