The Chamber Beat

Our newest members at the Chamber show the diversity of our 13 communities that make up the greater Oxford Hills.

• Posabilities, Inc. owned by Katey Hawes and specializing in physical therapy, yoga and yoga therapy in Norway.

• Woodys Delivery & Carry Out, LLC. On the Waterford Road in Norway, featuring Pizza, subs, salads, convenience and more delivered to your door.

• Alpha & Omega Ministries, Inc. located on Park Street in South Paris and featuring an affordable Thrift Shop & Furniture Store.

• Art Moves Dance with Deb Irons, artistic director, located at 13 Cottage Street in Norway.

• Ripley & Fletcher Ford with new owner Joseph Galletta, the oldest Ford dealership in Maine.

Welcome to Oxford County’s largest business and community organization.

Another great piece of news is that the Manufactured Housing Group of Schiavi Home Builders, Twin Town Homes and Turn Key Homes on Route 26 in Oxford are coming together with the Chamber to host the 11th Annual Oxford Home Show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 26-28.

The Oxford Home Show is, once again, sponsored by Norway Savings Bank. This continues to be one of New England’s largest home shows. Put it on your calendar.

My member benefit this week? Our monthly Business After Hours, always hosted by one of our members and a perfect way to network your business, non-profit, or just get to know others in the communities you work and live in. Every month of the year.

The 36th Annual Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Dinner & Awards Ceremony is set to take place at the Four Seasons Function Center on Main Street in South Paris, Saturday, February 23, starting at 5 p.m.

This is the largest business and community event that takes place in the greater Oxford Hills each year and it is a terrific opportunity to connect with business and community leaders while honoring our outstanding award winners.

This year’s event is special because we’re returning to the Four Season’s Function Center and our buffet is being provided by Joel Kane. In addition we have a truly outstanding keynote speaker in Allison Melangton, a native of Auburn who was the president and CEO of Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis and is a four-time Emmy Award winning producer for NBC’s coverage of the Summer Olympics.

Allison has been a producer for eight Olympic Games and has just recently been named as the CEO for the Indiana Sports Management Corporation, one of the largest such corporations in North America. She is one of the most influential women in America and I am thrilled that she has agreed to come and share her success story with all of us here in the Oxford Hills.

And, of course, we’ll be celebrating our Chamber Award winners including the 2012 Business Of The Year, The Oxford Casino, which in less then a year in operation has produced over 450 new jobs in the Oxford Hills.

Our Community Service Award will be presented to Responsible Pet Care, truly one of the great humanitarian organizations in the western Maine region, whose employees, Board and countless volunteers help care for and find good homes for hundreds and hundreds of cats and dogs.

Our Rising Business Star is Service Master of Oxford Hills, which has grown dramatically with new owners Carl Carlson and Steve Cox at the helm and we are proud to Award our Employee of the Year to Steve Holbrook from the Oxford Hills Christian Academy for his years of dedication, commitment and tireless and selfless service to the goals and objectives of the Academy.

And we are sold out. See you there.

We continue to look ahead to find new and interesting ways we can serve our members and the communities of the greater Oxford Hills.

See you next week.

Photo:

John Williams