BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) hosted its 99th Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation at The Loft at Pickwick Place on November 13, 2024. The “Seasons of Change” themed event saw Board President James Patrick outline the past year’s changes and accomplishments, including Casie Grau’s appointment as Chamber Executive Director, supported by staff members Beth Anne Jarvis, Heather Martin, and Jessica Karcher. The Chamber has renewed its focus on being positive, present, and professional for its members. This year’s events reported record turnouts, with the Annual Dinner being no exception.
Upcoming BACC events include Candlelight Christmas on December 5, 2024, coinciding with the Santa Parade sponsored by the Bucyrus Kiwanis Club. Additionally, Mr. Patrick and Casie Grau highlighted the upcoming merger with the Galion-Crestline Chamber of Commerce, forming the new Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, effective January 1, 2025.
Award Highlights
Melissa Miller from North Central Ohio Media Group and Reva Davis, owner of Reva Davis Photography, introduced The Pickwick Place as the Business of the Year. Melissa stated, “The Pickwick Place echoes the pulse of our community and visitors walk away with a feeling of nostalgia and a connection to Bucyrus.”
Mary Jo Carle from Together We Hurt Together We Heal presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Jordan Groves for her work in developing the Crawford County Butterfly Foundation, a non-profit supporting foster children. Jordan, a foster parent herself, also hosts the podcast “Fostering From The Heart.”
Fred Fischer presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Matt Cole and Tad Fannin, recognized for their community spirit and innovative business approaches. Fred noted that both Matt and Tad “work with vision, passion, and a mission to advance our community forward.” Matt owns New2You After Market Outlet, and Tad owns Tad Fannin Marketing Media.
The Organization of the Year was awarded to New Day Ministries by Doug Foght on behalf of Kiwanis, the 2023 Organization of the Year. New Day Ministries was praised for their support to those in need, providing over 800,000 meals and clothing to many experiencing hardship.
Kate Volk, the 2023 Volunteer of the Year, presented this year’s award to Jim and Linda Leyda for their contributions to various organizations, including BORN, The Crawford County Community Concert Association, The Salvation Army, and Bucyrus United Methodist Church.
Hannah Young presented the 2024 Young Professional of the Year Award to Jessica Alt, owner of Center Street Meat Company. Jessica also served as the Whetstone Township Fiscal Officer and is a member of the Ohio Association of Meat Processing.
A new award, the 2024 Chamber Ambassador of the Year, was presented by Heather Martin and Casie Grau to Jody Spiegel, who has volunteered at nearly every Chamber event, presented at the Music at the Mural concert series, and assisted with the Best “Wurst” Bike Ride. Casie remarked, “We have a fantastic group of Ambassadors, which made choosing the recipient of this award very hard. We are grateful for all of their volunteer hours and for making positive experiences for our members and the community.”
Pictures by Heather Martin:
