Chamber presents annual awards
The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce celebrated the best of Owensboro’s business and nonprofit communities during its annual Chamber Celebration on Friday night at the RiverPark Center.
Community leaders were recognized during the ceremony with the 2025 Chamber Awards for Excellence and 10 local businesses were honored as 2025 Businesses of the Year.
The award recipients were selected from approximately 100 nominees.
“The Chamber Celebration is an opportunity to recognize the members who are leading and excelling in our community,” said Candance Castlen Brake, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “Our business community is like no other. The nominees and award recipients are true examples of excellence.
“The Chamber is so proud to serve our members and see their growth, innovation and pride in all they do.”
Mark Marsh, president and CEO of Owensboro Health, presenting sponsor of the ceremony, lauded the Chamber for its impact on the Owensboro business community.
“Thank you to the Chamber and the entire team,” he said. “I know we get a chance to work with them every day, and they’re incredible.
“Candance and I also serve on the state Chamber of Commerce, and I can tell you, Candance is highly respected. She does a great job advocating for us.”
Marsh said the Owensboro Health family is honored to be part of the celebration.
“I know every year we look forward to this, many of our team members, board members, physicians and so on,” he said. “This is such a special night. This is a time for us to celebrate each of you.”
The celebration included the traditional “passing of the gavel” from 2024 board chair John Marshall Moore to incoming chair Olga McKissic.
“I know she is going to do fantastic,” said Moore about McKissic. “We’re in good hands.”
McKissic told the crowd she initially declined the position, but then felt called to it.
“This is not an assignment I wanted to do; I first said no,” she sad. “Then I was asked, ‘Well, could you think about?’ And my thinking about it is always praying about it. And in my prayer, I was told to say yes. So here I am, the Chamber board chair of 2025, making my ancestors proud.
“I just want to say thank you Candance and the executive board for their confidence in me to lead the Chamber board.”
The Miller House was named 2025 Chamber Member of the Year. Scott McCain received the Bill Young Community Leadership Award.
Former Owensboro Public Schools administrator Anita Burnette was presented with the Legacy Award.
AWARD WINNERS
Emerging Business of the Year — The Party Space Place
Business of the Year 1-10 Employees — The Skin Therapist
Business of the Year 11-50 Employees — Baird
Business of the Year 50+ Employees — German American Bank
Non-Profit of the Year — Fine Arts — Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens
Non-Profit of the Year — Human Needs and Services — The Opportunity Center
Education and Workforce Development Institution of the Year — HealthForce KY
Manufacturer of the Year — Mizkan America
Minority Owned Business of the Year — Don Mario’s
Rick Kamuf Agri-Business of the Year — Daviess County Cooperative Extension
2025 Chamber Director of the Year — W. Clay H. Ford
2025 Chamber Ambassador of the Year — Charlotte Newton
2025 Leadership Owensboro Class Member of the Year — Rafe Buckner
2025 Bill Young Community Leadership Award — Scott McCain
2025 Chamber Member of the Year — The Miller House
2025 Legacy Award — Anita Burnette
By Scott Hagerman Messenger-Inquirer