Out & About: Chamber honors community leaders at annual dinner

Shirley McMarlin
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 3:31 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 3:31 p.m.

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Shirley McMarlin | For the Tribune-Review

(From left) Megan Bricker of Greensburg, community service honoree Richard Cassidy and Briana Tomack, president of the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, at the chamber’s 74th annual dinner, held Oct. 21 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

Shirley McMarlin | For the Tribune-Review

Judith Swigart (left), the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award recipient, joins Brian Panichelle, volunteer honoree, at the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce 74th annual dinner, held Oct. 21 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

Shirley McMarlin | For the Tribune-Review

Rhonda Sulkosky (left), CFO of small business honoree LESCO Federal Credit Union, and Carol Greenawalt, representing nonprofit honoree the Latrobe 4th of July Celebration, at the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce 74th annual dinner, Oct. 21 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

When it comes to community support, the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce has an abundance of riches. In announcing annual award winners, chamber President Briana Tomack said the number of worthy candidates made the selection process difficult.

Recognizing the achievements of both organizations and individual members was part of the business of the group’s 74th Annual Dinner, held Oct. 21 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

Earning this year’s encomiums were:

• Volunteer of the Year: Brian Panichelle, president of BP Insurance, a chamber ambassador and operations chairman for Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration.

• Small Business of the Year: LESCO Federal Credit Union, represented by CFO Rhonda Sulkosky. LESCO marketing specialist Taylor Kilmer also is a driving force in the chamber’s Young Professionals Group.

• Non-Profit of the Year: Latrobe 4th of July Celebration, represented by Carol Greenawalt, chairwoman of a 30-member committee organizing the annual week-long, community-wide patriotic extravaganza.

• Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award recipient: Judith Swigart, recently retired as Greater Latrobe School District superintendent whose tenure was capped off with the opening of the new Latrobe Elementary School.

• Community Service Award recipient: Richard Cassidy, president of family-run Kattan-Ferretti Insurance, which “pays it forward” with participation in local programs, events and fundraisers.