From left, Hayley Keefer introduces keynote speaker Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol through song at the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce Dinner this past Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

VIENNA — The Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 95th anniversary and annual awards ceremony at the Grand Pointe Conference Center Thursday.

The BACC celebrated the achievements of local businesses and individuals in the community with the theme Cruising First Class. Approximately 240 people drank, ate and mingled Thursday prior to the awards ceremony. Food was provided by Grand Pointe Conference Center’s in-house staff, with a separate array of cupcakes for dessert donated by The Village Cakery.

BACC Executive Director Karen Waller said the dinner continues to grow annually with approximately 240 attendees for Thursday’s event. Membership in the chamber has hit 250 members.

“I think we’re trying to make sure that we are open for business,” said Waller. “We’re retaining what we have and helping people come here to locate or assist people in their needs to grow their business.”

According to Waller, the awards are meant to celebrate the journeys that each business has taken through the ups and downs and also reward them for standout performances.

Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce President Jessica Walters, right, supported by Vice-President Tammy Belcher kicked off the night at the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Additionally, there are community awards because, according to Waller, the dinner is historically more of a social dinner as opposed to a business dinner, even though networking is highly encouraged, offering such awards as Citizen of the Year.

This year’s awards included:

Business of the year

* First Mutual Bank – winner

* Riverview Credit Union – nominee

The Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 95th anniversary and held an awards ceremony at the Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna on Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

* Discovery World on Market – nominee

* Memorial Health System – nominee

Citizen of the Year

* Amanda Wires

Milestones in Business: This category awards chamber members and their milestone years of service in the Belpre area business community.

From left, Seven Mountains Media Promotions Director Lori Roberts, Building Bridges to Careers Pathways Specialist Jenna Stewart and Building Bridges to Careers Support Specialist Victoria Freeman Powell catch up at the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner at the Grand Pointe Conference Center Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

* Main St. Car Wash – 20 years in business

* Neff’s Country Loft – 30 years in business

* The Village Cakery – 35 years in business

* Perry and Associates CPAs – 50 years in business

* Ed Hetzer, State Farm – 50 years in business

Ben Bradley, Master of Ceremonies for the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner, tells some jokes surrounding the Cruising First Class theme for the chamber dinner Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

* Marietta Community Foundation – 50 years in business

* WV Central Federal Credit Union – 55 years in business

* Schwendeman Agency – 95 years in business

* Memorial Health System – 95 years in business and service to the community

* United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley – 100 years of service to the community

* United Bank – 185 years in business

* Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce – 95 years in service to businesses in the Mid-Ohio Valley

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com