Six local businesses and individuals were honored with awards for their outstanding efforts over the past year.
Allayn Beck, Executive Director of State College Food Bank, Elizabeth Hay, Jack White Family Director of the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank; Greg Scott, President and CEO of the CBICC; Elizabeth Piazza, Broker of Record at Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors; Gary Brandeis, CEO of Scholar Hotel Group; John Schaffer, co-owner of Antifragile Brewing; and Jessi Blanarik, Managing Editor of the Centre County Gazette. (Matt Jacobs Productions).
CENTRE COUNTY, PA – The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) in partnership with event sponsors celebrated the achievements of six local businesses and individuals at the 2024 Centre County Business Awards, presented by Geisinger. The ceremony took place in the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn on October 24 and drew an audience of over 200 members of Centre County’s business community.
CBICC President and CEO Greg Scott welcomed attendees and delivered opening remarks before handing award presentation duties over to the event’s Award Sponsors.
“Tonight, we celebrate business in our community and the people who make it a special, thriving place to live and work,” remarked Scott. “Through their leadership and dedication, this year’s recipients have positively impacted our region’s economy and community, and I look forward to cheering on their growth and success in the future!”
The award recipients are as follows:
- Nonprofit of the Year: State College Food Bank
- ATHENA Champion Leadership Award: Elizabeth Hay, Jack White Family Director of the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank and President of WINGS, a State College Women’s Networking Group.
- Emerging Business of the Year: Antifragile Brewing Company
- Small Business of the Year: The Centre County Gazette
- Business Leader of the Year: Elizabeth Piazza, Broker of Record at Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors
- Business of the Year: Scholar Hotel Group
Each recipient delivered a brief acceptance speech followed by photo opportunities with their presenters and Greg Scott. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson also delivered a few words, reflecting on recent accomplishments in the business community and the bright path ahead.
The Centre County Business Awards is a cornerstone event for the CBICC. After a brief hiatus, the awards returned in 2023 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing community engagement through a peer-led nomination process. The awards honor great achievement in Centre County’s business community.
The event was organized and executed by the CBICC in partnership with Presenting Sponsor Geisinger. Other sponsors of the event include: The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., First National Bank, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Penn State’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research, Stuckey Automotive, PennTerra Engineering, Inc., the College Township Industrial Development Authority, Delta Development Group, Scholar Hotels, Mount Nittany Health, Dreibelbis Development, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Encompass Health, Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, and PNC Bank.