Columbiana Chamber to Honor Six Citizens at Banquet
COLUMBIANA, Ohio – The Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce will honor six citizens at the 65th Annual Awards Banquet Feb. 24 at The Links Banquet Center at Firestone Farms.
Mandy Moreschi, a senior at Columbiana High School, will be presented with the Young Citizen of the Year award. Moreschi is class president, student athletic trainer for the junior varsity and varsity football teams, a member of the speech club and 2018 homecoming court. She also led a drive to increase participation in the school’s food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank, making it the most successful in the school’s history.
The Business Person of the Year award will be awarded to Sherry Bendetta. In her position at the Columbiana County branch of the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services, Bendetta has “become a mentor, sounding board and leader to many who come to perform community service hours.”
Kelli Hephner, director of Heroes and Halos, will be presented with the Outstanding Community Service award. A member of East Fairfield United Methodist Church, she has organized the Guardian Angel support group for families and children with special needs, training sessions, a monthly family fun night and 5K races. She was also involved in Youngstown City School’s surrogate parent program, Leetonia Fire and EMS and Columbiana EMS.
Columbiana Middle School teacher Stephanie Baylor will be given the Educator of the Year. A teacher at the school since 2001, Baylor teaches language arts, social studies and gifted education. She leads the Destination Excellence and Interact Club, as well as the middle school student council and yearbook.
Lifetime of Service awards will be presented to Jack Guy and Dan Bladsell. Bladsell served as the municipal attorney for Columbiana for 41 years. Guy has been involved with Veterans of Foregin Wars, American Legion, The Forty and Eight club, St. Jude Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Rotary and the chamber, among plenty of other organizations.
The six individuals will join three businesses that will also be honored. Park Avenue Marketplace will be given the Entrepreneur Award, Birdfish Brewing Co. the Adaptive Reuse and Upgrade Award, and RT Vernal Paving & Excavating the Planned Unit Development Award.
For more information on the awards banquet, or to make reservations, contact the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce at 330 482 3822.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
