OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward The 2023 Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce award recipients include, front row from left: Kris Maytum, Monica Simpson, Greg Peterson, Janese Berkhouse, Tom Berkhouse. In back: Kurt Maytum, Nate Aldrich, Crystal Ehrhardt, Bridget Majka, Kelly Martin, Rick Klisiewicz, Alexis Singleton, Jan Salter, Sorena Gilkinson, Linda Swanson and Mark Geise.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce celebrated six individuals and three organizations and businesses in the region Thursday night at the State University of New York at Fredonia. A packed dining room greeted the winners, their spouses, as well as several individuals from the county.

To start off the night Bridget Majka was honored with the Community Impact Award from Dunkirk. Majka oversees all 15 programs at Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, according to the program presented by the Chamber.

In addition to her work there she is also an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Community College teaching Early Childhood Education. She also serves on the Head Start Nutrition Council, Food for Thought Council and consults for the Lake Shore Family Center.

“Being recognized for something like this is very near and dear to my heart,” Majka stated in her video submission. “I was put into a place where I had the ability to help others on a daily basis; that’s such an amazing thing to be able to do, even just by talking to someone being able to give them food and being able to give them hope is an inspiring thing for me.”

DFT Communications was the winner of the Community Impact Award in Fredonia. Installed 125 years ago in Arther R. Maytuim’s grocery store, it has branched into an expansive array of internet and other technologies, the Chamber writes. They continue to be a local advocate, do business with local partners, sponsor local festivals and events, and contribute to local organizations.

“We believe that investing in our community is the greatest way that we can give back to a community that has supported us throughout many generations,” Kurt Maytum, CEO shared.

Rick Klisiewicz was bestowed the Community Impact Award for Hanover. He is active in local organizations including the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, the Chautauqua County Conservation Club in Dunkirk, the VFW and Amvets in Silver Creek and 4-H; since 2018 he has chaired the Chamber of Commerce Committee in Hanover.

“I like to live by supporting my family and neighbors when I buy goods and services locally from the community, our county, the state and our country,” Klisiewicz said. “I know it’s not always possible to buy local but for a small community we really need to support our neighbors, friends and relatives.”

The Jamestown Community Impact Award went to The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation which grants more than $2 million annually to more than 45 nonprofits in the southern part of Chautauqua County. In addition, according to the chamber, it is committed to downtown Jamestown and recently coordinated a Downtown Beautification Committee that included bringing together many key partners in downtown Jamestown to focus on upgrading visual spaces including green spaces and waterways.

The Community Impact Award in Mayville-Chautauqua was given to Sorena Gilkinson, who has served as chair of the Mayville-Chautauqua Chamber Committee since 2020, the chamber shared. Gilkinson has worked to maintain and upgrade the Mayville Winter Festival, sparked the development of the Mayville Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market and worked to expand and rebrand the free summer concert series at Lakeside Park. She also has a career in real estate, supervised the renovation of the former Swetland Opera House building and opened her own business, Handcrafted from the Heart.

“Being involved in my community is something that is very near and dear to me,” Gilkinson stated. “From building relationships in the community through business or events, sponsoring groups such as the Mayville Little League and other local organizations fundraising or simply starting something new in our community it’s something I love.”

Janese and Tom Berkhouse have demonstrated unwavering dedication to the Westfield community through a wide variety of volunteer efforts and this is why this year they received the Community Impact Award in Westfield-Barcelona. Janese is treasurer for the Rotary Club of Westfield, the Chautauqua County Historical Society and the YWCA of Westfield. She is also a board member for Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, and a long time member of the Chamber committee in Westfield, the Chamber provided. Tom currently serves on the Barcelona Harbor Commission, the Westfield MemorialNHospital Board, Patterson Library Hands, Westfield Cemetery Association and the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville.

“We are grateful that we are able to give back to the community that we live and work in,” Janese Berkhouse said. “we are hopeful that in some small way our involvement has helped in the efforts of many.”

“Volunteerism for us, is not about striving for leadership for the organizations that we’re in,” her husband added. “The satisfaction comes from doing small things, keeping things running smoothly in the community.”

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Award went to The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. This organization connects public and private resources to grow Chautauqua County, the Chamber noted. Their work brings together more than 65 partner organizations and centers in five focus areas including Business Development, Placemaking, Workforce Development, Housing Development and Infrastructure.

Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year Award went to Greg Peterson. Peterson was recognized for an extensive body of work throughout his lifetime, according to the Chamber. Having spent his entire career at Phillips Lytle in its Jamestown office, his clients came to Greg for corporate counseling, real estate, family wealth planning, and municipal finance. Greg has been General Counsel to the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency for over 35 years and has been involved in projects that are cornerstones of the Chautauqua County economy today. He is a co-founder and past president of the Robert H. Jackson Center, has served on The Resource Center Board of Directors, the Business Council of New York State, and chairs the Jamestown Professional Baseball Executive Committee.

Humbled by previous winners of the award Peterson shared that “the reality is it takes so many people, inspiration, enthusiasm and ability to ‘get it done,’ that’s what I think distinguishes Chautauqua County. It’s really been my family, friends, colleagues and I’ve been privileged to be at a law firm which encourages that community.”

All the award recipients were honored with plaques and certificates for their outstanding contribution to their communities and all of Chautauqua County.