Local leaders recognized at chamber event
SLIPPERY ROCK — About 300 chamber members and business leaders gathered Wednesday evening at Slippery Rock University's Robert M. Smith Student Center for the annual Celebrate Business dinner hosted by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.
The event served as a graduation ceremony for the 2022 Leadership Butler County class and a night to present three awards to business leaders in the community.
In years past, the dinner would feature the presentation of two awards, but this year a third was added to the lineup.
Nick Neupauer, president of Butler County Community College, was presented the inaugural Stan Kosciuszko Leadership Excellence Award.
"Together everyone accomplishes more,“ Neupauer said. ”I am honored and humbled to be this award’s first recipient.“
Kosciuszko was the chamber president from 2002 until he retired this past February.
During his time with the chamber, Kosciuszko was instrumental in the creation of new entities to fill voids he saw in the community, such as Leadership Butler County, Butler County Young Professionals and Butler County Youth Leadership.
"I don’t miss my job, but I miss all of you,“ Kosciuszko said to the crowd. ”I miss what we did together at the chamber. I had many sleepless nights, but they were good sleepless nights.“
Jeff Double, owner of All About Reclaimed, was named the William A. Morgan Entrepreneur of the Year. He stood out to the board due to his community involvement.
"I have always said and I will continue to say it is my mission in life to make the lives of the people around me better, and that’s what I do every day,“ Double said. ”I was told that I would just be working for the movers and shakers and you know what I do, but now they are my friends.“
Glade Run Lutheran Services was presented the David L. Lloyd Memorial Chamber Business Champion award on behalf of the county for its community impact and exceptional organizational culture.
Steven Green, president and chief executive officer, accepted the award on behalf of Glade Run.
"The first thing when I think about Glade Run is the diversity of services we offer,“ Green said.
“Glade Run’s story is far from being completely written,” Green added. “I have done my very best, and I will continue to do my very best to help the community’s most vulnerable people for many years to come.”
"The road to get where we are today was bumpy,“ said Jordan Grady, Butler County Chamber of Commerce president, about the graduating class. ”But now everyone is wiser and stronger.“
There were 31 people in this year's Leadership Butler County graduating class, the largest class in its history.
They came from all sorts of trades and backgrounds from all across Butler County.
"They were able to complete every class as well as their projects such as Glade Run Lake,“ said Charles Johns, a member of the Leadership Butler County board of directors. ”They were also able to provide great assistance to the Butler Health System Food Institute.“
