Chamber Celebration to honor area businesses, nonprofits
Area businesses, business leaders, and nonprofits will step into the spotlight Friday night, Jan. 19, when the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Chamber Celebration at the RiverPark Center.
The celebration — which includes an awards presentation across 17 categories — begins at 6 p.m. with a reception that includes heavy hors-d’oeuvres, followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
An after-party featuring DJ Shay will close the festivities.
“Recognizing the men and women who are moving our community forward is a truly joyous occasion for our Chamber,” said Candance Castlen Brake, Chamber president and CEO.
“They are trailblazers, innovators, entrepreneurs. People who wake up each morning with so much on the line but with goals they are determined to achieve.
“Honoring their contributions to our community is a privilege.”
Nominations for the awards are taken from the full Chamber membership.
Nominees must then complete an information packet relating to their work. A record 80 nominees returned the packets this year.
Neither the Chamber staff nor anyone on the Chamber board of directors is involved in the selection process.
Four anonymous past Chamber board chairs select the winners.
The Chamber awards began in 1986, when the chamber presented its first “Small Business Person of the Year” award.
Tickets for Friday’s event are $75 each and can be purchased at the RiverPark Center box office or by calling the Chamber at 270-926-1860.
2023 Chamber Celebration award categories are:
- Emerging Business of the Year
- Business of the Year — 1-10 Employees
- Business of the Year — 11-50 Employees
- Business of the Year — 51-500 Employees
- Business of the Year — Over 500 Employees
- Nonprofit of the Year — Fine Arts
- Nonprofit of the Year — Human Services
- Legacy Award
- Education & Workforce Development Institution of the Year
- Manufacturer of the Year
- Rick Kamuf Agri-Business of the Year
- Ambassador of the Year
- Director of the Year
- CYP Member of the Year
- Class Member of the Year
- Member of the Year
- Minority Business Leader of the Year
- Bill Young Leadership Award
By Scott Hagerman Messenger-Inquirer