×

Committed to Bellefonte

Chamber recognizes community members for service

PHOTO PROVIDED Honored at the annual Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual luncheon were, from left, Matt Hill of Logan Branch Insurance, winner of the Lifetime Member Recognition Award; Emma Gosalvez of The Express, winner of the Excellence Award, and Kerry O’Hara of First National Bank, winner of the Community Service Award, pose for a photo after the annual Chamber luncheon.

BELLEFONTE — During the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual luncheon, a couple members of the Bellefonte business community were recognized for their commitment and service within the community.

On Wednesday, the Chamber hosted the luncheon and gave its annual membership report and awards at the American Philatelic Society.

The Lifetime Member Recognition award was given to Matt Hill, owner of Logan Branch Insurance Agency. Presenting Hill’s award was Tami Schuster,  president on the Chamber’s board of directors. Schuster reflected on when Hill and his wife Maryellen first came to Bellefonte.

“This couple knocked on Bellefonte’s doorstep 11 years ago,” Schuster said. “The first thing that the couple did was join the Chamber, recognizing it as a valuable tool to aid their new business.”

In the past, Hill served on the Chamber’s board of directors for two years, and he served three years as chair of the Chamber’s annual croquet tournament, Schuster said. The croquet tournament, typically held in early June, has been the Chamber’s biggest fundraiser in the community.

In addition to being a local business owner, Hill also serves as president of the Bellefonte Area Industrial Development Authority (BAIDA). Schuster added that a recent BAIDA success in the area has been the creation of the waterfront walkway along Spring Creek.

When he is not running a business and helping with BAIDA projects in Bellefonte, Hill also serves as a member of various local organizations, including the Bellefonte Kiwanis, Bellefonte Elks, Bellefonte Masons, and Business Network International.

Another member of the local business community to receive an award was Kerry O’Hara, business development officer of First National Bank, who received the Community Service award from past board president Chuck Kormanski.

O’Hara has served on numerous boards within the local community, Kormanski said.

“He’s worked very hard and doesn’t toot his own horn, but what really makes this person special is the fact that he works very diligently for Relay for Life,” Kormanski added.

For eight years, O’Hara has worked for both the bank and has worked with Relay for Life to help fight cancer.

The Excellence award was given to Emma Gosalvez of The Express newspaper in Lock Haven for her extensive coverage of Chamber events and news in the Bellefonte community over the past year.

At the end of the luncheon, executive director Gary Hoover gave a report on the past year’s successes within the Chamber, which was founded in 1938 and is currently governed by a 21-member board.

Membership with the Chamber continues to grow, as 20 new members have joined in the past year, Hoover said. The Chamber has, however, lost 12 businesses as members throughout the year. Altogether, there are 242 members, as of the beginning of October.

Two big successes of the past year have been new fundraisers, including a circus held during the summer and a magic show held during the winter. The circus was a sold-out event that the Chamber hopes to host again, and the fundraisers generated a net $4,300 in non-dues revenue. Hoover said that they helped produce local spending and donations to both the fire police and the Undine Fire Company.

Some of the funds raised through the circus and magic show will be used to fund a special project — a “Welcome Bellefonte” video. Hoover said the video is currently under production; once finished, it will be uploaded to the Chamber’s website.

Hoover said, “It’s a Chamber video, but it promotes Bellefonte area as a whole, so it benefits the entire community.”

 

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today