Chamber presents awards
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Butler County Chamber of Commerce honored business achievements Wednesday evening at its annual Celebrate Business dinner at the Robert M. Smith Student Center at Slippery Rock University.
Nadine Tripodi, president and co-owner of Butler Technologies, was named the William A. Morgan Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year.
Concordia Lutheran Ministries was honored with the Chamber Business Champion Award.
The Morgan Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year is presented to an outstanding business owner. The chamber’s Past President’s Advisory Council and past award recipients recommend a business owner for the award, which is named after William A. Morgan Jr., the late Butler businessman.
This is the first year that a woman has been given the award.
“I’m astounded by this award,” Tripodi told the audience. “Butler County has been an amazing place to work and live.”
Butler Technologies is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The downtown business is a high-tech, precision screen printer, specializing in the manufacture of membrane switches, graphic overlays, labeling, gauge graphics, insulators, electronic shielding layers and other product markings for instrument and equipment manufacturers.
“I came from Southern Allegheny County. I moved my family here and started a business here and not for a moment have I regretted that,” Tripodi said. “Everything that has been available to me as a business owner is really appreciated. I don’t know that I could have done this as successfully in any other county in this region.”
Tripodi started the business in 1990 along with co-founder, William J. Darney, Jr. The company operated as a sales organization, representing printers, board manufacturers and screen printers.
In 1993, it bought and renovated its Wayne Avenue building and began to manufacture precision screen printed products.
The Chamber Business Champion Award acknowledges an organization that displays vision, ingenuity, commitment and determination.
Concordia, which is a nonprofit corporation established in 1881, is one of the 100 largest senior care providers in the country. Through the Good Samaritan Endowment Fund, Concordia Lutheran Ministries cares for many residents who do not have sufficient money to pay for the full cost of their care.
Concordia President and CEO Keith Frndak thanked the chamber for the award.
“It’s been and honor and privilege to serve the residents of Butler County for 134 years,” he said.
Concordia operates 13 locations and 16 senior care facilities throughout Western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. It provides memory care, pharmacy, medical equipment, hospice services and home care services.
