CRESTLINE — The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce honored individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions to the community this past week.
“I think it’s always important to recognize those individuals that are going above and beyond,” said Miranda Jones, executive director of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce. “2020 was a hard year on all of us. When we are looking at all of the nominations that come in, sometimes it’s really hard to pick between which one is more deserving than the other. This year, everybody was so deserving. Everybody went above and beyond last year.
“Our community really rallied together — Crawford County as a whole. It’s an amazing place to live and work, and I think the awards on Tuesday really exemplfied how great we have it here in Crawford County with our organizations and businesses and individuals.”
The 2020 awards ceremony was held Tuesday morning at The Hub at Village Square in Crestline. Fifteen awards were presented during the ceremony.
Following are the 2020 Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce award recipients:
• Galion Mayor’s Award — Galion City Schools Food Service Department
• Crestline Mayor’s Award — Crestline Police Department
• Industry of the Year — Iron Vault Distillery, Galion
• Service Industry of the Year — Cleaning by Carrie (Carrie Cottrell)
• Business of the Year — Dzugan Real Estate Services (Joe and Gretchen Dzugan)
• Retail Business of the Year — Bistro 217 (Holly and Steve Rose)
• Service Business of the Year — Avita Health System
• Professional of the Year — Chad Miller, Galion Port Authority
• Young Professional of the Year — Chris Adler, Avita Health System Director of Emergency Management, Safety & Security
• Chamber Chair Award — Matt Echelberry, City of Galion Communications Director
• Chamber Volunteer Award — Crestline Community Development Team
• Chamber Service Award — Joe Kleinknect, former Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO
• Organization of the Year — Community Counseling Services (Cindy Wallis, Executive Director)
• President’s Award — Jennifer Allerding (Galion City Schools Superintendent) & Matt Henderson (Crestline Exempted Village Schools Superintendent)
• Executive Committee Award — Miranda Jones, Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
Jones said the business outlook for Galion and Crestline is positive with new businesses opening and existing businesses showing growth.
“Crestline is just moving and shaking,” she said. “I’ll tell you what, I have never been more impressed with a community overcoming the obstacles than I have been with Crestline since I’ve been with the chamber. Just to know that that momentum is still going there and to be a part of it is just great, because in that community, they take care of each other.
“Galion is the same. Galion and Crestline businesses are resilient. We’ve been that distressed county; that’s the designation the state gave us. But it opens up more opportunities for more funding to rebound,” Jones added. “We’re used to being considered an underdog, so it’s no surprise that we have a group of business leaders who are really trying to move us and push us through this pandemic.”
For information about the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce, go to galion-crestlinechamber.org or like Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.
