GALION—The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) announced the winners of its Annual Awards at the 2023 Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony held on May 3rd at the Hub at Village Square in Crestline. A record-breaking 182 attendees were present to congratulate the honorees.
The awards recognize outstanding contributions to the community in the previous year. According to the GCACC Board, the winners went above and beyond their expected duties to improve the quality of life for citizens and ensure the betterment of the community.
The Industry of the Year award went to Tasco Thompson & Sons Co. while Oakstone Landscape took home the Service Industry of the Year award. Buehler’s Fresh Foods was named Business of the Year and Core Care Chiropractic won the Service Business of the Year award. H.R. Wolf Hardware was recognized as the Retail Business of the Year, and the Galion Community Center YMCA was named the Organization of the Year. The Humane Society Serving Crawford County received the President’s Award, while Gretchen and Joe Dzugan were presented with the Executive Committee Award. Ed’s Barbershop won the Chamber Chair Award, and Laura Johnson received the Chamber Volunteer Award.
Other winners included Eric Faulds, who won the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) Chamber Bight Star Award, Keith Hummel, who won the Chamber Service Award, Thomas Fox, who won Young Professional of the Year, and Dr. Caleb Miller, who won Professional of the Year.
The award recipients were determined by the vote of the GCACC Board from a pool of 126 nominations made by members.
In addition to recognizing outstanding community contributors, the GCACC Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony also included the unanimous approval of proposed members of the Board of Directors and officers, to serve a term expiring in 2026.
The General Membership approved Sherri Clevenger of First Federal Bank of Ohio, Erik Flick of Flick Packaging, Gary Frankhouse of MyFloors, Debbi Gifford of Craig A. Miley Realty & Auction, and Geoffrey Gompf of Scheider-Gompf Funeral Home to serve on the Board of Directors. Matt Horn of Brothers Body and Equipment was named Chair, with Pennie Fox of Fox Plumbing & Heating named Vice Chair, Jennifer Kuns of Park National Bank named Second Vice Chair, Erik Flick of Flick Packaging named Secretary/Treasurer, and Kim Winkle of Avita Health System named Immediate Past Chair.
The event also highlighted the GCACC’s activities in 2022, including adding 36 new members, performing 12 ribbon cuttings, and achieving over 95% member retention. The Chamber also saved members over $640,000 through affinity programs and worked on several initiatives to benefit the community, such as starting the Crawford CEO Program with the Crawford Partnership, UWNCO, and the Bucyrus Area Chamber, and planning for Mainstreet Galion (DART Study).
GCACC Executive Director Miranda Jones expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the event’s success and looks forward to another year of serving the community. Avita catered dinner for the event, and Flower Cart Florist provided live centerpieces.