(Oct. 20, 2016) The 17th annual Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony was held Oct. 13 in conjunction with the Ocean Pines Yacht Club’s Harvest Ball.
The honorees this year were: Nonprofit of the year, the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines Foundation; Business of the Year, 5 Star Plumbing, Heating & Cooling; and Aaron Eckman, sales manager with the Ocean Pines Independent newspaper.
After cocktails and dinner, each recipient was honored with proclamations from Sen. Jim Mathias, Maryland Delegate Mary Beth Carozza and Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino.
Accepting the honor for the Veterans Memorial Foundation, which was sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, was President Marie Gilmore, who deflected praise to her foundation board, after summoning them to stand behind her during her remarks.
“These are the people that truly get things done, they give me more credit than I deserve,” she said. “We promised Ocean Pines we would take care of it into perpetuity and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
Funded with seed money from the Ocean Pines 35th Anniversary Celebration in 2003, the Veterans Memorial, located on the South Gate Pond in Ocean Pines, was dedicated on Memorial Day in 2005. Donations have also been raised through the sale of bricks and pavers honoring the memory of veterans or current members of the U.S. military.
Mathias praised the work of Gilmore and fellow board members including: Mary Adair, Don Clagett, Carolyn Dryzga, Sarge Garlitz, Ken Ingram, John Lemon, Lou Etta McClaflin, Sharyn O’Hare, Carol Rose, Linda Shanahan, Doug Slingerland, James Spicknall, Steven Zangwill and Sherri Lassahn.
“They say never forget, (and) because of you we won’t,” he said.
In addition to keeping the memorial in good condition, the foundation is committed to teaching Worcester County students about the service of U.S. military members through its Education and Community Outreach Committee.
Carozza opened her remarks by asking veterans to stand for a round of applause before relating her experiences with the foundation’s educational efforts.
“When I watch our veterans with our students, you just see these young people starting to understand the sacrifices involved for their own freedom,” she said. “When I watch children respond to that, it is really uplifting.”
Youthful enthusiasm is sometimes contagious, Carozza said.
“They’re so excited after seeing this veterans memorial they’ll come back and say ‘Ok I’m going to come back and bring my family,’” she said.
Bertino said he was pleased that the Veterans Memorial Foundation was selected as nonprofit of the year.
“For more than a decade, the memorial’s mission has resonated within our community,” he said.
Bertino said the foundation has risen to the task of building and maintaining a suitable memorial to honor and preserve those who risked their own safety to serve in the military.
“I think everyone in this room would agree the memorial does that and so much more,” he said.
He also noted the foundation sponsors ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Bertino, a former board member and foundation president, said the memorial was brought to life through the efforts of numerous parties.
“It started with co-founders Sharyn O’Hare and Roseanne Bridgman, who had a vision and they brought that vision to reality with the help of many people.”
Receiving Business of the Year honors was 5 Star Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, which opened shop in Berlin in 2013. Ginger Fleming, Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce executive director, said owners Joe and Vicky Magnolia have been a staple in the community since launching their business.
“Joe and Vicky have been to every single one of my events at the chamber,” she said.
Unfortunately the couple broke the streak that evening, as they were unable to attend as they were vacationing in Aruba. Since they were otherwise occupied, their son, Joey, accepted the award.
“We actually stated to coming to Ocean City in 2008 and we met a lot of successful business owners in this area,” he said. “I don’t think we would be this successful without the loyalty and support you’ve shown us over the last three years.”
Taking home the Citizen of the Year award was Aaron Eckman, sales manager with the Ocean Pines Independent newspaper.
Fleming praised Eckman for his community involvement.
“He stands 100 percent behind the chamber,” she said.
The evening concluded with the installation of the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Board members and officers.
Sworn in were Incoming President, Heather Shaner of M & T Bank; Outgoing President, Amy Unger of Inesse Consulting Inc.; Vice President, Michael Mathers of Michael B. Mathers, P.A.; Treasurer, Celeste Miller of Farmers Bank of Willards; Secretary and new board member Teresa Berger of Atlantic General Hospital.
Serving on the board of directors are Teresa Travatello of the Ocean Pines Association and Patty Dundore of American Granite and Tile, along with two additional new board members, Steven Sweigert of PKS Investment Advisors, and Suzy Taylor of Ayers Creek Adventures.
