By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
It was a night of celebration at The Loft at Pickwick Place Tuesday night when the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce held its 91st Annual Dinner and Awards program.
With a Halloween theme which featured many of the guests dressing in costume, the event honored the individuals and businesses associated with the Chamber who went above and beyond their regular duties. The evening also served as an unofficial send-off to outgoing Chamber Executive Director Deb Pinion. Pinion reflected on what she will miss most about the chamber dinners.
“I will miss these kind of things. I am sure they will let me come if I want to, but I love putting on things like this and getting to talk. If I had my way we wouldn’t have any program and we would just walk around and eat dinner and talk together.”
Pinion co-hosted the evening with incoming Director Tyler Jacobs as they celebrated not just Pinion’s career, but the businesses in the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce.
The evening began with the social and dinner hour, which featured food catered by Carle’s Bratwurst and Market. After the dinner, Chamber President Sue Logsdon, owner of U Be Dazzled, reflected on the achievements of the Chamber for the 2016 year.
“In 2016 we had seven new members and eight ribbon cuttings,” Logsdon said. “The future is bright in Bucyrus because of the work of local officials and community members. Thank you all for being present and active. The Chamber of Commerce exists because of you.”
After a few surprises were sprung on Pinion and she reflected on her service with the Chamber, Pinion along with Jacobs presented awards to chamber members who impacted the community in the 2016 year.
Winning Business of the Year was J & F Construction. Owner Jim Mays accepted the award for his company. Mays reflected on winning Business of the Year.
“It is a real honor, there are lots of other deserving businesses that give a huge amount back to the community as well, but we are glad that the good lord blessed us and allowed us to do that this year,” Mays said.
Taking Citizen of the Year honors was Randy Fischer. Fischer was short in his acceptance speech saying just two words “Go Tribe.” Fischer reflected on the honor later in the evening.
“(It is a) Total shock, amazing, I am proud. My sister and brother-in-law came up from Columbus. But anyway I couldn’t be happier, but I didn’t expect it at all,” Fischer said.
After closing comments made by Pinion and Jacobs, the entertainment for the evening had members of the Chamber doing the “Time Warp” as the Crawford Theatre Company performed selections form their recent performances of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
2016-2017 Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Awards:
Young Professional Spotlight Award – Hannah Jacobs
Volunteers of the Year – Joe and Mary Platt
Organization of the Year – Bucyrus Outreach and Restoration Network (BORN)
Business of the Year – J&F Construction
Corrine Boryczka Posthumous Citizen of the Year – Roger Moore
Citizen of the Year – Randy Fischer