Syracuse Chamber Awards

February 21, 2018 at 7:44 p.m.

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The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet Tuesday evening at the Owl’s Nest, an event center north of North Webster.

Chamber Executive Director Andrea Keller gave a brief overview of chamber activities throughout the past year. She encouraged those in attendance to visit the chamber’s new and improved website at swchamber.com, which includes a blog, event calendar and is synchronized with the chamber’s Facebook page.

She said the chamber is relaunching its ambassador program, planning several networking events and is working to establish a three-year strategic plan and a new business development committee. Several awards were presented following a meal catered by the Owl’s Nest staff.

Pictured are (seated, L to R) Ashley Davis, The Sleepy Owl (Restaurant of the Year); Jon Shopoff, Shopoff's Drive-In (Most Uniquely Syracuse); Kyle Dukes, board president, Lakeland Youth Center (Non-Profit of the Year); Brittany Bushong-Bales, Babes & Combs (Young Professional Visionary of the Year); Kris Stump, Wawasee Community Schools music teacher (Outstanding Educator of the Year); Adora Truex, Bubbles & Yarn Artisan Market (Retailer of the Year); Tina Harlan, Mug Shots Coffehouse & Eatery (New Business of the Year); and Stacey and Gabe Ritter, Ritter Electric, Heating & Cooling (Service Business of the Year).



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(Standing, L to R) are award sponsors and recipients including, Ron Baumgardner, The Papers Inc. (Restaurant of the Year sponsor); Chip Erwin, The Sleepy Owl (Restaurant of the Year award recipient); Tom and Holly Tuttle, Team Tuttle Mortgage (Non-Profit Award of the Year sponsor); Jenny Douglas, executive director, Lakeland Youth Center (Non-Profit of the Year award recipient); Nathan Barker, Horizon Bank (Young Professional Visionary of the Year sponsor); Dr. Richard Brundgardt, Lakeland Animal Clinic (Outstanding Educator of the Year sponsor); Kim Strawbridge, Lake City Bank (Retailer of the Year sponsor); Jeanetta Slabaugh, Crossroads Bank (New Business of the Year sponsor); Andrea Larson, MutualBank (Service Excellence Award sponsor); Tyler McLead, Syracuse Parks (Syracuse Man of the Year award recipient, (ponsored by Parker Hannifin, not pictured); Tricia Small, Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware (Syracuse Woman of the Year sponsor); and Sylvia Gargett, Northern Lakes Insurance (Syracuse Woman of the Year award recipient and Most Uniquely Syracuse Award sponsor.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet Tuesday evening at the Owl’s Nest, an event center north of North Webster.

Chamber Executive Director Andrea Keller gave a brief overview of chamber activities throughout the past year. She encouraged those in attendance to visit the chamber’s new and improved website at swchamber.com, which includes a blog, event calendar and is synchronized with the chamber’s Facebook page.

She said the chamber is relaunching its ambassador program, planning several networking events and is working to establish a three-year strategic plan and a new business development committee. Several awards were presented following a meal catered by the Owl’s Nest staff.

Pictured are (seated, L to R) Ashley Davis, The Sleepy Owl (Restaurant of the Year); Jon Shopoff, Shopoff's Drive-In (Most Uniquely Syracuse); Kyle Dukes, board president, Lakeland Youth Center (Non-Profit of the Year); Brittany Bushong-Bales, Babes & Combs (Young Professional Visionary of the Year); Kris Stump, Wawasee Community Schools music teacher (Outstanding Educator of the Year); Adora Truex, Bubbles & Yarn Artisan Market (Retailer of the Year); Tina Harlan, Mug Shots Coffehouse & Eatery (New Business of the Year); and Stacey and Gabe Ritter, Ritter Electric, Heating & Cooling (Service Business of the Year).



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(Standing, L to R) are award sponsors and recipients including, Ron Baumgardner, The Papers Inc. (Restaurant of the Year sponsor); Chip Erwin, The Sleepy Owl (Restaurant of the Year award recipient); Tom and Holly Tuttle, Team Tuttle Mortgage (Non-Profit Award of the Year sponsor); Jenny Douglas, executive director, Lakeland Youth Center (Non-Profit of the Year award recipient); Nathan Barker, Horizon Bank (Young Professional Visionary of the Year sponsor); Dr. Richard Brundgardt, Lakeland Animal Clinic (Outstanding Educator of the Year sponsor); Kim Strawbridge, Lake City Bank (Retailer of the Year sponsor); Jeanetta Slabaugh, Crossroads Bank (New Business of the Year sponsor); Andrea Larson, MutualBank (Service Excellence Award sponsor); Tyler McLead, Syracuse Parks (Syracuse Man of the Year award recipient, (ponsored by Parker Hannifin, not pictured); Tricia Small, Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware (Syracuse Woman of the Year sponsor); and Sylvia Gargett, Northern Lakes Insurance (Syracuse Woman of the Year award recipient and Most Uniquely Syracuse Award sponsor.

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