The North Country Chamber of Commerce hosted its 114th Annual Awards Dinner tonight at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Warren Ballroom.
This year’s sold-out celebration welcomed 500 guests for an evening of recognition, themed “The Greatest Show,” drawing inspiration from “The Greatest Showman” movie, to celebrate the innovation, resilience and leadership that defines the regional business community. Attendees were encouraged to embrace the spirit of the evening with show-stopping style, including glitz, glam and a touch of performance flair.
The program included honoring this year’s award recipients, including Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Economic Development Partner of the Year, the Trailblazer Award and the 2025 Chairperson’s Award.
“2026 is the 114th year our chamber has been serving businesses and the economy in our region, and this year’s annual dinner, thanks to our terrific staff, was once again a great gathering and a great celebration,” Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said.
The evening included remarks from 2026 Board Chairperson Michele Friedman, 2025 Board Chairperson Andrew Sepcie, Douglas, state senators and state assemblymembers, Canadian and Quebec officials and the award winners.
Each spoke about their strong relationship with the North Country chamber team, as well as the importance of the local business community to the economic growth of the region. The delegates from Canada and Quebec spoke on how vital the New York-Quebec relationship is and the strong role the chamber plays in fostering its growth and awareness.
The winners are listed below:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
DELLA Auto Group was named 2026 Business of the Year.
DELLA, founded in 1983 by Michael Della Bella Sr. and his wife, Carmen, was recognized for its decades’ long investment in people, community and economic growth across the region. It is now led by the second generation, siblings Michael Jr., Christopher, Anthony and Kiara Della Bella.
General Manager Ernie Galarza said he was “floored” when he received the call.
“Gary Douglas called me up, and I thought maybe somebody was looking for a car or he needed something. and all of a sudden he’s, ‘Oh, by the way, I’ve got some news for you,’ and he told me. I was silent for a second. I said, ‘Wow.’ To me, that’s huge. It’s a great honor,” Galarza said.
The chamber said DELLA exemplifies what is possible when family values, entrepreneurship and community commitment come together.
“DELLA Auto Group has become a great part of our area’s economy, with multiple dealerships providing much employment and representing a total investment of many millions of dollars,” Douglas said. “Add to that their generous commitment to community causes, and you have a great choice for Business of the Year.”
Galarza said one major thing that sets DELLA apart from other businesses is their size. The group employs over 375 individuals, with over 200 living and working in Clinton County.
“We’re a big fish in the little pond,” he said.
Over the years, the DELLA expanded to seven dealerships throughout the North Country. Plattsburgh serves as a major hub for the group, with Kia, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Polaris Motor Sports, Subaru and Chevrolet locations, as well as a full-service center.
Community involvement remains central to the DELLA mission. The company supports numerous local and regional organizations, including United Way, CV-TEC, CVPH, SUNY Plattsburgh, Chazy Youth Hockey, Plattsburgh YMCA, Salvation Army, JCEO, Clinton County Fair, North Country SPCA and North Country Chamber of Commerce, among others.
Galarza said DELLA does not take the award for granted.
“There are so many other good businesses out here. I see them at different events, they provide donations, they provide cash, they do this and they do that. We’re honored, and we really are excited about it,” he said. “The whole family, the Della Bella family, is very excited about this, so we thank everybody at the chamber.”
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The North Country Chamber of Commerce has honored Cumberland Bay Market’s owners with this year’s Small Business of the Year award.
But Cumberland Bay Market in Plattsburgh is not just a store, it’s a neighborhood gathering place, owner Stacey Ambler said.
“We care about our customers as people, checking in on neighbors, delivering food when someone needs help and reaching out if we haven’t seen someone in a while,” Ambler said.
“That sense of looking out for one another is at the heart of everything we do.”
Ambler and her husband, Kris, have owned Cumberland Bay Market, located at 1544 Cumberland Head Road, since 2018.
She said they purchased the it after many conversations about all the “fun and creative possibilities a community market could offer.”
“One day, my husband stopped in to buy ice, and an employee casually asked if we’d ever consider buying the store,” Ambler said. “That simple question sparked something, got the ball rolling. Excitement took over, and before we knew it, we were on our way to becoming owners and bringing our vision to life.”
That vision manifested into being known as a place customers can depend upon every day.
When choosing the market for the award, the chamber said, for the past seven years, Ambler transformed the market into more than a neighborhood store. Under her leadership, it has become a trusted community hub, offering quality food, catering services and a welcoming space that meets the daily needs of residents while strengthening the fabric of the surrounding area, the chamber said.
“Cumberland Bay Market is a longstanding, homegrown success story,” Douglas said. “And under Stacey Ambler, it has evolved from a local market to a destination, with people from across the area coming to enjoy their great offerings and great service. It stands as a real model of small business success.”
Stacey Ambler said the award is an “incredible honor and humbling.”
“It represents hard work, resilience and belief in the idea that a small, community-focused business does truly make a difference,” she said. “The award is less about the business, per say, and more about our staff, customers, local vendors, family and the community that showed up for us.”
