Chamber awards announced

OXFORD HILLS — The Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of community awards to be handed out at its dinner, on Saturday, January 31, at Hebron Academy.

“It’s a full house,” says chamber Director Steve Wallace, referring to rsvp’s received thus far for the annual event.

Three “Business of the Year” awards will be give.  Norway Savings Bank will be honored as the area’s best large business, an award reserved for concerns with more than 25 employees, while Cafe Nomad, in Norway, will be singled out from among small businesses on the chamber’s membership roster.

The nonprofit business of the year award will go to the Oxford County Fair.

“Many times, people don’t think about the role a nonprofit plays in the community,” said Wallace.  “One of the things that can be said about the Oxford Fair is that it brings tens of thousands of dollars into the area. 

“Suzanne Grover and her entire board are to be congratulated,” said Wallace.  “The fair truly is the epitome of an organization that gives back to the community.”

Element Day Spa, is Paris, is to be recognized for helping to spark a resurgence of the Market Square area as New Business Venture of the Year.

“Talk about a brand-new business that jumped in to help out the community right way,” says Wallace ticking off events at which Day Spa employees have give free messages, including the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the chamber’s annual golf tournament, at at the scene of a six-day fire at the NEPW Logistics warehouse.

NEPW also will be recognized with a special “Above and Beyond” award.

“That was the only award that was not chosen from among nominees submitted by our members,” says Wallace.  “The board was just so impressed that, given a down market and a holiday season, they worked really hard to retain all of their workers.  What could have been a very stressful situation ended up not being nearly as bad as it could have been.”

Among individuals, recognition will be given to Ena Derenberger, sales manager at Turnkey Homes of Maine, as employee of the year, and to Heath Poland, longtime employee and now owner of Flanders Electric, as Rising Star of the Year.

“He came right out of the gate and he’s working hard,” said Wallace, “and Ena is all over it.  She helped to brand this area as the manufacturing capital New England, she helps organize the annual manufactured housing show, and she worked with three area non-profits this year to get more than 700 toys and $5,000 for needy children.”

Finally, SAD 17 Superintendent Dr. Mark Eastman beat out eight other nominees for the chambers coveted Citizen of the Year award.

“For the many years he’s put into education, he is gong to have a lasting legacy,” said Wallace.

Guest speaker at the annual dinner will be Matthew Jacobson, CEO of Maine and Company, described by Wallace as “the only business in the state of Maine that actually goes out and shops for businesses to bring here.”

According to Wallace, Maine and Company is credited with recruiting T-Mobile, Athena Health, NotifyMD and Boston Financial Data Services to the state.

However, the awards won’t stop when the last plate is cleared from the chambers annual dinner.

In late March, officials from the Small Business Administration, Maine congressional delegation and the administration of President Barack Obama will be on hand to recognized Maine’s Small Businessperson of the Year.

“The only scoop I can give you now is that it’s someone from the Oxford Hills,” says Wallace.

The chamber luncheon for that event will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 27, at the Four Seasons Function Center, in Paris.

Other upcoming chamber events include:

• February 5 — Business After Hours, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. recognizing Christine and Jeff Bishop, the new owners of Personal Best Health Club, in Paris.

• February 10 — Business Success Seminar, with Bob LaBrie, from Maximum Potential, at the Western Maine University and College.

• February 18 — a talk by Tarren Bragdon, CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, on “Fiscal sanity in Augusta: Maine’s spending addiction and the road to recovery.”

• March 28 — Cabin Fever Silent Auction at Cafe Nomad, in Norway.

• April 15 — Chamber luncheon, featuring Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman

• May 9 — The annual Business Showcase.

The Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce has come a long way in the last year, signing on nearly 60 new members since May, when Wallace came on board.

However, Wallace is quick to deflect praise, pointing instead to a fresh board of directors, with seven new members, and an influx of more than 30 new volunteers.

“It is by far a team effort,” he says.  “The only thing I take credit for is helping to build that team.”