The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce announced the finalists for the 2016 Shining Star Awards, to held Sept. 29 at Berkleigh Golf Club, Kutztown.
For a third consecutive year, BerksSchuylkill SCORE, formerly the Reading Chapter of SCORE, partnered with the Chamber to evaluate chamber member nominees in five categories of distinction, including Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Advocate of the Year. The first three awards recognize businesses and nonprofits; the last two recognize individuals. No nominations for Mid-Sized Business of the Year were received by the Chamber for 2016.
Finalists are presented in alphabetical order.
The 2016 Small Business of the Year Award finalists are Elite Business Solutions, Hamburg; Interlace Communications, Shoemakersville; and Shaynah Kinner Day Care, Kutztown.
Finalists for the 2016 Large Business of the Year Award are Fleetwood Bank, Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, and Lehigh Valley Health Network.
The 2016 Nonprofit of the Year Award finalists are Friend Inc., Kutztown Area Historical Society and Kutztown Community Library.
Finalists for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year are Dustin Adam, Edward Jones, Fleetwood; Sherry Christman, Elite Business Solutions, Hamburg; and Penelope Oulds, Pay Day Payroll Service, Mertztown.
The 2016 Advocate of the Year finalists are Sherry Christman, Elite Business Solutions, Hamburg; Barry Endy, Fraser Advanced Information Systems, West Reading; and Craig Koller, Kutztown Area Historical Society.
SCORE evaluated a total of 24 eligible nominees within five categories and ranked them to determine three finalists in each category. An award winner in the number one standing for each category was identified from among the 15. Five winners will be announced live at the Shining Star Awards event, as will a 2016 Member of the Year, either a business or an individual will be selected from the pool of winners. Each winner will receive an award, and the Member of the Year will also receive a gift basket filled with member donations.
The panel of judges consisted of six active members of BerksSchuylkill SCORE. Participants within this group represented a wide spectrum of knowledge and experience in business and nonprofit.
Judging criteria was established by Shining Star Planning Committee chair Deborah Berger, Hasch Daal Custom Embroidery. Judges focused on the impact and influence that each had in their specific community or field, based on their overall contribution, commitment and sustainability to the local economy or well-being of the community and people of Northeast Berks County. Some additional individual attributes considered were Chamber involvement, innovation, creativity, achievement, community recognition, inspiration and leadership.
To purchase a ticket to the awards event, visit www.northeastberkschamber.com. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for cash bar and appetizers, b scene photography by Berks County Living, autograph session by Debbie Wanner of CBS Season 32 Survivor Castaway and candid photography by Dave Zerbe Studio. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m. followed by presentation by Wanner and then awards.
