ExtraORdinary event honors businesses, leaders
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd annual award gala and installation dinner recently - An ExtraORdinary Evening.
The sold-out Jan. 20 event celebrating Oak Ridge's top business leaders and businesses for their prior year's accomplishments was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church. More than 170 people attended, according to a chamber news release.
It highlighted the finalists and winners of eight "extraORdinary" award categories.
The chamber honors the memory of the late Eugene L. Joyce with the Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to recognize and celebrate individuals who have distinguished themselves and embody the essential values of volunteerism, community service and dedication to the economic vitality of the Oak Ride community. Jim Normand, Joyce's stepson, presented Tim Trapuzzano, co-owner and president of Omega Technical Services, with this year’s award. He closed his acceptance speech with the Joyce's words, “My enthusiasm for the future of Oak Ridge is unbounded.”
Laurel Patrick of First Place Finish received the Kerry Trammell Volunteer of the Year Award, the second most prestigious award given. This award is named after the late Kerry Trammell, who was a longtime member and chamber volunteer. Although unable to attend the gala, a video-recorded acceptance speech from Patrick was played for those in attendance, and she was later presented the award at the chamber building.
The award ceremony also included:
Entrepreneur of the Year: Saad Aqqad of Oak Ridge Pharmacy
Young Professional of the Year: Kylie Julius of Strata-G
Community Impact Award: Roane State Community College
Business of the Year Award: ORNL Federal Credit Union
Small Business of the Year Award: Chuck’s Car Care
Non-Profit of the Year: United Way of Anderson County
During the chamber's annual meeting at the event, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch officially welcomed and installed new board members, Phil Voegtle of Burns & McDonnell and Timothy Waldo of the University of Tennessee.
Stephanie Hale-Smith of State Farm Insurance was announced as the 2023 Oak Ridge chamber board chair. Past board chair Mike Brown of M&M Productions was presented a gavel to thank him for his hard work and leadership in 2022.
Nomination forms for all ExtraORdinary Awards categories will be available soon on the chamber website, www.oakridgechamber.org. Award criteria will be included, and Chamber member businesses will only be considered.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: ExtraORdinary event honors businesses, leaders
