CCEDC presents awards at annual gala
Eight people, businesses and/or projects were recognized by the Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development office and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce during a Hawaiian Luau Awards Gala held on Friday night at the Blue Mountain Resort, Lower Towamensing Township.
The annual dinner program drew a large crowd that watched the following 2019 recognition awards be presented:
Ambassador Award: Dorrie Merluzzi.
Business of the Year: Joey B’s Bar and Restaurant.
Rookie Business of the Year: Jenny’s Sweets & More.
Young Professional of the Year: Jessica Adamczyk, Heritage Hill Senior Community.
William H. Bayer Lifetime Achievement: James Wimmer, Esq.
Volunteer and Community Impact Project of the Year: Shelly Lutz, Split Rock Golf Club, Red Rock Rescue Inc.
Tourism & Entertainment Business of the Year: No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum.
Economic Development Project: D&L Pedestrian Bridge and Carbon County Trail Connection, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Carbon County and Jim Thorpe Borough.
John Thorpe of John Thorpe Voice Overs/J.J. Thorpe, served as master of ceremonies for the event with Michael Harleman, president of the CCEDC, offering welcoming remarks. The invocation was asked by Carbon County Commissioner Wayne E. Nothstein.
The program included remarks by Toni Ianelli, president and CEO of the GLVCC, John Hayed, chairman of the LV chamber’s board of governors, Marlin Kissner, executive vice president of GLVCC and CCEDC, Alice Wanamaker, assistant vice president of the Northern Region, and Kathy Henderson, director of economic development in Carbon County, who presented an overview of economic development activities in Carbon County in the past year.
Serving on the dinner committee were Shannon Eidem of the Workforce Investment Board, Carbon County; Marj Federanich, CruiseOne; Davd Figenshu, Dave Figenshu Digital Media; Kiya Jenkins, Upcoming Superstar; Sheila Knappenberger, Bucko, Lisicky & Company, Thorpe; and Joan Turko, Turko Specialty Advertising.
In addition to Harleman, members of the CCEDC board include Patricia Handwerk, Harry Packer Mansion, vice president; Patrick Reilly, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, treasurer; Jared McEvoy, The Equinox Agency, secretary; Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities; Barbara Franzosa, Smith Partnership; Barbara Green, Blue Mountain Resort; Girvin Janicki, Walmart; John Nespoli, St. Luke’s Hospital, Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton campuses; Nothstein; Joe Russo, PenTeleData; Mark Sverchek, Spotts-Sverchek Insurance Agency; Ronald Tirpak, Carbon Engineering; Marshall Walters, Architectural Polymers; and Craig Zurn, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank.
