RIDGELY A festive group of neighborhood leaders, volunteers and enterprise house owners gathered for Caroline County’s Greatest in Enterprise Awards evening March 23 at The Cow Barn. The country barn was illuminated with blue gentle and there was an extended buffet crammed with meals catered by the Chesapeake Culinary Heart. It was a whos who of Caroline County, so there was a festive air as individuals linked. The place was filled with silence.
Rhett Ritter, CEO of Purple Peak CBD, stated: “It is a nice occasion that brings the neighborhood collectively so individuals may be happy with their achievements. We actually recognize all that the Chamber not solely places collectively for us, but in addition the alternatives that Tracey (Snyder, govt director) presents. There’s a welcome and helpfulness offered by the members.
Outgoing Chamber President Anthony Casey took to the stage and stated 2022 was an amazing yr for the Chamber. We set excessive expectations and made them come true. Our focus has been on member engagement, creating pop-up occasions and money drives for our native retailers. Having skilled connections to our meet and greets and mixers all year long.
Adam Jones, the Chamber’s new chairman, stated: For the 2023 strategic plan our purpose is to strengthen member-to-member connections. We purpose to have interaction our members as soon as 1 / 4 with the board as a welcoming committee for brand spanking new and present members. We’ll proceed to develop the Ladies in Enterprise program and Caroline County nonprofits. We additionally purpose to proceed Chamber Chat in 2023 by figuring out a brand new studio or asking the studio to come back to the chamber workplace to debate points that can have an effect on our members.
Jones additionally emphasised workforce improvement and collaboration with neighborhood companion Chesapeake Faculty and the usage of digital platforms equivalent to Fb to construct model loyalty in Chamber companies. Jones completed with phrases from Chris Pratt, the actor who performs Marvel’s Star Lord.
He goes on to say, Do not be imply. In case you are robust, be a protector. In case you’re sensible, be a humble influencer. We imagine that commerce isn’t just about exchanging cash. It is the change of concepts, handshakes, smiles and presumably some kindness. Caroline County is a good place to work, reside and play and I’m proud to be part of it, Jones stated.
Tracey Snyder, govt director of the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce, performed MC for the occasion. He stated, Caroline County is superb. I actually prefer it right here. I like working right here. I like working with you all.
Announce the awards and hand out the citations.
Chelsea Powell gained the Rising Stars Award. She runs Chelsea Powell Pictures.
Powell stated, I like the little ones. My shoppers are fantastic individuals. I like to captivate everybody and I like working with youngsters. No child can scare me. I like a problem. I joined the Chamber of Commerce as a result of I like their involvement with the neighborhood and the way they assist native companies. I wish to thank the Chamber for recognizing all these small companies like mine. It’s actually an honor for me to face right here understanding all the good corporations which have come up to now and obtained this award.
Carolines in Denton, a restaurant, was additionally awarded a Rising Stars award. Anybody who is aware of me is aware of I am a tough employee, however this was actually arduous. We’re actually explicit about what we serve. We attempt to purchase as a lot native stuff as doable. We acquire new farms on a regular basis. All the things is contemporary, from scratch, and I hope to see you all there quickly, stated Nancy Minahan, proprietor.
Snyder then rose to announce two Chamber Ambassadors who assist promote the well-being of the Chamber and its member companies. One is Purple Peake CBD. In a video, Rhett Ritter stated: We recognize the neighborhood and all of the overwhelming help we have obtained. The least we are able to do is give that help again to the neighborhood that has given us a lot help.
Ritter then took the stage to just accept the award. He stated, “The alternatives we have had due to the Chamber and a number of the subsequent benefits we have had, and all the roles we have had and the friendships we have developed wouldn’t have been doable with out the Chamber of Commerce. I need to speak to the rising stars who talked about adversity. Bear in mind if somebody tells you you can’t do what you’re already doing right this moment, there are footprints on the moon.
The following ambassador was the Shore United Financial institution group in Denton. Danielle Forrest, Assistant Department Supervisor and Laura Reeder, Department Supervisor took the stage.
Reeder stated, In each side of our neighborhood, we have now constructed a powerful deal with monetary literacy, holding a number of fundraisers and giving again the place we are able to.
The winner of the Innovator of Excellence Award was Farm to Fork Contemporary and so they turned rooster homes into greenhouses. Farm proprietor Jeanne Kriss-Scharf stated in a video: We’re the primary farm in Maryland to develop spirulina. It’s the excellent meals based on NASA, it’s the way forward for vitamin.
We can’t let you know how blessed we’re to have this award. Spirulina might assist finish malnutrition and provides youngsters hope. Give us hope. “This exhibits us you can take a junky previous rooster home and make one thing good out of it,” Kriss-Scharf stated.
Carolines’ finest non-profit winner was Aarons Place. They feed the hungry and produce other companies for the underserved. They’ve joined forces with the Maryland Meals Financial institution. The CEO of Aarons Locations is Cheryl Beulah.
We feed about 600 households and three,000 individuals a month. I’ve a incredible group. We now have about 30 to 33 volunteers all through the northern, central and southern prefectures. I might be remiss if I did not thank my household, as a result of I work them to loss of life. Thanks, thanks, thanks, Beulah stated.
Excellence in Agriculture went to the Cawley Household Farm, which grows Christmas bushes. Jane and Charles Cawley are Amy Cawley’s dad and mom.
I’ve all the time cherished Christmas bushes and we acquired into wreaths. We minimize the bushes and rehydrate them in order that they keep contemporary, Charles stated.
Amy stated, I need to inform my dad in entrance of all of you the way proud I’m of him. I do not get an opportunity to acknowledge my dad and mother and all of the work dad places in on the farm all yr. He has constructed the enterprise from the bottom up.
Begin a household custom is our slogan. We’re actually into agritourism and other people popping out to an actual tree farm and selecting one tree as a substitute of considered one of many, Charles stated.
The Younger Skilled of the Yr award went to somebody beneath 40. This yr it was Laura Reeder of Shore United Financial institution.
Because of our neighborhood, our Chamber and Tracey for simply bouncing off each loopy concept we got here up with. I’m so grateful to Shore United Financial institution as a result of they’ve given me the chance and the liberty to be artistic and be in our neighborhood and make connections and attempt to assist as many individuals as we are able to, Reeder stated.
The Enterprise Chief of the Yr class was chosen for Denton Diner and proprietor Ozlem Sen Bastas or Ozzie.
She stated, I am not a superb talker, however something about youngsters and meals, I am unable to cease. Denton Diner is greater than only a enterprise. It is a large household. It’s an honor to serve you all and see your completely happy faces.
Cpl. Amber Hafer with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Workplace was named Citizen of the Yr. Amongst different issues, he organized Store with a Cop in seven days and served 25 youngsters.
I used to be shocked once I acquired the decision from Tracey. The Store with a Cop program was solely profitable due to the group we had working behind the scenes in that brief seven day interval. To call a couple of of those individuals: Brenda Partitions and her pharmacy group and all of the sources she known as upon for me, Dfc. (Christopher) Kindalk and the late Corporal Angus Nagel did plenty of fundraising.
The Enterprise of the Yr award went to Ridgely Pharmacy and Ice Cream Parlor. Brenda Partitions is the proprietor and founder.
There may be nothing extra gratifying than a buyer strolling in and saying, I like this retailer. Please by no means change. I need to say thanks to the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce for this award. And Tracey thanks. You’re an incredible woman. However most of all I need to thank my household, my pals and our superb clients, Partitions stated.
