Bedford County Chamber to Honor Local Businesses, Individuals During Annual Dinner & Award Celebration – November 19st at the Silver Lining Drive-In

The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the business and individuals to be honored during the 2020 Award Celebration: Thursday, November 19th at the Silver Lining Drive-In at the Bedford County Fairgrounds.

Eighteen awards will be 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.  NEW in 2020, the event will also celebrate the Citizen of the Year, Clifton Clark, as chosen by the Rotary Clubs of Bedford and the Bedford Elks Lodge.

“The Chamber’s Annual Dinner is the signature celebration of our diverse and outstanding business community,” said President/CEO Kellie Goodman Shaffer.  “In this most challenging year, it is more important than ever to recognize excellence in our business community, and we were going to make this happen one way or another within the CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines.”

The 2019 Annual Dinner marked a new chapter in the annual event, as it grew to record attendance (350+) with the move to the corporate hangar at the Bedford County Airport, thanks to host Bun Air Corp.  With the latest state gathering restrictions, an indoor celebration was not feasible, so the celebration will take place as a drive-in dinner and program at the Silver Lining Drive-In.

“In this year of unprecedented challenges, we are planning an unprecedented celebration,” said Goodman Shaffer. “Guests will participate from the warmth and safety of their vehicles, but they will still enjoy an elegant dinner and entertaining program, featuring the Bedford County Players; and of course, the opportunity to come together, albeit socially-distantly, to celebrate the accomplishments of our cooperative business community.  We just can’t wait.”

The theme of the evening will be Silver Screen, Silver Linings, with a nod to Old Hollywood and the new drive-in movie screen, built this spring by a “dream team” of local businesses working in collaboration with one another, the Chamber and the Bedford County Fair.

Soaring Eagle Productions will provide video services to produce the pre-recorded acceptance speeches with lighting and special effects support from ENCORE.

“The video-taped format of the award program allows us to tell the stories of our honorees illustrated with photos of their accomplishments,” said Shaffer. “Our business community should be very proud of all that has been achieved over the last year.”

The 2020 awards and honorees are listed on page 2. The Athena Award winner will be announced November 19th program.

Sponsorships & registrations for the celebration are limited, so those wishing to attend should register as soon as possible; this event traditionally sells out. Cost to attend is $89 per person and registration is required. Businesses are welcome to provide an item promoting their company for inclusion in the silent auction; program ads are also available to advertise businesses and/or congratulate the honorees. For more information, please call the Chamber office at 814-623-2233 or

Click Here for 2020 Annual Dinner Sponsorship Info

or Click Here to Register

2020 Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Award Honorees

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Silver Screen Dream Team*

JOHN ANDERSON AWARD: Everett Area Better Business Association

 BUSINESS HALL OF FAME AWARD:  Bedford Speedway

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR (with Bedford Rotary Clubs & Elks Lodge): Clifton Clark

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARD (3 Categories)

Small (no more than 10 employees): Golden Eagle Inn

Medium (no more than 60 employees):  Down River Golf Club

Large (61 or more employees):  Creative Pultrusions, Inc.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Michael Meehan

INNOVATION AWARD:  Hyndman Health Center/Bedford Family Health Center

PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Bedford Fire Department #1, Inc.

HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD:  Wayne Hyde

EMPLOYER COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD:  Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION:  Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art

EXCELLENCE IN AGRI-BUSINESS AWARD:  Olde Bedford Brewing Company

SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Graduate of Leadership Bedford Co.): Jesse Topper & Deanna Weaverling

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD (with BCDA): PA CareerLink®

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AWARD (with Bedford Co. Transition Council):  Shirley’s Cookie Company

ATHENA AWARD: Honoree to be announced November 19th

*The Silver Screen Dream Team includes 22 entities who came together during the pandemic

to build the drive-in movie screen at the Bedford County Fairgrounds:

Ace Builders

Bedford County Fair

Bedford County Speedway

Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative

Bedford Township Supervisors

Clark Contractors, inc.

Coughenour Engineering

Creative Pultrusions

Fastenal

Golden Rule Lumber

HenderSon’s Painting

Knisely & Sons

Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance

SKE Designs & Signs

Trendz Design & Print Studio

Scott Electric

Sell, Neff and Associates

Sherwin Williams

Soaring Eagle Productions

Steltek Graphics

True Value Bedford

YBC Your Building Centers

The Chamber Thanks our Annual Dinner & Award Celebration Sponsors to date:

Bedford County Fair: Host Venue

Bun Air Corp: Event Partner

Community Life: Theme Sponsor

Stiffler, McGraw & Associates: Silent Auction Sponsor

Bedford BPW & Thomas Dealerships: Athena Co-Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors, Founders Circle

& Executive Chamber Members to Date:

Allegany College of Maryland

Bedford Grange Mutual Insurance Company

FirstEnergy Corp

Hometown Bank of PA

Homewood at Spring House Estates

Knisely & Sons

RWR Insurance

Somerset Trust Company

Structural Fiberglass, Inc.

Wessel & Company

Soaring Eagle Productions: Stage, A/V Production

ENCORE: Theme/Experience Lighting

Individual Award Sponsors to Date:

Allegany College of Maryland

Bedford County Endowments

Burger King

Coldwell Banker SKS Realty in Memory of Gary Nouse

Freedom Excursions by Scully

Hyndman Area Health Center

Pennwood Ophthalmic Associates

ProCare Fitness Bedford

Structural Fiberglass, Inc.

Wessel & Company

Floral Design: Everett Flower Shop

Favors: Bedford Candies

Additional Sponsorships are available.

Call the Chamber to discuss these opportunities at 814-623-2233 or Click here for info.

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