STEVENSVILLE— On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Celebrating Business Awards” at the new Four Seasons Club House.
The awards were presented following a night of cocktails, socializing, and celebrating Queen Anne’s County’s successful businesses.
Linda Friday, President of the Chamber, presented milestone awards to several businesses throughout the county in recognition of their tenure.
McCrone Engineering, LLC, received the first award that night, receiving a milestone for their 85 years of service in Centreville.
Edward Jones Financial, Talisman Therapeutic Riding, Inc., and Kent Island Beach Cleanups, all of which have been in business for ten years, were the three youngest businesses to receive awards that night.
Other businesses that received a placard to commemorate a business milestone included: Hogans Agency (70 years), Chesterwye Center (55 years), Joseph W. McCartin Insurance Inc. (55 years), Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals (45 years), Lundberg Builders Inc. (45 years), Go Glass Joy (40 years), Kram, McCarthy, Ayers & Frost, LLC (35 years), Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Inc. (30 years), Dogwood
Later in the evening, Brad Lundberg, chairman of the Chamber and owner of Lundberg Builders, presented the 2022 Pinnacle Business Awards.
Jennifer Vedrani of Refill Goodness, LLC received the Environmental Stewardship Award. She was recognized as a business leader who has demonstrated an outstanding business practice that includes environmental awareness in the form of financial support or employee involvement in community environmental efforts, among other things.
Refill Goodness LLC, which opened in Stevensville in October 2021, is a retail store that sells environmentally sustainable household products such as bamboo toothbrushes, hair brushes, dish brushes, soap, and more.
“I am very grateful for all the support from Queen Anne’s County,” Vendrani said. “It’s very meaningful because most of the stewardship is owed to most of the nonprofits that we work with, so receiving this award means that there is a shift in focus towards businesses that promote environmentally friendly causes.”
Refill Goodness, LLC promotes their cause in collaboration with local nonprofits such as Plastic Free QAC, Kent Island Beach Clean Up, and Annapolis Green.
Courtney Smith, owner and operator of 1631, an event venue next to Glitz and Grace Boutique in Stevensville, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Smith began her career at Harvard as a field marketing manager and entrepreneur. She owns two businesses: a marketing agency founded in 2009 and a party planning company called Bachelorette founded in 2013—the first digital bachelorette party planning website in the United States.
Smith’s agency made it to the final round of Shark Tank before filming a major network business competition on behalf of The Bachelorette, according to Lundberg. She also works with Chesapeake bartenders on their mobile bar experience.
Bill Stoops received the Legacy Award, which is given to a person in Queen Anne’s County who has had a significant impact on the business community and the county as a whole.
In addition to his 42 years at Shore United Bank, Stoops served as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, former chairman of the Economic Development Commission, and most recently as a county housing authority board member of the Central Business Association.
“Stoops is being awarded with special recognition for his outstanding service over an extended period of time,” said Lundberg.
Finally, at Shore Update, Cheri Hoffman received the Leader of Excellence Award. The award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional qualities that are required in a successful business organization throughout the year.
“The nominee should be a visionary and this outstanding leadership attributes that included ethical business practice, the record of outstanding forward citizenship, a proven record of business accomplishments, and someone who is committed to the highest standard management that led her organization be distinguished among the very best,” said Lundberg.
Shore Update has been run by Hoffman’s family since 1987. What was originally established as the “Kent Island Sale Paper,” that only served the residents of Kent Island has evolved into a newsletter that serves all of Queen Anne’s County to expand their audience and service to the community. Their motto is “buy local, shop local, give local.”
“Seeing the need for a web presence, Shore Update has recently launched a new website for the locals to download coupons, classifieds, and much more recent expansions also include newsletters,” Lundberg said.
Shore Update’s audience has recently expanded into Chestertown, now serving over 20,000 homes and businesses.
Hoffman is also the founder of Power 100, a local initiative that encourages women to donate $100 to a pot of money and then choose a local charity to receive the money. Hoffman and her group raised over $12,000 for the Chester Wye Center in Grasonville this year.
“I only shine because I get to represent all these people that do so many amazing things for organizations and businesses,” said Hoffman. “I’m just honored to be able to allow them to shine.”
Source : myeasternshoremd
