LIMA — The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce announced the names of the finalists for its 15th annual awards gala.
The winners will be announced during the awards gala at 5:30 p.m. May 3 at the UNOH Event Center, 1450 N. Cable Road. Tickets are $45 each and $320 for a table of eight for members and $50 each and $360 for a table of eight for future members. Black tie attire is optional.
Three finalists were chosen from among a list of nominees for each category.
Finalists in the Young Leader of the Year Award are Jason Stolly, Alexa Miller, and Jessika Phillips.
To be considered for the Young Leader of the Year Award, the nominees must be between 18 and 40 years of age; must have a minimum of three years professional experience within their current field; devoted time to improving the quality of life of others through civic and community service and actively developed leadership skills and growth towards future goals.
Jason Stolly is an agent/producer and commercial lines department manager at Stolly Insurance Agency, in Lima. He has served as president of the Lima Noon Sertoma Club, is past president of Lima Young Professionals, is a graduate of the Mentor Lima Program, board member of Allen County Children’s Services, Heartland Image Foundation, Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce and March of Dimes Logistics Committee, and served on the leadership board of Business Networking International – New Vision Chapter.
Alexa Miller, is the manager of Anytime Fitness, Lima. She is president of Business Networking International, served as vice president of Lima Young Professionals, and has earned “Club Purple” status for Lima’s Anytime Fitness. In addition, Miller and Anytime Fitness Lima won the Community Outreach Award from the Anytime Fitness franchise.
Jessika Phillips is president of NOW Marketing Group, Elida. She was selected as one of the top 12 global rising stars on social media to watch in 2016 and 2017. She has won an emerging business of the year award for NOW Marketing in 2013, awarded Young Influencer of the Year by the Lima Young Professionals in 2014, is a Forbes for Agency success in 2016, in the Top 12 Rising Stars of Social Media for 2016 and Top 33 Rising Stars for Social Media in 2017.
This award is sponsored by St. Rita’s Medical Center.
Finalists in the Emerging Business of the Year award are Beauty by Jill Salon and Spa, Jameson Manor, and Simply Torn Boutique.
To be considered for the Emerging Business of the Year Award, the business must be independently owned and operated with an operational history between 18 months and five years; business should exemplify a unique business idea, marketing approach and or management style that have contributed to its growth and success; business must establish its transition from a start-up to an emerging business by documenting increased sales volume and/or operational profitability, introduction of unique or innovative products or services, job creation/retention and other indicators recognized within its industry and community; and the business principal must demonstrate community involvement and/or civic contributions.
Beauty by Jill Salon and Spa, owned by Jill Bakies-Lewis and located at 226 N. Main St., Lima. The salon was established in 2014 and employs 13. The salon provides an up-scale full service salon and spa in a central location in the community. The salon and spa prides itself on being very community driven, and has donated to the following organizations: Jason Strauser Memorial Golf Outing; Dance through downtown 5k; LCC/St. Charles Auction; Mother’s Day Basket 2016 (iHeart Media); Shawnee High School Post Prom; Western Ohio Aquatic League/W.O.A.L. Swim Championships; Bath Football Parent Advisory Committee; Ford Health Fair; Chamber Fest 2016; Lima Jr. Service League Bingo for Books; Chanda Carlene Caudill Benefit Lung Cancer Awareness; Downtown Lima Small Business Shopping Pass; Bath Wildkitten Girls’ Basketball; sponsored a local teen in the 2016 Miss Teen Ohio Competition; and Downtown Lima Stocking Stuffer Night.
Jameson Manor is owned by Shannon Wannemacher and her husband Andy Wannemacher, and is located at 1028 West Market St., Lima. The Wannemacher’s opened Jameson Manor in 2015 as an event venue. They currently employ one and a half employees. The Wannemacher’s have supported the Lima Symphony Orchestra by hosting the 8th Annual Wine Tasting fundraiser, and the Friends of the Symphony Autumn Tea. Shannon Wannemacher served as a member of the Executive Committee and will be the vice president of the board of directors for the 2017-2019 seasons. The Wannemacher’s are co-founders of Octopus Productions; are founding members of the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce’s “I Love Lima Week”; and host Candles of Hope at Jameson Manor; and donated a free event to The Cole Collection silent auction and boutique shopping fundraiser with proceeds going to purchasing Christmas gifts for foster children of Allen County.