Asked if she had any advice to other small business owners, with several years of experience owning the market now, she said, “Stay true to who you are and to why you started in the first place.”
“Build real relationships with your customers, your staff, and your community,” she added. “Those connections matter just as much as the product you sell, sometimes more. Don’t be afraid (to) ask for help. We all need support at different times. Most importantly, treat people well — kindness, consistency and showing up every day go a long way in building a small business that lasts.”
Now, looking ahead to the coming years, Ambler hopes to continue getting better. She said the future of the market “looks healthier.”
“At the end of 2025, we made a conscious decision that our focus for 2026 would be expanding our healthy offerings and moving away from products that no longer align with that, such as tobacco,” she said. “We’ve been actively soliciting input from our customers, and that feedback has helped shape some fun and exciting plans for the year ahead.
“We’re looking forward to bringing back our weekly dinner specials, offering more salads, higher-protein ready-made foods and additional gluten-free options. Overall, 2026 feels like a fresh, positive step forward, and a really fun year ahead for the market. You should stop in.”
BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Chris Akey, of Taylor Rental, was named 2026 Businessperson of the Year.
The chamber recognized Akey’s contributions to the North Country through entrepreneurship, leadership and community service.
Based in Plattsburgh, Akey started with Taylor Rental in Plattsburgh over 20 years ago.
His professional journey began at his grandparents’ business, Farm and Family, where he developed a strong work ethic and a customer-first approach that guides his leadership today.
That venture has grown into a diverse portfolio of businesses serving communities across the North Country.
“This award speaks volumes about our team. Their dedication, hard work, and commitment are second to none,” Ackey said. “To me, this recognition is a direct reflection of the people behind the scenes who show up every day and give their best. Our success is built on their effort.”
The chamber said his success reflects long-term commitment to reinvesting in the North Country and creating sustainable economic impact.
“Growing and operating one successful business is a real achievement, but in Chris Akey, we have a serial entrepreneur leading a whole range of businesses, including Taylor Rental, Commercial Sales, and Cardinal Ace Hardware, to name just a few,” Douglas said. “Carrying on the Akey family’s long, special place in our business community, Chris exemplifies business success and leadership.”
Beyond his business, Akey is deeply engaged in community service. He has served on the CVPH Foundation Board and the North Country Cancer Fund and has supported numerous local fundraisers and community events. His involvement reflects a strong belief in giving back, supporting neighbors in times of need and helping ensure a strong future for the region, according to the chamber.
Akey said his favorite aspect of his job is being a problem solver and helping when people need it most.
“Assisting customers, finding solutions and making a real difference is extremely rewarding,” he said.
A piece of advice Akey had for aspiring entrepreneurs: Follow your gut.
“If something feels right, it most likely is. Trust your instincts, stay committed to your values and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks,” he said.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR
It’s fitting that in the same year America is celebrating its 250th Anniversary, Beth Hill is named the North Country Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Partner of the Year.
“Beth Hill is an incredible asset in our midst, transforming Fort Ticonderoga from a quiet landmark to a dynamic part of our North Country economy,” Douglas said. “She is a sterling economic partner to our chamber, and I am especially pleased we are able to spotlight her talent, leadership and partnership this year, the 250th anniversary of our country.”
Since 2010, Hill has served as the president and CEO of Fort Ticonderoga, the site of the American force’s first offensive victory in the Revolutionary War in 1775, that now serves as a museum, national landmark historic site, and cultural and tourist destination right on the shores of Lake Champlain in Essex County.
“I think it’s just a remarkable time to be able to be leading one of our nation’s most significant historic places and working with such a talented leadership team,” Hill said.
“All of our staff, who are so dedicated and passionate to bring this history to life for our visitors, draw people into our region from all over, and then also propel the story out through our digital content, which touches more than 44 million viewers annually, which really is such an awareness raiser for Ticonderoga, but also the greater region to draw people’s interest to us.”
Hill’s work at Fort Ticonderoga follows a career with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Historic Sites Division. A museum professional for more than 25 years, Hill also holds a Master of Arts degree in History from American University.
In her time as president and CEO, Hill has led Fort Ticonderoga through an organizational turnaround and into a period of strategic growth and reinvestment. Before Hill, the nonprofit organization was in a “challenging situation.”
“They brought me on board to save Fort Ticonderoga but, more importantly, to position it and transform it for the future. and year upon year, we built the vision, and we began implementing a really exciting plan and testing concepts and learning and evolving over the years and really have significantly transformed and expanded our visitor experience on site into a multi-day experience,” Hill said.
“We took what had been a very singular experience of just going into the fort to utilizing all 2,000 acres of our property and bringing people out onto Lake Champlain on boats and the heights of Mount Defiance, creating very innovative interpretive programs with our front facing living history program, creating a model that is an industry standard where we interpret different moments in time, a year-upon-year approach.”
Under Hill’s leadership, Fort Ticonderoga is executing a multi-million-dollar, multi-year capital improvement plan that is expanding visitor experiences, strengthening educational programming and enhancing the site’s national visibility. The organization has also secured several prestigious federal grants, including awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities, supporting major exhibitions, collections accessibility and expanded public engagement.
