CVBA Honors Local Young Professionals
The Cumberland Valley Business Alliance honored one business and six young professionals for their dedication and achievements with more than 100 people in attendance at the fourth annual Young Professional Awards on September 26.
“We were honored to recognize the hard work and dedication of these amazing young professionals.” said Debby Cunningham, president of the CVBA. “Our finalists have had a tremendous impact on the Cumberland Valley community and we are appreciative of each and every one of them.”
The banquet, held at the Capitol Theatre Wood Center, included the presentation of awards in the following categories: ATHENA Young Professional Award, Educator of the Year, Young Professional Employer of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Nonprofit Young Professional of the Year, Rising Star Award and Volunteer of the Year.
Ruth Chupp from Golden Juniper Boutique accepted the international ATHENA Young Professional Award. The award honors an emerging leader who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, and serves as a role model for young women personally and professionally.
When Chupp opened her brick-and-mortar store just over a year ago, she wanted to create a restful space where women felt loved, safe and beautiful. Each piece of clothing in her IMPACT Collection is named after a woman that has had an impact on her life. She hopes to remind women that they can impact someone’s life for the better. Golden Juniper also gives back through charity events. They participated in the Posh Party for Homeless Matters, Paint the Town Pink for the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance and did multiple fundraisers to benefit “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” an organization whose mission is to raise awareness, provide prevention education and erase lines of separation that isolates those affected by sexual exploitation.
Runners-up for the ATHENA Young Professional Award were Amanda Keefer from the Franklin County Housing Authority and Makenzi Maun from Beauty & Grace Salon & Spa.
Also presented during the ceremony were the following awards:
Educator of the Year: Cody Marker, Chambersburg Area School District
This award recognizes an individual under 40 in the education field who has gone above and beyond to have a positive impact on those they teach.
Marker has worked to improve the relationship between the community, high school faculty and students by creating and implementing a Back-to-School “Block Party” that provides a clearer example of the expectations for students socially, emotionally, academically and behaviorally before school begins. He has worked with at-risk students to provide academic support and behavioral mentoring relevant to each individual student’s classroom needs. Marker also assisted with building the master schedule and has been a positive influence within the academic departments he supervises by developing community relationships to support the curriculum and provide guest speakers.
Runners-up for the Educator of the Year award were LeBreeska Leveille, Chambersburg Memorial YMCA and Chambersburg Area School District and Melinda DeWald, Chambersburg Area School District.
Young Professional Employer of the Year: Dr. Anirudh Patel (Cumberland Valley Dental Care)
The Young Professional Employer of the Year award recognizes a local organization that is devoted to the advancement of their young professionals.
Cumberland Valley Dental Care performs comprehensive dental care for all ages and is located in Chambersburg.
As a young professional himself, Dr. Patel received multiple nominations from his employees praising his leadership style, enthusiasm, teamwork, community involvement, kindness and passion. He doesn’t see himself as “the boss”, but as an equal to the staff and patients. Dr. Patel understands and encourages the work/home life balance and allows flexible schedules to accommodate personal needs or responsibilities. Not only that, but he always provides guidance to the other doctors because he wants to see them grow and be successful. One of his nominators said, “Dr. Anirudh Patel is not only an employer, but a friend and teacher all in one.”
The runner-up for Young Professional Employer of the Year was Adam Donius, owner of Chick-fil-A Chambersburg.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Sarah Nelson, Scoops on the Square
The purpose of this award is to recognize an entrepreneur or small business owner who has grown and developed a sustainable business.
Scoops on the Square is a vibrant ice cream shop located in Greencastle and strategically positioned in the heart of the community, near the bustling town square. Nelson actively engages with local schools, charities and businesses, hosting events that draw crowds and foster a sense of community. From promotional ideas to charity fundraisers, her initiatives ensure that Scoops on the Square is always buzzing with activity and goodwill.
Runners-up for Entrepreneur of the Year were Brittani Black and Cortney Hanks from Black & Blush Boutique and Nicholas Peiffer from Chasing Shadows Skateboards.
Nonprofit Young Professional of the Year: Malachi Maurer, WellSpan Health
The purpose of this award is to recognize a nonprofit employee who demonstrates excellence in their work and dedication to their organization and its mission.
As a senior physician liaison at WellSpan, Maurer has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership and achievement in the field of healthcare administration. He is entrusted with managing crucial relationships throughout the Cumberland Valley with various healthcare systems, offices and providers. Maurer has helped in charting the future course of WellSpan Health, focusing on growth, service expansion and community relationships.
Runners-up for Nonprofit Young Professional of the Year were Kelly Kozlowski from the Capitol Theatre and Matthew Levine from Chambersburg Community Theatre.
Rising Star Award: Courtney Kirby, Russell Standard
The purpose of this award is to highlight an individual who has shown tremendous potential in their field.
With less than eight months of experience as the Human Resource Generalist for Russell Standard’s Pavement Preservation division in Fayetteville, Kirby has quickly impacted their team. When she joined the company, she only had 30 days to fill numerous open roles. She quickly led the hiring events for the Cumberland Valley, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio locations. As a result of her drive and passion, it was the first year Russell Standard started the season with all positions filled. In addition to her accomplishments with Russell Standard, she obtained her realtor’s license while in school and is currently assisting the team to identifying properties that will allow them to expand their footprint in the area.
Runners-up for the Rising Star Award were Harrison Frantz from Horizon Farm Credit and Hayley Anderson from Shippensburg University.
Volunteer of the Year: Jordan Nace, WellSpan Health
The purpose of this award is to recognize a young professional who has dedicated significant time and resources to serving the Franklin County community.
Nace has taken on a variety of volunteer opportunities, holding various leadership titles and seats within local organizations that aim to better the community, all while exceling in his professional career. His most recent milestone has been nobly accepting a new title as president of the Chambersburg Rotary Club. His active involvement in the Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club of Chambersburg and Shippensburg, Chambersburg Education Foundation and various committees demonstrates his dedication to civic engagement and leadership.
Runners-up for Volunteer of the Year were Greg Figueroa from Patriot Federal Credit Union and Students from Mercersburg Academy’s Community Engagement Class.
Special thanks to this year’s Young Professional Awards sponsors:
- Gold Sponsor: WellSpan Health
- Silver Sponsors: Russell Standard, Cumberland Valley Dental Care, Shippensburg University and Patriot Federal Credit Union
- Bronze Sponsors: Franklin County Visitors Bureau and SEK, CPAs & Advisors.
The Cumberland Valley Business Alliance is a partnership between the Chambersburg and Greencastle-Antrim chambers of commerce. CVBA is the largest business advocacy organization in Franklin County with more than 850 members. It is committed to the prosperity of its members while enhancing the quality of life in the Cumberland Valley area. For more information, visit CVBAlliance.org.