BUCYRUS–Nearly 200 people filled Trillium Event Center, which was temporarily transformed into “OhioHealth Stadium,” for the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce’s 93rd Annual Dinner and Awards on November 7.

The evening’s event had a tailgate theme, with entertainment provided by the Bucyrus High School Marching Band. Four quarters of concessions were catered by Carle’s Bratwurst, complete with grilled kebabs for dinner and a roast-your-own s’mores bar for dessert.

During the President’s Report, Chamber president Kriste Slagle shared highlights from the past year.

“We gained a total of 26 new members in 2018, and our retention rate stands strong at 99 percent,” said Slagle. “We continue to focus on relationship building, connecting resources, and being the biggest cheerleaders for our business community in Bucyrus and the surrounding area.”

Slagle shared that the Chamber has maintained its local focus while expanding services beyond Bucyrus to connect businesses that serve the Bucyrus community. Current membership includes businesses in Attica, Bloomville, Marion, Delaware, Lexington, Norwalk, and even some out of state in Chicago and Indiana.

Value-added services provided by the Chamber in 2018 include: ribbon cuttings, which are offered to members and non-members alike as a way to welcome and promote local businesses; Chamber business workshops, with topics ranging from human resources to branding strategies for small businesses; Chamber Connect open houses, held at local businesses after-hours; and finally, First Fridays, which attracted thousands of community members and visitors downtown to stimulate the local economy and enhance Bucyrus’ quality of life.

The evening’s main event was the annual awards ceremony, which honored the following recipients:

  • Young Professional Spotlight Award: Brittani McVeigh, Bucyrus Holiday Inn Express
  • Volunteers of the Year: Candy Yocum, Crawford County Council on Aging, and Hannah Gingery, Sonshine Childcare & Preschool
  • Citizen of the Year: Sue Stander, Norton’s Flowers
  • Posthumous Citizen Award: Accepted by the family of Michele Johns
  • Organization of the Year: Hord Cares (accepted by Pat and Janel Hord of Hord Family Farms)
  • Business of the Year: First Federal Community Bank

For more information about the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce, visit the website or call 419-562-4811.