Simply Torn Boutique is owned by Jamie Burger and located at 1935 Elida Road, Lima. The boutique employs three employees and has an online presence as well. Originally opened in Ada, Ohio in 2014, and relocated to Lima, Ohio in November of 2015. The boutique has supported area schools for job shadow experiences; gives hundreds of dollars in donations to schools, organizations and charities; collected coats and non perishable food items and donated those to My Daily Bread; hats and gloves collected for area shelters as well as pet supplies and misc. items donated to Crossroads Crisis Center; provided a free photoshoot and style session to area seniors with modeling and fashion dreams; partnered with area businesses in the effort to give back to those fighting or who have fought Breast Cancer.
Sponsor of this award is State Bank.
Finalists in the Woman Owned Business of the Year are Busy B Realty, Pointe of Joy, and The Dough Hook.
To be considered for the Woman Owned Business of the Year Award, the businesses must be 51 percent woman owned; must be financially strong and profitable, and be able to show a history of growth in sales dollars and/or volume; business principal or organization must have demonstrated community involvement and/or made some civic contributions; must employ no more than 150 employees.
Busy B Realty, is owned by Dawn Arheit and located at 2390 Baty Road, Suite B, Elida. The business was opened in 2006. Busy B Realty has sponsored The Lima News’ cutest pet contest since 2014; is involved in local cancer awareness walks; assisted Angels for Animals; sponsored numerous tables for non-profit organizations at Lima Noon Optimist Home Show (paws for pals); sponsored two local 4-H clubs; sponsored local elementary school sports teams and many more events.
Pointe of Joy, is owned by Jennifer Velasquez, and is located at 119 N. Elizabeth St., Lima. The business offers dance shoes and apparel and was opened in 2013. It has three employees. Pointe of Joy has participated in several local events such as Dance through Downtown 5K; was a sponsor of the ONU Holiday Spectacular and Octopus’ production of Cabaret in 2016; is a gold sponsor of the Prodigy Dance Competition in Downtown Lima for the past two years; sponsored The Cole Collection that benefits foster children of Allen County; the Lima Senior DECA program; and sponsored The Pointe of the Evening Chance to Dance put on by the Findlay Ballet Academy; and most recently kicked off a new charitable donation program, Spread Joy Lima.
The Dough Hook, owned by Marlena Ballinger, and is located at 117 N. Main St., Bluffton. It was established in 2008 by Ballinger’s parents, John and Sharon Calvelage with Ballinger purchasing the business in 2013. There are two full time and five part-time employees. Ballinger developed the Fresh Produce Box, which eventually turned to Fresh Meals, which serves an average of 25 Fresh Meal boxes weekly; participated in Ride to Remember and Bluffton’s annual Festival of Wheels.
Sponsor of this award is Huntington Bank.
Finalists in the Non-Profit Agency of the Year Guiding Light, Our Daily Bread, and Teens for Christ.
To be considered for this award, nominees must describe the most important agency activity of the past year that benefited the community; the agency must be a non-profit or private sector 501 (c) 3 that provides a service to people in the Lima/Allen County area; promotes a safe and accessible workplace and service; must be financially sound; mentor new employees, volunteers and board members through adequate training; participate and support collaborative efforts among non-profits and organization in the community; the agency provides a description of how their services improve the Allen County economy.
Guiding Light Ministries, located at 592 S. Main St., Lima. Julianne Frankhouser is executive director. The agency is dedicated to providing a safe environment for women and to educating them on how to effectively care for themselves and their children. The agency has established and maintained collaborations with several area agencies. A prime focus is to help women get back into the workforce.
Our Daily Bread, located at 125 S. Central Ave., Lima. Director is Randy Kimpel and Scott Catlett. Board chairman is Timothy “Bo” McComas. Our Daily Bread serves to be a friend to everyone that enters its doors by providing a safe place, good meal and a hope for the future through Jesus Christ.
Teens for Christ is located at 1550 Elida Road, Lima. Director is David “Buck” Sutton and board chairman is Doug Roser. The mission is to turn teenagers into fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
Sponsor of this award is Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships.
