Bedford County Chamber Honors Local Businesses, Individuals During Annual Dinner & Award Celebration

Bedford County, PA — The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce invited more than 330 guests All Aboard the Bedford County Business Express for the organization’s 2023 Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration, held at the Bedford County Airport September 21st.

Seventeen awards were presented to outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals of the Bedford County region, recognizing a variety of accomplishments, including: excellence in business (small, medium and large categories), community service, historical preservation, property improvement, agri-business, education, and servant leadership, as well as the prestigious Athena Award, sponsored by Bedford BPW and Thomas Dealerships. The Chamber partners with BCDA, the Bedford County Visitors Bureau and Bedford County Community Connections to present awards for economic development, excellence in tourism and a commitment to hiring people with disabilities.

“The Chamber’s Annual Dinner is the signature celebration of our diverse and outstanding business community,” said President/CEO Kellie Goodman Shaffer.  “This year’s honorees represent a wide variety of businesses, and communities within the Bedford County region, and are so thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments.”

2023 Honorees’ Acceptance Speeches:

 

   2023 Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Award Honorees

JOHN ANDERSON AWARD: Read to Feed Bookstore

ATHENA AWARD: Joan LaSalle

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Everett Lions Club (for Medal of Honor Memorial Project)

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARD (3 Categories)

Small (no more than 10 employees): Earp’s Barber Shop

Medium (no more than 49 employees):  Fisher’s Country Store

Large (50 or more employees):  Wessel & Co. CPA’s

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Troy & Susie Mickle, Jr Fair Board Advisors

INNOVATION AWARD:  Aesthetics by Kell

PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Weaver’s Sanitation

HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD:  Juniata Trading Co.

EMPLOYER COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD:  M&T Bank

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION:  Reynoldsdale Fish Hatchery

EXCELLENCE IN AGRI-BUSINESS AWARD:  Jus-Den Farms

EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM (in partnership w/ Bedford Co. CVB) –  The Orchards of Bedford County (Boyer, Ridgetop, Sleek’s, McCoy)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD (in partnership w/ BCDA): Mission Critical Solutions

SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Graduate of Leadership Bedford Co.): Tina Imes, ACM

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AWARD (w. Bedford Co. Transition Council):  Long’s Outpost