PARKERSBURG - Area business people and businesses were honored Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley's annual dinner and awards banquet at the Parkersburg Art Center.
James Spanner, publisher of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, was named as the chamber's Businessman of the Year.
Spanner said the award was an honor for him and the newspaper.
"It's a great honor to be chosen by my peers," Spanner said. "Really this award is a reflection of the dedicated people we have at The Parkersburg News and Sentinel."
Jill Parsons, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, said Spanner was selected for the honor for a number of reasons.
"We think he is a great representative of the business community and his organization," she said. "It is evidenced by all the great events the newspaper sponsors and how he mentors his team at the paper."
Parsons said this was the second year for the award.
Speaker at the dinner was author and business consultant Rick Olson speaking on "How Fun are you to be With?"
Olson said the best workplaces depend on attitude and it is important for everyone to show up with a good attitude, saying a great attitude is the best gift for those you work with.
"It's impossible to hate someone who likes you," he said. "You don't have to be a laugh-a-minute person, but if you have a great attitude you are fun to work with and if you recognize something in someone don't think it, say it."
Several awards were announced at the dinner and new officers for the coming year were announced.
Awards given were:
New Business of the Year, Le Colour Bar of Vienna.
Curb Appeal or Property Improvement Award, Superior Toyota-Hyundai.
Community Involvement Award, West Virginia Central Credit Union.
Non-Profit Organization of the Year, Junior League of Parkersburg.
Family Owned-Home based Business of the Year, Waters Insurance Agency.
Woman or Minority Owned Business of the Year, Hughes Family Chiropractic.
Small Business of the Year, Kreinik Manufacturing.
Young Business Leader of the Year, Adam Kennedy, a CPA with Suttle and Stalnaker and president of the Parkersburg Jaycees, and Ryan Taylor, president of Pickering Associates.
Parsons announced the officers for the upcoming year. They are:
Chairman - Grant Wharton, Charton Management - Burger King.
First vice chair - Alice Harris, CPA.
Second vice chair - Marie Foster Gnage.
Treasurer - Larry Holdren, Peoples Bank.
