COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD — Harry Webb. From left are Jillian Kreamer, FCCC executive director; Mart Smith, Smith Sawyer Smith Agency; Harry Webb, award recipient, owner of Webb Family Pharmacy; Alison Webb, daughter; Evan Webb, son. (Photo by David Hazledine)

ROCHESTER —Business and community leaders from across Fulton County gathered Saturday, April 27, at Jackson Estate for the 2019 Fulton County annual Community Gala to recognize businesses and individuals who excelled both economically and in their service to the community.

That combination may have been best embodied by Harry Webb, owner of the 155 year old Webb’s Family Pharmacy in Rochester, who has worked hard to bring economic development to downtown Rochester and help foster legislation to fight the spread of meth labs.

In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Webb exhorted those present to join him to “make our town a better place.”

BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR — Cindy Douglass. From left are Jillian Kreamer, FCCC executive director; Cindy Douglass, superintendent, Caston School Corporation; Jeri Burkhart, Indiana Tech. (Photo by David Hazledine)

That sentiment was echoed by Cindy Douglass, Caston School Corporation superintendent, who received the Business Professional of the Year award. “It takes us all working together,” she commented.

Douglass and other school administrators have joined the chamber board of directors in recent years, reflecting how, as Douglass noted, “business and education have become so intertwined.”

Board President Karen McClean commented on the work of the chamber’s new executive director, Jillian Kreamer, who took the position in July 2018. The board, said McClean, “continues to be impressed with what she as achieved in a few short months.”

New events include Business After Hours, providing networking opportunities, and legislative breakfasts, which keep local businesses abreast of events at the state capitol affecting the regional economy.

Also awarded at the gala were Jarrety’s Place, Business of the Year; Schnabeltier, Emerging Business of the Year; Matt Straeter, Chamber Volunteer of the Year.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — Jarrety’s Place. From left are Kendra Chudzynski, Smith Sawyer Smith Agency; Amy Coplen, manager; Dawn Peterson, owner; Jillian Kreamer, FCCC executive director. (Photo by David Hazledine)

EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — Schnabeltier. From left are Jillian Kreamer, FCCC executive director; Karen McClean, NIPSCO, FCCC president; Kori Pugh, manager; Hayley Lehman, brewer; Glen Goss, cheesemaker. (Photo by David Hazledine)

CHAMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR — Matt Straeter. From left are Jillian Kreamer, FCCC executive director; Matt Straeter, New Holland Rochester; Lindsay Straeter, wife of Matt Straeter; Chris Wood, Mike Anderson Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, FCCC past president. (Photo by Monica Huffman)