HONORED GUESTS — Members of the Brooke County Chamber of Commerce Wednesday honored several individuals and organizations for their involvement in the community. On hand for the presentation of several awards were, from left, Tony Viola, who was named Young Professional of the Year; Suzanne Davidson, recipient of the chamber’s Lifetime Achievement award; Rhonda Stubbs of A Child’s Place C.A.S.A., Nonprofit Organization of the Year; Samantha Walters, the chamber’s Citizen of the Year; and Eric Fithyan, the chamber’s president. Two Antique Geeks was named the chamber’s Business of the Year. -- Craig Howell

FOLLANSBEE — Members of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce gathered Wednesday at St. Francis Centre to recognize a mix of community members and organizations for their outstanding effort in serving others.

Chamber President Eric Fithyan said the primary purpose of its annual dinner is “to celebrate all of our community members and businesses.”

He said that’s why time was taken, through short videos presented during the event, to reveal the philosophies and goals of all nominees for the chamber’s Business of the Year, Nonprofit Organization of the Year and Young Professional of the Year.

A panel of seven chamber executives from various areas of the U.S. was recruited by Fithyan to select an honoree among three nominees for the three categories.

Chamber leadership selected this year’s recipients of the Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.

Named Citizen of the Year was Samantha Walters, who has made time outside of her role as public relations director for CommuniCare and its Wellsburg, Cameron and Moundsville health care centers, to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association and volunteer her time to the chamber and other community efforts.

Of the honor, Walters said, “It’s overwhelming but it’s wonderful at the same time.”

She added she hopes the recognition will help her to bring attention to the compassionate and dedicated staff at the Wellsburg Healthcare Center.

The John Marshal High School graduate said membership in the chamber has introduced her to many active members of the Brooke County community and opportunities to partner with local businesses and others on various projects.

Walters said having two close friends with parents who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease led her to work with others to organize the Upper Ohio Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Held in September at Wheeling Park, this year’s event raised more than $100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was Suzanne Davidson, a retired Brooke County schoolteacher who now heads the chamber committee involved in awarding grants to local teachers and students for activities and programs involving learning in a unique, usually hands-on, way.

Fithyan said this year, she worked with others to raise more than $4,000 in donations for grants awarded this year.

Davidson said as a teacher, she had received several such grants from the chamber and after retiring, “couldn’t wait to be on the other end, presenting the grants. I’m so thrilled our chamber does so much for teachers, students and the community.”

Also a member of the Follansbee Christmas in the Park Committee, Davidson taught for 37 years at Follansbee Middle School and Hooverson Heights Primary School, where she headed a Science Technology Engineering and Math club involved in activities that promoted engineering and other skills through such activities as rocket-building.

She was selected by the Honeywell Educators Space Academy in Huntsville, Ala. And Michelson Exxon Mobile Teachers Academy to participate in teacher training programs designed to introduce students to fields involving science and shared her knowledge with her colleagues as well as organizing an engineering robotics camp for girls, a gender often not exposed to such professions.

Davidson had high praise for the chamber, noting its community involvement also has included a trunk-or-treat event attended by hundreds of children and free summer concerts held at Follansbee and Wellsburg parks.

Also honored were:

• Two Antique Geeks as Business of the Year. Owners Rachel and Jim Mounts applied their love of various things of the past to the Follansbee antique shop at 910 Main St. and have been active members of the chamber, manning a station at the trunk or treat and supporting other activities.

In addition to the many artifacts and collectibles they sell, the Mounts have preserved a building that has been a long-time fixture of the city’s business sector, occupied by Ferrante’s Grocery and other businesses through the years.

Before opening in 2021, they sealed the roof and removed partitions while retaining the building’s tinplate ceiling and wood floor.

Open on weekends only, the business is a sideline for Rachel, who is a nurse, and Jim, who is a paramedic, but they enjoy it very much.

Rahcel said they also try, whenever possible, to support local causes, such youth sports programs and the local fire department, and sponsored a hole at a recent golf scramble that raised funds for improvements to the Follansbee Community House.

• A Child’s Place Court-Appointed Special Advocates as Nonprofit Organization of the Year.,

One of many CASAs throughout the U.S., the Follansbee-based group trains volunteers to represent the interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases in Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties.

In its 25th year, the small, tightly run agency has serve more than 2,000 children in the three counties under the direction of Rhonda Stubbs, who also has presented programs aimed at educating adults in preventing the sexual abuse of children.

• Tony Viola as Young Professional of the Year. A Follansbee native and Brooke High School graduate, Viola has worked in real estate since 2016 and has been named Best Realtor through the Herald-Star and Weirton Daily Times’ Readers Choice contest and to the Champion Club of Howard Hanna Mortimer Realty, later becoming its owner in 2020.

In addition to being an active member of the chamber, he has volunteered his time to the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club, United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Mountaineer Food Bank, Salvation Army and Toys for Tots.

Viola said of the honor, “It’s humbling because I know how many young professionals are out there trying to make a difference every day. I’ve been lucky to build my career right here at home, surrounded by people who care deeply about this valley and want to see it grow.”

“It’s about being present, listening and helping others succeed. That’s something I try to do every day. When you care about your home town and you’re willing to put in the work, you really can make a difference. That’s what keeps me motivated,” he said.

Fithyan said while the dinner was a celebration of the many individuals and businesses who have contributed to the community, it also was a celebration of the first year since the Follansbee and Wellsburg chambers of commerce merged.

He noted at each ribbon cutting held for several new businesses this year, business leaders used scissors with handles that were blue and orange, the colors of the former Follansbee and Wellsburg high schools and a reflection of the chamber’s past.

He said he’s pleased with the way chamber members from the two cities and outside them have come together and looks forward to their future efforts.