Ten awards were received at the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.
In front, from left, are Ashley Davis, The Sleepy Owl, Restaurant of the Year; Jon Shopoff, Shopoff’s Drive In, Most Uniquely Syracuse; Kyle Dukes, Lakeland Youth Center, Non-Profit of the Year; Brittany Bushong-Bales, Babes & Combs, Young Professional of the Year; Kris Stump, Wawasee Community Schools Music Teacher, Oustanding Educator of the Year; Adora Truex, Bubbles & Yarn Artisan Market, Retailer of the Year; Tina Harlan, Mug Shots Coffeehouse & Eatery, New Business of the Year; Stacey and Gabe Ritter, Ritter Electric, Heating & Cooling, Service Business of the Year.
In back are Ron Baumgartner, The Papers Inc., sponsor of Restaurant of the Year; Chip Erwin, The Sleepy Owl, Restaurant of the Year; Tome and Holly Tuttle, Team Tuttle Mortgage, sponsor of Non-Profit of the Year; Jenny Douglas, Lakeland Youth Center, Non-Profit of the Year; Nathan Barker, Horizon Bank, sponsor of Young Professional of the Year; Dr. Richard Brungardt, Lakeland Animal Clinic, sponsor of Outstanding Educator of the Year; Kim Strawbridge, Lake City Bank, sponsor of Retailer of the Year; Jeanetta Slabaugh, Crossroads Bank, sponsor of New Business of the Year; Andrea Larson, MutualBank, sponsor of Service Excellence award; Tyler McLead, Syracuse Parks Department, Syracuse-Man of the Year; Tricia Small, Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware, sponsor of Syracuse-Woman of the Year; Sylvia Gargett, Northern Lakes Insurance, Syracuse-Woman of the Year and sponsor of Most Uniquely Syracuse. (Photos by Elisa Walker)

SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce 2018 annual awards banquet took place at The Owl’s Nest banquet hall Tuesday, Feb. 20. The banquet was held to honor and recognize outstanding local individuals and businesses, awarding them for going above and beyond their duties within the community through fundraising projects, creating jobs or providing astounding leadership.

The annual silent auction also took place during the banquet. Money raised through the auction will support the mission of the chamber by “engaging and advancing local businesses in order to enhance the community as an ideal place to live, work, shop and play.”

Heath Simcoe, MutualBank, will become the new chamber president. Those retiring from the board of the chamber were recognized and received plaques in honor of their dedication. New board members were welcomed with enthusiastic applause.

Jon Shopoff, Shopoff’s Drive In, was awarded Most Uniquely Syracuse for adding something to the community no other place has. Sylvia Gargett was happy to honor him with the award.

Chamber Director Andrea Keller announced the chamber will be launching the ambassador program where businesses interested on being in the loop and participating in ribbon cuttings can get a hold of Keller or Jill Garris. A new business development committee will be created where fresh ideas with education seminars and workshops will take place to help other businesses. The chamber board will be working on a strategic plan across the next three years, similar to what the Syracuse Public Library and parks department have initiated.

The New Business of the Year award, which goes to a business or organization whose investment enhances the Syracuse-Wawasee economic and aesthetic future, was sponsored by Crossroads Bank and awarded to Mug Shots Coffeehouse and Eatery.

The Restaurant of the Year award, which goes to a restaurant in the community that serves as a standard of consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere and service, was sponsored by The Papers Inc. and awarded to The Sleepy Owl.

The Service Excellence award, which goes to a service business in the community that has shown exceptional growth through the creation of jobs, revenue growth or introduced new innovative products or services, was sponsored by MutualBank and awarded to Ritter Electric, Heating & Cooling.

The Retailer of the Year award, which goes to a retail establishment that services as the standard for consistent quality and excellence in product, atmosphere and service, was sponsored by Lake City Bank and awarded to Bubbles & Yarn Artisan Market.

The Non-Profit of the Year award, which goes to a group that has positively affected the community while adhering to the nonprofit’s mission statement, was sponsored by Team Tuttle Mortgage and awarded to Lakeland Youth Center.

The Young Professional of the Year award, which goes to a founder, owner or CEO of a company demonstrating a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance, creativity, integrity and determination, was sponsored by Horizon Bank and awarded to Babes & Combs.

For being astounding people in the community who work to make Syracuse the best it could be, Tyler McLead, Kris Stump and Sylvia Gargett received recognition for their hard work and selfless motivation.

The Outstanding Educator award, which goes to an administrator, mentor, teacher or peer tutor who has made contributions to the academic success of students, was sponsored by Lakeland Animal Clinic and awarded to Kris Stump. One person stated Stump works endlessly to put together programs where all students are able to showcase their talents, working hard to ensure students are given opportunities to participate.

The Syracuse-Man and Syracuse-Woman of the Year award, based on contributions to community service beyond their professional job, are a creative influence, and contribute to team building and community growth, was sponsored by Parker Hannifin and Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware and awarded to Tyler McLead and Sylvia Gargett.

The Most Uniquely Syracuse award, which goes to a member of the community who embraces the unique culture and history, was sponsored by Northern Lakes Insurance. Awarded was the long-standing business of the community, Shopoff’s Drive In.