ATHENA Award finalists are: Tammie Colon, Julianne Frankhouser, and Tracie Sanchez.
To be considered for the ATHENA Award, nominees must have demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession, has provided valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and most importantly, assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential.
Tammie Colon, is the chief officer, behavioral health at Coleman Professional Services, located at 799 S. Main St., Lima. She implemented the We Care Regional Crisis Center, which is a collaboration between St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lutheran Social Services and local law enforcement; collaborated with Lima Memorial Health System; Father’s Accountable for Children’s Tomorrows (FACT), a collaboration between Coleman, Dept. of Job and Family Services and Child Support Enforcement. She is the recipient of the 2011 “Champion of Mental Health Community” award.
Julianne Frankhouser, is executive director of Guiding Light Ministries, located at 592 S. Main St., Lima. She is the founder and director of Guiding Light Ministries and is pastor of Living Faith Temple since 2010; is a member of Allen County Metropolitan Housing; works as a PRN Home Health RN for St. Rita’s Medical Center; has been the chair for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Taskforce.
Tracie Sanchez is president and owner of Lima Pallet Company, Inc., located at 1470 Neubrecht Road, Lima. The business employs more than 50 employees. Sanchez has worked with the Lima Worth Center and currently with the Lima drug court to have drug offenders work instead of sitting in jail; employs adults with disabilities through Marimor; partnered with Aaron McLaurien, owner of Soldiers of Honor boxing gym that is an outreach program for endangered and at risk girls and boys; is a mentor for the Lima Young Professionals; Served on the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Board of Directors; Leadership Trust Council for the National Federation of Independent Business; member of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and National Women Business Owners Corporation; on the board of directors for Lima Rotary Club; Spherion Board of Directors; State Bank Advisory Board; Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Legislative Committee, Lima Memorial Hospital Foundation Advisory Board, the Opiate Task Force, Makerfest Steering Committee and Rotary Club of Lima Leadership Council; member of Ohio Manufacturers Council Delegate for the State of Ohio Governor Kasich.
This is sponsored by The Lima Auto Mall.
Small Business of the Year finalists are ACE Hardware, Delphos, Real Living CCR Realty, and Swartz Contracting and Emergency Services.
To be nominated, businesses must meet the following criteria: must be independently owned and operated with a substantial history as an established business; business must be financially strong and profitable, and be able to show a history of growth in sales dollars and/or volume; business principal or organization must have demonstrated community involvement and/or made civic contributions; business must employ no more than 150 employees; and business has been in business for at least five years.
Ace Hardware, Delphos, Eric Fritz is the owner and it is located at 247 N. Main St., Delphos. The company employs 10 people. Ace Hardware, Delphos has a primary objective to take care of the customer. They strive to give the best customer service at the best price they can. The company supports the City of Delphos through Delphos Community Christmas Project; Delphos Canal Days; schools and countless smaller events. The company supports Delphos FFA and 4-H programs.
Real Living CCR Realtors, owned by Dominic Guagenti and Maria Sanko, and located at 1737 Allentown Road, Lima. The company was started in 2005 and employs 60 employees. Clients are the heart of the business. The business supports Equestrian Therapy Program; American Cancer Society; West Central Association of Realtors; Mayor Berger Annual Outing; St. Charles, Lima Central Catholic, and Shawnee Schools various fundraisers and auctions throughout the year; gives to the Sertoma Club fundraisers; assisted Rhodes State College in acquiring properties to build a facility in downtown Lima; participates in the internship program for students at Rhodes State College and UNOH. The 60 employees all volunteer in the community as well.
Swartz Contracting and Emergency Services is owned by Paul and Carol Swartz, and is located at 2622 Baty Road, Lima. The Swartz’s started the company in May of 1987. The company has 19 employees. Employees are treated like family. Strives for community involvement. The company donates to the local food bank; United way; Camp Robin Rogers; donated time to install windows in a local church; given to many local youth sports activities; helped Red Cross install smoke detectors in homes; helped boy scout troop house Klondike Derby Sleds; helped with Makerfest; involved with local fire departments for continuing education and providing facility for Teens for Christ Converge event.
This award is sponsored by Citizens National Bank.
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