Hill said she is deeply honored to be recognized and receive the award from the chamber.
“I give the credit to my team and everyone who is working so hard here at Fort Ticonderoga,” she said. “Our work is a testament to the commitment and innovation and strategic vision that ensures Fort Ticonderoga will be here, not only honoring the past, but also as a powerful engine for our region’s future. So we’re really just deeply honored to be able to do that, and delighted to have that recognition.”
TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Anna Hewitt-Channell, business development and marketing manager for Dannemora Federal Credit Union, received the 2026 Trailblazer Award.
“I am so grateful and, honestly, still a little shocked, especially knowing how many talented, passionate and driven leaders our community has,” Hewitt-Channel, of Plattsrbugh, said. “To be recognized among them means more than I can put into words. I am also incredibly thankful for our local chamber team. They are truly amazing, and I cannot express enough how much this recognition means to me.”
The Trailblazer Award celebrates rising community leaders who shape the North Country through innovation, service and collaboration.
“Anna Hewitt-Channell truly embodies what it means to be a Trailblazer,” North Country Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Marketing, Operations and Business Development Kristy Kennedy said. “In her role as business development and marketing manager at Dannemora Federal Credit Union, she brings energy, innovation and a genuine commitment to building meaningful relationships across our business community.”
The chamber also recognized her work supporting local charities, nonprofits, schools and initiatives to strengthen the region. Hewitt-Channell said 2025 was her “yes year” and made it her goal to do as much as she could in the community.
“I challenged myself to show up whenever I could, whether that meant serving on boards, joining committees or launching programs in our local schools to help spread financial literacy,” she said. “I said yes as often as possible, even when it meant stretching myself thin, all while balancing my role as a mom.”
Hewitt-Channell is an ambassador for the North Country Chamber of Commerce; serves on the Mountain Lake PBS board as chair of the Development Committee; founder and co-chair of the Michigan Festival, which she considers one of her proudest achievements; and is an active member of Noon Rotary Club, serving as chair of the Fundraising Committee and chair of the Public Relations Committee. She is slated to serve as rotary president in 2027.
Her leadership also extends beyond the local level through her service on the Conference and Diamond Award Committees for America’s Credit Unions.
“This award is truly a bucket-list moment for me, and hearing that I was receiving it was unexpectedly emotional,” she said.
“About seven or eight years ago, I first learned about these awards and remember reading through the list of past recipients. I went home and told my dad that the Trailblazer Award was going on my Bucket List. One day, I hoped to make enough of an impact in our community that when big projects came up or when someone needed a reliable person to call for a credit union question or community initiative, they would think of me.
“From that point on, it became something my dad and I talked about every year. Like clockwork, we would try to guess who might receive the award, and it turned into a tradition we shared. I still replay the moment I told my parents the news in my head. It was incredibly special to finally tell them that I was the one receiving it.”
CHAIRPERSON’S AWARD
Each year, the chamber’s outgoing chairperson receives the Chairperson’s Award for their work throughout the year. Andrew Sepcie knew it was coming, yet he was still humbled to receive it.
“The North Country Chamber of Commerce is a chamber unlike any other chamber that I’ve ever seen,” Sepcie said.
“I was transplanted from Philadelphia up here five years ago. I had been involved in the community down in Philadelphia, but I have to say, what the North Country Chamber of Commerce does in this area is second to none in the nation, and so it was an honor for me to be able to serve as chairman and work with such a talented group of people.”
Sepcie said what stuck out to him the most was how involved with business leaders the chamber is and how they help them be successful.
“If you take a look at Schluter (Systems), with some of the electrical issues they had, they (the chamber) worked behind the scenes tirelessly to make sure that … the state recognized the issues Schluter was having,” he said.
“Also, the Micro Bird deal was closed. We had the grand opening last year. Those are just some of the bigger ones.
“They work with local stores to help them secure funding in a time of need. The thing is, Garry Douglas and that team have contacts throughout the political sphere that are really, like I said, second to none.”
In his role as chair in 2025, Sepcie said most of his work was behind the scenes, which required him to “be very supportive in the community.”
“To be sort of Garry’s wing man with just going out, meeting companies, meeting organizations that are having their grand openings, attending economic development forums up in Montreal,” Sepcie said.
“I went down last year for Tom Clark’s reception, who’s the consulate general of Canada (in New York), so there’s a lot of connections and a lot of people in that network that you have an opportunity to meet as the chairman.”
Due previous involvement with the chamber the past few years, he said he had an idea of what to expect as chair before he took over. Yet, getting to experience the role himself was “nice.”
“Andy Sepcie was a great chair of our chamber through a year that brought great advances, as well as responses, to new challenges,” Douglas said. “He helped to guide us at the chamber, as he does at his company, Monaghan Medical — with leadership, steadfastness and good cheer.
“We are an even stronger chamber than we already were thanks to his commitment to our work. We join in thanking him for that.”
Michele Friedman is now set to take over as chairperson for the North Country Chamber of Commerce for 2026.
Sepcie said his advice to her would be to “try to work within the system that’s already set up.”