Award Nominations

This award honors professional, community and personal leadership as well as those who actively assist women in reaching their full leadership potential. This award is well-known on an international scale and is one of the most prestigious leadership awards an individual can receive.

Judging Criteria:

Demonstrating excellence, creativity and initiative in their business/profession, providing valuable service to improve the quality of life for others and assisting women in achieving their leadership potential.

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

1989 – Mary Linda Merrian

1990 – Cheryl Plummer

1991 – Lucille Stence

1992 – Carol Tschop

1993 – Peggy Bosma

1994 – Marty Walker

1995 – Shirley Paulis

1996 – Nancy Monaghan

1997 – Pat Shreiner

1998 – Lois Waters

1999 – Carol Van Horn

2000 – Gwen Jensen

2001 – Pat Mathews

2002 – Beth Luka

2003 – Karen Jewell

2004 – Yvonne Butts-Mitchell

2005 – Pam Anderson

2006 – Elva Kroeger

2007 – Janet Johnston

2008 – Cheryl Shields

2009 – Barbara Channing

2011 – Dr. Lorna Duphiney Edmudson

2012 – Pat Barbarowicz

2013 – Maryann Fisher

2014 – Brenda Hefner

2015 – Maria Banks

2016 – Amy Hicks

2017 – Joanne Cochran

2018 – Janet Pollard

2019 – Karen Johnston

2020 – Sherri Stahl

2022 – Carla Christian

2023 – Bonita Zehler

2024 - Dr. Laura Hanks

2025 - Dr. Kim Eaton

This award recognizes excellence in an event delivered to meet local community needs. The event must be organized by a current member of CVBA and the organization must have been a member for at least one calendar year of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers. Entries must relate to one event that has occurred in the 2025 calendar year.

Judging Criteria:

Each entry must include a brief overview of the event so the committee may understand what the event was created for, who was involved, when it started, the scale of the event, content, audience and participants. The entry must also include additional information in essay format that highlights the below criteria (entries should address as many of the below criteria that are applicable):

• Were strategies and objectives met?
• Were participants and/or attendees engaged?
• Event highlights demonstrating its worthiness for the award
• How did the event serve as a community asset?

Past* Event of the Year Recipients:

2019 - Chambersburg Noontime Lions, Trout Derby

2021 - VerStandig Media, Greencastle Christmas Parade

2022 - Old Home Week Association of Greencastle, Old Home Week

2023 - Fort Loudoun Market Fair

2024 - Foundations Breakfast, Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.

Presented by CVBA, this award aims to highlight and celebrate the contributions of a young leader, under the age of 40, who is impacting their profession and positively shaping the future of the community.

Judging Criteria:

• Have consistently demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of his/her profession
• Demonstrates leadership with a history of collaboration and success such as leading by example, risk-taking to achieve a desired outcome, motivating others, serving as a role model, etc.
• Actively engaged in positively shaping the future of the community
• Candidate must be under the age of 40 at the time of the nomination
• Candidate’s company must be a current member of the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance and must have been a member for at least one calendar year of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers;
• Candidate must live/work in the area for a minimum of three years

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

Past* Emerging Business Leader Award Recipients:

2021 - Jake Naugle

2022 - Nathan Neil

2023 - Amber Baskin

2024 - Kacie Gelsinger

2025 - Derek Taylor, Starr Insurance

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.

This award will recognize the company that has created an outstanding workplace and has a committed, effective and motivated workforce as demonstrated by growth and/or strong retention. Nominations may be submitted by the employer or employees.

Judging Criteria:

• Examples of workplace policies that set you apart and how they have benefited the business and its employees.
• Demonstrate how the employer supports its employees through training, professional development, recognition and/or job creation.
• A minimum of two employee testimonials that demonstrate why your employees would agree you are the best employer.
• The employer must be a current member of CVBA and must have been a member for at least one calendar year of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers. Nominations may be submitted by the employer or employees.

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

Past* Employer of the Year Recipients

2021 - SEK, CPAs & Advisors

2022 - GDC IT Solutions

2023 - Franklin County Library System

2024 - Russell Standard

2025 - RKL LLP

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.

