Published: May 08, 2008 06:29 pm            

BUSINESS: Chamber dinner shines light on growth

FANCHER — The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce 10th annual meeting and awards dinner was an eventful evening Wednesday at the Hickory Ridge Golf and County Club in Fancher.

Executive Director Kelly Kiebala said in the past year, the organization has reinstated a number of programs, and she hopes the effort that has been put forth by the group will allow the Chamber to better serve its members.

Kiebala also announced that — along with the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Orleans County Tourism — the Chamber has received a grant that will help them promote agri-tourism in Orleans County.

The bulk of the evening was set aside for the awards ceremony. Six awards were planned and had been previously announced, but a seventh was a “surprise award,” said presenter and Director of Tourism Wayne Hale. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Virginia Kropf, 69, who has worked as an outside correspondent and regular columnist at the Daily News in Batavia for 15 years.

Throughout her life, Kropf has worked many jobs, including a stint as a car salesperson and a reporter. Hale said she always rises to the occasion and tackles any obstacle in her way, even learning how to fly an airplane and acing the reporter test she took when she started at the Daily News. The announcement of Kropf’s award came as a surprise to her, and though she said she could go on and on, she kept her comments brief.

“This really is a surprise,” Kropf said, adding that she is proud of her local heritage. “Some of the stories from you people are what make my job so much fun.”

Other awards were presented as follows:

• New Business of the Year: The award was given to Western New York Energy, the company that has invested $90 million into the ethanol plant in Shelby. According to presenter Andrew Meier, who received the award last year for his opening of the Shirt Factory Cafe, it is the largest private investment in the county.

Receiving the award was Chief Executive Officer John Sawyer. While he thanked the Chamber he said, “We’re happy to be in Orleans County.”

“Through the efforts of the IDA, we chose the Shelby site ... thank you and we’re glad to be here.”

• Entrepreneurial Excellence: This award was presented by Chamber President Darrel Oakes to Weed Man, owned and operated by Ken Bieber of Albion.

Bieber began the company three years ago with zero customer base, and the operations were located at his home. Since then, the business has grown to more than 1,500 customers within Orleans and Niagara counties. Although he had been urged to open shop in another state and then Buffalo, the Albion-born-and-raised man opted to stay in his hometown to begin the door-to-door campaign to get the word out about the company.

In the pat year, Bieber’s business has increased 52 percent and has taken on local students who have helped the business take off.

“My goal is to do that, to give back to the community,” he said.

• Community Service: Medina Lions Club President Jim Hancock presented this award to the Orleans County Farmers’ Market Association. Secretary Ann Nice and member Judy Koehler received the plaque.

“In 2004, the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension initiated a movement to start a farmers market association,” Hancock said. The idea took off, and in 2005, the market opened on Saturdays in the parking lot at Save-A-Lot in Albion. In 2007, the market expanded operations and began opening on Thursdays in the Medina Erie Canal basin.

The organization has received praise for going to great lengths to serve the community and each year has a harvest festival and an annual Kids Day.

This year will be the association’s fourth year, and Nice extended her thanks and appreciation for the award and community support.

“A special thanks to all — and there were a lot,” she said.

• Phoenix Award: This award goes to an organization or business that has adapted or reused an existing facility, and it was presented to Lyons Collision by Michael Bonafede and Judy Koehler.

“You’ve got to see the place now,” Bonafede said. “It is a visible sign of encouragement, optimism and hope.”

The Lyons family has been in business for more than 30 years and received the recognition for fixing up the building behind their facility and putting it to use.

“Without community support, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” said Jeff Lyons, who received the award on behalf of the family.

• Honorary Board Award for Community Service: This award was added this year after the loss of lifelong resident Don Kennedy. He served in many positions over the course of several decades before his untimely death in July 2007. The award was presented posthumously to his wife, Pat, and his family by two longtime friends, Dr. Arthur Mruczek and Lance Mark.

“He loved the people, the commerce ... He was the ultimate Medina booster,” Mruczek said. “He was continuously passionate. So wide-ranging were his accomplishments.”

Kennedy died at age 63 in a tragic motor vehicle accident on the New York State Thruway. Among the positions he held were trustee and mayor of the Village of Medina.

According to Mark, Kennedy was instrumental in getting Washington Mutual to stay and expand in Orleans County while he was head of the county’s Economic Development Agency.

“Don was an ambassador,” Mark said. Kennedy also had a deep devotion for his family and his community as a whole.

“Don loved his community,” Pat Kennedy said. “We’re very proud to receive this award in his honor.”

• Business of the Year: Associated Brands won the award for having the most significant overall achievements during the year. Presenter Dave Bellucci said the business is a leading North American manufacturer of dry-blend food products. The company has plants in Medina and Winnipeg, Canada, and corporate headquarters are located in Toronto. Between 2001 and 2007, the company saw a significant increase in sales and is now prepared to invest approximately $5 million and add more than 50 jobs to the Medina facility.

“Associated Brands has really quietly and successfully built the business in Medina,” said Jim DiMatteo, director of manufacturing and logistics. “We are poised for the future.”

        

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