Also honored were outgoing board members Anna Giles of Merrill Lynch, attorney Will Cathell and Lee Ann Gunning of Diamond Contractors.
The honorees this year were: Nonprofit of the year, the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines Foundation; Business of the Year, 5 Star Plumbing, Heating & Cooling; and Aaron Eckman, sales manager with the Ocean Pines Independent newspaper.
After cocktails and dinner, each recipient was honored with proclamations from Sen. Jim Mathias, Maryland Delegate Mary Beth Carozza and Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino.
Accepting the honor for the Veterans Memorial Foundation, which was sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, was President Marie Gilmore, who deflected praise to her foundation board, after summoning them to stand behind her during her remarks.
“These are the people that truly get things done, they give me more credit than I deserve,” she said. “We promised Ocean Pines we would take care of it into perpetuity and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
Funded with seed money from the Ocean Pines 35th Anniversary Celebration in 2003, the Veterans Memorial, located on the South Gate Pond in Ocean Pines, was dedicated on Memorial Day in 2005. Donations have also been raised through the sale of bricks and pavers honoring the memory of veterans or current members of the U.S. military.
Mathias praised the work of Gilmore and fellow board members including: Mary Adair, Don Clagett, Carolyn Dryzga, Sarge Garlitz, Ken Ingram, John Lemon, Lou Etta McClaflin, Sharyn O’Hare, Carol Rose, Linda Shanahan, Doug Slingerland, James Spicknall, Steven Zangwill and Sherri Lassahn.
“They say never forget, (and) because of you we won’t,” he said.
In addition to keeping the memorial in good condition, the foundation is committed to teaching Worcester County students about the service of U.S. military members through its Education and Community Outreach Committee.
Carozza opened her remarks by asking veterans to stand for a round of applause before relating her experiences with the foundation’s educational efforts.
“When I watch our veterans with our students, you just see these young people starting to understand the sacrifices involved for their own freedom,” she said. “When I watch children respond to that, it is really uplifting.”
Youthful enthusiasm is sometimes contagious, Carozza said.
“They’re so excited after seeing this veterans memorial they’ll come back and say ‘Ok I’m going to come back and bring my family,’” she said.
Bertino said he was pleased that the Veterans Memorial Foundation was selected as nonprofit of the year.
“For more than a decade, the memorial’s mission has resonated within our community,” he said.
Bertino said the foundation has risen to the task of building and maintaining a suitable memorial to honor and preserve those who risked their own safety to serve in the military.
“I think everyone in this room would agree the memorial does that and so much more,” he said.
He also noted the foundation sponsors ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Bertino, a former board member and foundation president, said the memorial was brought to life through the efforts of numerous parties.
“It started with co-founders Sharyn O’Hare and Roseanne Bridgman, who had a vision and they brought that vision to reality with the help of many people.”
Receiving Business of the Year honors was 5 Star Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, which opened shop in Berlin in 2013. Ginger Fleming, Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce executive director, said owners Joe and Vicky Magnolia have been a staple in the community since launching their business.
“Joe and Vicky have been to every single one of my events at the chamber,” she said.
Unfortunately the couple broke the streak that evening, as they were unable to attend as they were vacationing in Aruba. Since they were otherwise occupied, their son, Joey, accepted the award.
“We actually stated to coming to Ocean City in 2008 and we met a lot of successful business owners in this area,” he said. “I don’t think we would be this successful without the loyalty and support you’ve shown us over the last three years.”
Taking home the Citizen of the Year award was Aaron Eckman, sales manager with the Ocean Pines Independent newspaper.
Fleming praised Eckman for his community involvement.
“He stands 100 percent behind the chamber,” she said.
The evening concluded with the installation of the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Board members and officers.
Sworn in were Incoming President, Heather Shaner of M & T Bank; Outgoing President, Amy Unger of Inesse Consulting Inc.; Vice President, Michael Mathers of Michael B. Mathers, P.A.; Treasurer, Celeste Miller of Farmers Bank of Willards; Secretary and new board member Teresa Berger of Atlantic General Hospital.
Serving on the board of directors are Teresa Travatello of the Ocean Pines Association and Patty Dundore of American Granite and Tile, along with two additional new board members, Steven Sweigert of PKS Investment Advisors, and Suzy Taylor of Ayers Creek Adventures.
Also honored were outgoing board members Anna Giles of Merrill Lynch, attorney Will Cathell and Lee Ann Gunning of Diamond Contractors.