Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber honors local business community with annual gala
CRANBERRY TWP — The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber recognized accomplishments within the business community Wednesday evening, May 3, at the Pittsburgh Marriott North with more than 200 chamber members and local business leaders in attendance.
Led by former news anchor Kelly Frey as the master of ceremonies, the event presented six awards to the business community. It also featured Beth Caldwell, executive director of Pittsburgh Professional Women, as the keynote speaker.
“We love this event,” chamber president Jim Boltz said. “We get to recognize our members with the six different awards. That comes with 30 total nominees. It's nice to also see some people we only get to see occasionally. We have also exceeded what we wanted in attendance.”
The chamber, which has a presence in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties, presented the following awards: Young Professional of the Year, Nonprofit Excellence, Distinguished Business, Prestigious Business Leader, Women Entrepreneur Excellence and Outstanding Volunteer Service of the Year.
“All the members get to nominate first,” Boltz said. “Then, from the nominations we select five per category then it goes out to the members again and they vote.”
The chamber’s membership consists of around 1,100 businesses that employ about 24,000 people. It is recognized as a top-3 chamber in the country, Boltz said.
Boltz noted during his speech that the board is very competitive when it comes to fundraising, recruiting new members and board nominations.
Perry Latimer received the Young Professional of the Year Award for her work at the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau for her role as sport and corporate sales manager.
Latimer helps drive business into the region through her role at the bureau, and finds time to give back to the community, volunteering for various organizations and causes in the Pittsburgh North Region.
“I’m just very excited and honored to be part of the chamber and be a nominee this year,” Latimer said. “Butler County Tourism fully supports me being part of the chamber. It's wonderful and easy to be a part of.”
The Nonprofit Excellence Award was taken home by The Lighthouse Foundation, which operates the largest food pantry in Butler County and is the sole provider of transitional and interim housing for young adults, single parents and families.
“I think of the love and dedication of the staff on all the teams,” Victoria Spreng, executive director, said. “We do what we do because of the love Christ gives us. Right now our food pantry serves all of Butler County and northern Allegheny County.”
Through programs such as computer classes, financial literacy, healthy cooking classes, a holiday toy shoppe and more, The Lighthouse Foundation provides the resources, help and support for those in need in the local communities.
Goldfish Swim School, which provides swimming lessons for children ages four months to 12 years old, took home the Distinguished Business Award.
Its work extends beyond the pool by also providing reliable, high-paying and rewarding employment opportunities for all ages.
It also makes the effort to give back to the community throughout the year, with partnerships with gold medalist Olympians, aquatic safety organizations and philanthropic foundations.
“I feel we stand light-years above any competition,” general manager Carol Grande said. “Our team loves what we do, and we are there to save lives every day. We focus on lifesaving skills.”
Anthony Savannah, development director at Passavant Hospital Foundation, took home the Prestigious Business Leader Award.
Savannah has 20 years of development and corporate and community fundraising experience. His role is to help develop business support through event fundraisers.
“I'm simply a participant with an opportunity to lead a great mission,” Savannah said. “That mission is to provide for our patients and their families. Tonight, I'm a participant of a great mission to provide for others.”
Passavant Hospital Foundation supports UPMC Passavant in McCandless and Cranberry Township, advancing health and wellness through education, outreach and grant making.
The Women Entrepreneur Excellence award went to Amy Knight, of Flour Power Kids Cooking School in Pittsburgh.
Knight, a retired naval officer who served more than 20 years on active duty, is owner and operator of Flour Power Kids Cooking School, which opened in July 2022 to teach cooking skills to children.
Amy Schafer, branch manager at Dollar Bank in Cranberry Township, was presented the Outstanding Volunteer Service of the Year Award.
Schafer is an active member of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber, volunteering her time and efforts for countless events and various committees.
“I want to thank Dollar Bank for giving me the opportunity to be involved in the community,” Schafer said. “They promote us as relationship banking and this gives me the opportunity to be in the community.”
