Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce presents awards
BELPRE — Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz presented Pat Minnite Sr. and Karen Waller with a key to the city at Thursday evening’s Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner.
“Each of them has done so much for us and to make our city a better place,” said Lorentz.
The 81st annual dinner highlighted the year’s milestones concerning business and economic growth in Belpre.
“It has been a great year and I am so proud of the accomplishments reached,” said Kelly Cox, Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce president.
The evening’s guest speaker was Greg Kozera, the marketing director for Shale Crescent USA, a nonprofit and non-government organization whose mission is to bring high wage jobs into the Mid-Ohio Valley.
“There is a pride here you don’t see often,” Kozera said.
Kozera talked about how a title is not needed to be a leader.
He presented the chamber with studies and graphs showing the success of Shale and where it has room to continue going.
“This is the power of an organization with a community behind it,” Kozera said.
People and businesses receiving awards were:
∫ Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce President Appreciation: Kelly Cox
∫ Spirit of the Chamber: Lindsay Balsimo
∫ Ambassador of the Year: Tony Brown with Brown Owl Imaging
∫ Business Person of the Year: Nancy and Mark Miller with Miller Prosthetics
∫ Entrepreneur/Small Business of the Year: Denise Belair with Belair’s Bistro
∫ Spirit of the Community: Michael Tucker with West Virginia Central Credit Union
∫ Non-Profit of the Year: Habitat for Humanity Mid-Ohio Valley
∫ Business of the Year: Boxers Bed and Biscuits
∫ Business and Marketing Award: Zenergy Massage, Kenna Lewis
∫ Spirit of Economic Development: Kirk McCall and Bob Raunch
∫ Spirit of Belpre Homecoming: Matt Matheny
∫ Citizen of the Year: Larry Arnold.