Chamber Announces 2025 Award Honorees
Bedford County, PA — The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce honored our 2025 award recipients during our Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration Thursday, September 18th at the Bedford County Airport. The most exciting announcement came at the end of the evening when the prestigious Athena Award was presented to Dr. Annette Godissart.
“Annette Godissart is the consummate servant leader,” said Chamber President-CEO Kellie Goodman Shaffer. “As our Chamber Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, no one has been more instrumental in shaping the foundation’s program, Leadership Bedford County, than the chair of the LBC advisory committee, who has guided the program to provide transformative leadership experiences for hundreds of women and men of our region. But Annette does so much more. From her professional integrity to her community service, she stands out as a person of excellence; But even more importantly, Annette is a shining example of someone who has quietly, deliberately, and without any expectation of reward or accolades, worked to make Bedford County a better place. We are a stronger community for her efforts, and no one is more deserving of being honored with the Athena Award.”
One particularly poignant moment in the evening came when 2024 Servant Leadership Award honoree, Ben Naugle presented 2025 honoree, President Judge Travis Livengood with the award for leading while lifting others up. During his remarks, Naugle said of his interaction with Judge Livengood several years ago, “It was his words…that challenged me to take responsibility and begin the work of change. What I didn’t realize then was that he wasn’t just fulfilling his role as a judge—he was quietly planting the seeds of accountability, growth, and hope. He saw not just the person I was, but the person I could become. That, I’ve come to understand, is a form of servant leadership—one that often goes unseen and unthanked….Judge Livengood is more than a fair and principled jurist. He is a servant leader.”
Awards were also given in 14 other categories including:
John Anderson Award: Downtown Bedford, Inc.
Excellence in Business Award (3 Categories)
Large (50 or more employees): Mission Critical Solutions
Medium (no more than 49 employees): R&N Tires
Small (no more than 10 employees): Thirteen Pines Trading Co.
Volunteer of the Year: Krista Maola, Bedford Area SD
Innovation Award: Everett Senior Center
Property Improvement Award: Venue at the Stables
Heritage Preservation Award: CHIP (Changes in the Parkway), Saxton
Employer Community Service Award: The Bedford Gazette
Excellence in Education: Mellott Company/Mellott University
Excellence in Agri-Business: Country View Family Farm/Warrior Ridge Farm
Excellence in Tourism: (in partnership w/ Bedford Co. CVB) – Dennis Tice
Excellence in Economic Development: (in partnership w/ BCDA): Hometown Bank
Community Connections: (w. Bedford Co. Transition Council): Homewood Living Spring House
REVIEW ANNUAL DINNER PRINT PROGRAM Additional photos coming soon!
Watch Our Award Honorees’ Acceptance Speeches: