The weather has finally turned in the direction of spring in our corner of the world. My weather app informs me that as you read this column, it should be 50 degrees with rain. I believe that means we should not put away our snowblowers or shovels yet. Call me crazy, but you never know around here.
With the change of seasons, the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce is moving head-on into celebration season. And there is much to celebrate. We have extraordinary events, new members, and chamber announcements to make, so let’s get the good news train started.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate two grand slam events this Saturday, May 2. Saturday is the grand opening of the new museum store, and the chamber of commerce will be there to help celebrate. Saturday is also the annual Community Day, where all residents of Otsego County can enjoy free admission and great discounts at the newly opened store. We thank the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for giving back to the local community in this way.
May 14 marks the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Spring Business Dinner and Awards Celebration at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. We are pleased to announce the four honorees at this event:
The Business of the Year Award will be presented to UNALAM by NBT Bank. Bassett Healthcare Network will present the Eugene A. Bettiol Jr Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award to Jamie Reynolds. The Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented by Casella Waste Systems to one of their own, Adam Stoutenburg, and the Distinguished Alumnus of the Leadership Otsego program award will be given to Allen Ruffles by Excellus Blue Cross and Blue Shield. As always, the evening will be filled with networking, good food and good friends as we celebrate these fine individuals and the nearly 300 members of the chamber.
Speaking of new members, we are proud to welcome ten new organizations that have joined the chamber team so far this year. They are (in alphabetical order), Baked ‘n Brewed, CNY Trimlight, Coddington’s Florist under the new ownership of Alex VanDusen, Gotham City Outpost, Ignite Digital Marketing, Jammings, Karabinis Development, Metro Mattress, Riverside Family Practice and The UPS Store. We welcome all of them to our organization and this team of local people who honor the past, work in the present and see the possibilities of the future in Otsego County.
In the not-too-distant future, the chamber will host its 40th annual golf outing at Oneonta Country Club on Friday, Sept. 4. As with all chamber events, the golf outing brings together area professionals for a day of good friends and good times. Not a golfer? No worries. Our Events Committee is designing new and exciting ways for businesses to participate that have nothing to do with hitting a golf ball. Reach out to us at info@otsegocc.com if you are interested in how we can collaborate with you to increase your exposure at this fabulous event.
And this fall will bring the annual Small Business Dinner and Awards Celebration where local people and organizations will receive recognition as the Small Business of the Year, the Chamber Member of the Year, the Breakthrough Business of the Year and 2026 Community Leadership Award. We have so many businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to recognize this year that our Nominations and Events committees have both been working overtime in the selection process. We can’t wait to hear the results of their work.
Accomplishment comes from hard work, dedication, and a commitment to our communities. That is apparent in our Board of Directors, who exemplify these principles on a daily basis. We wish to recognize these individuals for their service:
Board Chair Jason Tabor of Principal Financial, Vice Chair Sarah Waid of NBT Bank, Secretary Joan Fox of Keller Williams Realty, and Treasurer Jocelyn Plows of Oneonta Job Corps Academy serve as officers. Our current Board of Directors includes Gabrielle Argo of Bassett Healthcare Network, Janet Briggs of Community Bank, Michelle Catan of the Small Business Development Center, Devin Chase of Directive, Bill Dorittie of Laurens Central School, April Erkson of ONC BOCES, Gail Glover of Hartwick College, Adam Halay of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Natalie Hooper of Robinson Terrace and Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers, Joan MacDonald of Helios Care, Cassandra Martin Majestic of Destination Marketing Corporation of Otsego and Schoharie Counties, and Lakisha Mason of SUNY Oneonta.
Again, we thank them for their time, effort, and ideas that allow our organization to thrive.