The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of their Annual 2024 Business and Community Awards. In an attempt to help promote October as “Chamber of Commerce” month, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce will hold a special awards luncheon, sponsored by Community Bank, NA, to recognize the winners of the awards. The luncheon will take place on Thursday, October 24^th at 11:45 am at Sand Springs Country Club in Drums. The cost of the luncheon is $32 per person. Reservations are required by Monday, October 21^st by registering online at hazletonchamber.org, calling the Chamber at 455-1509 or emailing .

 

The 2024 Small Business of the Year Award recipient is Keystone Ballet Academy. The purpose of this award is to show appreciation and recognition to a small business that is located or offers services in the Greater Hazleton Area and promote the importance of small businesses to the economy and welfare of the entire community. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that has no more than 50 full-time employees and is located in the Greater Hazleton area. Judging was based on staying power, growth, community contribution, and overall management philosophy. This award is sponsored by the 2006 recipient, Comfort Keepers.

 

The 2024 Large Business of the Year Award recipient is Niagara Bottling LLC. The purpose of the award is to show appreciation and recognition to a large business that is located or offers services in the Greater Hazleton and promote the importance of large businesses to the economy and welfare of the community. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that has more than 50 full-time employees and is located in the Greater Hazleton Area. Judging was based on staying power, growth, community contribution, and overall management philosophy. This award is sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

 

The 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award, in memory of Rocco Colangelo Sr. & Rocco Colangelo Jr., is Cal Herring. The purpose of this award is to extend appreciation to and honor an individual who volunteers within the Greater Hazleton Area and to promote the importance of volunteerism to the community at large. Eligible applicants included any individual that participates in volunteer work or community service in Greater Hazleton not required by their place of employment. This award is sponsored by Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center at Hazleton.

 

The 2024 Pride of Place Award recipient is Hayden Power Group. The purpose of this award is to recognize local businesses or organizations whose exterior property physically improves or enhances the community and environment in the Greater Hazleton Area. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that was located in the Greater Hazleton Area, and the structure must be a commercial or public building. This award is sponsored by Tri-Mountain Ventures.

 

The 2024 Healthy Workplace of the Year recipient is American Eagle Outfitters. The purpose of this award is to recognize a business in the Greater Hazleton Area who is adopting wellness practices into their workplace. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business located within the Greater Hazleton Area and judging was based on strength and creativity of their workplace wellness initiatives. This award is sponsored by Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton.

 

The 2024 Charitable Organization of the Year recipient is the Catholic Social Services. The purpose of this award is to recognize any Chamber member non-profit organization within the Greater Hazleton Area who have improved the welfare of the community. Judging was based on strength and creativity of their non-profit organization. This award is sponsored by the Hayden Power Group.

 

The 2024 Young Entrepreneur of the Year recipient is Megan Sterenchock, Jr, owner of Stray Threads. The purpose of this award is promote the development of future business owners and operators within the Greater Hazleton Area. Nominees must be between the ages of 13 and 35, reside or attend school in the Greater Hazleton Area, attend school, high school or college or have successfully completed high school, may be a full time graduate student, dorm students are eligable, have a for-profit business, currently operate within Greater Hazleton, ongoing businesses are eligible, businesses must be in operation for at least three months and must have a client/customer base of three or more. Applicants were judged on staying power, growth and community contribution. This award is sponsored by CAN BE, Inc.

 

According to Kelly King, Chamber Board member and Awards Program Chairman, “We have initiated these awards to highlight businesses that are located in the Greater Hazleton Area, and to recognize the important role that volunteers play in our community. The judging was extremely difficult with many excellent applicants in each category. However, I feel that the judges made excellent choices with the above-mentioned winners.”

 

In addition to the business and community awards, the Chamber’s women networking committee will be recognizing the recipient of the annual Women’s Empowerment Grant. This grant was established to encourage women to pursue training or education that will help them start or advance a career. The target of the grant is women who: are currently working and want to advance in their career through education or training; are returning to the workforce; are seeking to change their current career path and pursue something more in line with their interests or passions and it is intended to be available to those who would not necessarily have access to scholarships or grants. Funds are raised at events coordinated through the Chamber’s women’s networking committee throughout the year. In addition, funding is provided by PPL, who has been a supporter of this grant fund, since its inception. And for the fourth year in a row, Jessica Spare through her small business Meadow Container.

 

The 2024 recipients are Ana Peralta Nunez who has received a $2,500 grant and Ruth Wheeler who has received a $1,000 grant. Ms. Nunez is currently in her last year in the Registered Nursing program at Luzerne County Community College. Ms. Wheeler is a licensed real estate agent and is currently working toward her broker license with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Academy in Wilkes-Barre. The Chamber Women’s Networking committee members as well as any business-woman from throughout Greater Hazleton is encouraged to attend to show their support of this years recipients.