ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS
The Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 8 at the Maysville Event Center. The first in-person Annual Meeting in three years was met with excitement and enthusiasm with over 120 guests.
Lori Ulrich, Chair of the Chamber Board of Directors, welcomed the crowd and recognized the Anniversary Award recipients: VFW Post 2734 and the Maysville Event Center (5 years), 1 Source CPAs (15 years), Sweeney Appraisals and D&D Catering (25 years), International Paper, Maysville Community & Technical College, and STOBER Drives (30 years).
Executive Director Kaci Compton provided a Year-in-Review detailing the events and programming the Chamber has offered so far in 2022. She highlighted the organization’s substantial growth and progress and thanked the community for continued support.
In 2021 the Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce created six award categories with the intent of recognizing outstanding businesses and individuals in the community. After receiving 79 unique nominations, the Chamber Events Committee reviewed to confirm established criteria: minimum/maximum number of employees, number of years in business, 501(c)(3) status, and chamber membership. A separate committee reviewed the nominations for the two individual awards. The community’s response was overwhelming with 2200 votes placed for Small, Large, and New Business and Non-Profit of the Year awards, nearly tripling the number of votes placed in 2021.
The 2022 Small Business of the Year, presented by Judge Executive Owen McNeill with Mason County Fiscal Court and City of Maysville, and the 2022 New Business of the Year, presented by Lisa Wellman with Carmeuse Lime and East Kentucky Power, was Maple & Elm Boutique. Owners Lauren Thomas and Brandi Hunt accepted the award and were appreciative of the support from their family and community.
The 2022 Large Business of the Year, presented by Travis Scaggs with WFTM and The Ledger Independent, was Meadowview Regional Medical Center. CEO Joe Koch and several staff were in attendance to accept the award. Koch noted the challenges the hospital experienced throughout the pandemic and thanked the community for their support.
The 2022 Non-Profit of the Year, presented by Becky Mullikin with International Paper and Joe Koch with Meadowview Regional Medical Center, was Sprinkles of Hope. CEO Meagan Brannon and team members Justin Bailey, Samantha Major, and Calleigh Allen accepted the award. Brannon emphasized how much she and her staff appreciate the community support.
The Chamber Champion Award recognizes a chamber member or volunteer who has demonstrated extraordinary enthusiasm for the organization through service and participation in Chamber activities and committees. The 2022 Chamber Champion Award was presented to Danny Weddle by Meagan Brannon, the 2021 recipient.
Grant Felice was named the 2022 Citizen of the Year for his service to the community in education and development of the Cummins Nature Preserve. Rebecca Cartmell, the 2021 Citizen of the Year, presented Felice with the award, noting, “his love for his community is shown in his devotion to maintaining and growing our nature preserve for future generations to enjoy.”
Chamber Chair Lori Ulrich closed the ceremony by acknowledging the success of all the award nominees and invited attendees to remain engaged and join the celebration again in 2023.
Founded in 1961, the Maysville-Mason County Area Chamber of Commerce is Mason County’s largest and longest-standing business organization, supporting over 200 local businesses, organizations, and individuals through education, advocacy, and leadership.
For more information or to join the Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.maysvillechamber.com or contact Kaci at 606-564-5534.