This award recognizes an entrepreneur, business owner or key manager who has succeeded through innovation and risk-taking in introducing new products or services, or growing an existing product line through a unique approach.

Judging Criteria:

• The recipient will demonstrate noticeable achievements in one or several of the following:
  • New product growth
  • Employee growth
  • Innovative use of technology to improve processes
  • Industry recognition
  • Innovative marketing
  • Impact on the economy of the Cumberland Valley region
  • Ability to overcome adversity
• The individual will show strong community involvement.
• The business must have been a business for a minimum of three years.
• The business must be a current member of CVBA and must have been a member of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers for at least one calendar year.

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

Past* Innovator of the Year Award Recipients

2005 – Innernet, Inc.

2006 – Hirshmann Automation and Control, Inc.

2007 – Sheetz Inc.

2008 – William Gindlesperger, eLynxx Corp.

2009 – Gish Logging

2011 – Dr. Wayne Myers, Norland Avenue Pharmacy

2012 – Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe

2013 – Jim Sulfare, SoLinkit

2014 – Jesse Rotz & Ryan Richards, Roy-Pitz Brewing Co.

2015 – American Micro Industries

2016 – Dr. Tang & Dr. Safi, Chambersburg Hospital Cariology Dept.

2017 – Dr. Ludwick of Ludwick’s Eye Center

2018 – Jesse Whitney of Summit Health (WellSpan Health)

2019 – Dr. Nicholas Wendell of Wendell Chiropractic

2022 – Franklin County Library System

2023 – Anne Shoenhofen of The Butcher Shoppe

2024 - Matthew Wedd of The Conococheague Institute

2025 - Brett Frey, Mobile Works

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.

We will recognize a small and large nonprofit whose innovations address areas of need to improve the prosperity of the Cumberland Valley region. Self-nominations are permitted.

Judging Criteria:

• Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency working within the Cumberland Valley.
• The organization’s mission must address a need in the Cumberland Valley to improve the overall prosperity of the region.
• Must describe at least one of the agency’s programs and demonstrate how it fills a niche not adequately addressed by others.
• The nonprofit should impact the overall prosperity of the Cumberland Valley area.
• Community contributions of the organization should extend outside of the nonprofit through collaborations and partnerships with other sectors of the community.
• The nonprofit must be a current member of CVBA and must have been a member for at least one calendar year of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers.
• The nonprofit must be governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
• The organization must have been in operation for at least three years.

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

Past* Nonprofit of the Year Award Recipients

2013 – Valley Community Housing Corp.

2014 – Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance

2015 – Habitat for Humanity

2016 – Cumberland Valley School of Music

2017 – South Central Community Action Program

2018 – Health Communities Partnership

2019 – Drew Michael Taylor Foundation

2022 – Conococheague Institute

2023 - 1st Start Partnerships for Children & Families

2024 - Children's Advocacy Center of Franklin County

2025 Small Nonprofit - Sweet Grace Ministries

2025 Large Nonprofit - Franklin County Library System

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.

This award will recognize an individual who has demonstrated a tireless and unselfish commitment to improving the quality of life in the community beyond the role of their career.

Judging Criteria:

• Currently leads or has led/supported a community improvement project (must be a project not work-related);
• Demonstrates ability to bring the community together to accomplish a goal or project;
• Represents the Cumberland Valley in a positive manner and serves as a positive role model in the community;
• Demonstrates commitment to promoting and/or contributing to the quality of life in the Cumberland Valley;
• Candidate’s company is a current member of CVBA and must have been a member for at least one calendar year of the Chambersburg or Greencastle-Antrim chambers (exception for retirees)

Would you like to submit a hard copy nomination or view complete rules? Click here.

Past* Spirit of the Community Award Recipients

2016 - Holly Baker Strayer

2017 - Penny Shaul

2018 - Patti Nitterhouse

2019 - Patrick O'Donnell

2022 - Kim Eaton

2023 - Adam Donius

2024 - Sam Worley

2025 - Heather Kohler

*Past winners may be nominated again after five years.