The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
VIRTUAL CELEBRATION
Local businesses recognized during virtual Oneida chamber award dinner
The Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual award dinner virtually this year, bestowing three local businesses with distinguished awards.
The virtual celebration was hosted on Facebook live on Nov. 20 and compressed a typically 2- 3 hour event into just a 13- minute long video.
Though the ceremony was less communal than in years past due to safety barriers brought by COVID- 19, Oneida Chamber officials led the event with positivity. Recognizing businesses that go above and beyond felt important now more than ever.
The award dinner is usually held in early November and attracts 150 to 200 attendees. The Annual Award committee ( in prior years known as the Annual Dinner Committee) came up with the virtual award concept, explained Kim Caro, Oneida Chamber president.
“The idea was to stay true to the traditions of the Chamber while incorporating technology and social media as our stage,” she added. The committee is made up of Monique Smith and Matt Allen ( co- chairs), and Rachel Siderine, Jeannine Fiedler, Wendy Matters, and Jon Rose, ( board members).
Silver City Studios helped with some of the filming and created the ads between awards. Each award was presented and filmed at each recipient’s place of business.
“We are extremely grateful to all of our sponsors for enabling us tomake tonight a success and having faith in our new platform,” Caro remarked.
The ability to go virtual on this scale is an evolution, she said, adding that the Chamber of Commerce is still “alive and thriving” despite facing some challenges.
“We’re continuing to support you as we always have,” she said. The chamber is eager for the day in- person events can resume with some normalcy.
Recognizing those in the community who “go the extra mile,” succeed despite obstacles, and serve as a supportive pillar remains an important value to the chamber, Caro said.
For this reason, the chamber is proud to announce Campbell- Dean Funeral Home, The Blend, and Primal Tee Shop as this year’s award recipients.
Monique Smith, co- chair of the annual award committee, presented the Longevity Award to Jim Dean, president and licensed owner of Campbell- Dean Funeral Home. This award is given to businesses who have “stood the test of time” while providing excellent service and support to their community, Monique said.
“We want to thank the chamber for thinking of us,” Dean said. “We also want to thank the Oneida community for the faith and confidence they’ve had in our firm.” Dean was accompanied by colleagues Jana Haldenwang and Loni Petrie upon receiving the award.
The New Business Award is given to outstanding businesses that have opened within the last three years. The Blend, a smoothie and specialty drink shop in downtown since July 2019, was this year’s award recipient.
“They have had an amazing impact on downtown and the surrounding area with their products and involvement in the community,” said Matt Allen, cochair of the annual award committee.
The company’s knack for using social media for advertising was also admired.
The Blend has recently expanded next door to open The Market, which brings local products into a centralized area, according to Allen.
“We are so excited and thankful to receive this award. We are so grateful for how the community has really accepted us and made us feel welcome and been the main reason we were able to expand,” said Kara Hatch, co- owner of The Blend. Hatch co- owns The Blend with her three other sisters, Darryl, Laura, and Emma Hatch.
The final award, the Americu Community Service Award, was given to Primal Tee Shop in Blossvale. Rachel Siderine, treasurer of the greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce, presented the award to Denise and Stevemangini, married couple and operators of the shop. The couple and their business stepped up to the plate when the pandemic started affecting the community. The team started making face masks for residents and asked for donations, in any amount, in return. Denise’s mother spent many hours sewing the masks each day, and her dad cut out the fabric, Siderine explained. The shop donated over 1,000 masks and raised over $ 1,000 in donations.
The couple knew that Steve’s sister, a registered nurse at Oneida Health, had been working strenuous hours, and other healthcare workers were doing the same.
Looking for a way to help, the couple was advised to contribute to the hospital’s “zen rooms” for healthcare workers, which were areas for workers to unwind.
The couple donated several cases of water, prepackaged snacks, chocolate covered Oreos from the Chocolate Pizza Company, pre- packaged popcorn bags from Ma and Pa’s Kettle Corn, small battery- operated candles, and lotion sprays from Stacy at Oneida Office Supply. “Essential” t- shirts were also made and given to Oneida Health for their employees.
“Thank you both for the great difference you’ve made in our local community. We really appreciate it,” Siderine said.
Denise commended the Chamber of Commerce for allowing her and her husband to build relationships they wouldn’t have otherwise found, and she thanked everyone who took part in giving Primal Tee Shop this award.