CLEARFIELD – The Chamber of Commerce of Clearfield has announced that they will be holding their 17th Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 7 at the Clearfield County Career & Technology Center with social hour beginning at 5 p.m.
Not only are all Clearfield Chamber of Commerce Members and employees invited to attend, but the general public is also encouraged to attend to socialize and help recognize and honor local businesses and individuals through our annual awards. The chamber will also be joined by our guest and keynote speaker, Bruce Goddard.
Goddard is a humorist, motivational speaker, country undertaker and author and also currently has operational responsibility for hundreds of funeral homes and cemeteries throughout the United States as part of the senior field management team of Service Corporation International, which through its Dignity Memorial brand, SCI is the largest provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services in North America. Goddard presents the “lighter side” of what can be a stressful occupation while at the same time giving thought provoking observations about life from the perspective of a small town undertaker.
The dinner portion of the evening will begin at 6 p.m. and feature an amazing buffet prepared by Chef Gregory Zaffuto and the Culinary Arts & Food Management students of the CCCTC. The food covers all courses and features some delectable choices like crab stuffed mushroom caps, round roast beef, baked stuffed tilapia, garlic and caramelized onion mashed potatoes, cheesecakes and other deserts and much, much more.
The awards presentation will follow dinner and we’ll get to find out who out of the nominees will win this year. Nominations were submitted by fellow Chamber Members and members now have the task of completing their official voting ballot to determine the winners. The nominees for Small Business of the Year are Children’s Aid Society, Clearfield Fair & Park Board, and Jim’s Sports Center. The nominees for Major Employer of the Year are CNB Bank and The Progress. The nominees for the Shining Star Award, which is based on physical improvement to an existing building made in the past year, are Dingers Grand Slam Grille & Groggery, Ritz Theater, and The Strawberry Tree. For the individual awards, Distinguished Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chamber’s Awards Committee will review the nominations and determine a winner to be revealed at the banquet.
Another element that we hope will be a draw to the 2010 Annual Banquet will be a Chinese Auction. The chamber is currently asking all of our Chamber Member businesses and organizations (there are currently over 320 of them!) for donations to be used in this auction. Imagine all of the great products and services that could be available for you to win! Anything that you could donate would be greatly appreciated and will assist the Chamber in continuing to accomplish our mission, to promote and enhance the greater Clearfield area economy, business environment, quality of life and community pride, now and in the future.
Again, all are welcome and invited to attend the Annual Banquet, but seating is limited, so contact our office at 814-765-7567 to make your reservations by Sept. 23. Reservations are $35 per person and package pricing is also available.