HERMITAGE, Pa. – Cowboy hats, boots and line dancing set the tone for the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual Phoenix Awards, held Thursday night at the Corinthian in a country-western-themed celebration that honored the region’s top businesses and organizations.
Before the first award was handed out, Stephen Kelleher, chamber board president, fired off an enthusiastic “Yee haw!” as he praised the chamber’s momentum and outlook.
“I can assure you that this chamber has never been this chamber,” Kelleher told the crowd. “We have more energy, more passion, more commitment, more dedication, more excitement, more vision, more creativity, more money than we’ve ever had.”
Kelleher credited the chamber’s renewed vitality to Executive Director Jim Bombeck, describing him as “an absolute whirlwind of a human being.”
The event began with line dancing and music, with most attendees embracing the western theme in denim, hats and boots. The casual fun set the stage for a night celebrating serious achievements among the Shenango Valley’s businesses and organizations.
Kelleher detailed the chamber’s recent success, citing record membership growth, strong finances and new initiatives designed to help small businesses. Among them is a membership scholarship program created to help startups and emerging companies join the chamber by covering their first-year dues.
Board President Stephen Kelleher addresses the audience.
Chamber Treasurer Joe Salman expanded on that program during his remarks, announcing a major milestone.
“We’re extremely excited to announce that we can self-fund that now and in perpetuity, and give new businesses a one-year, free membership and a taste of the chamber on our dime,” Salman said. “We just think that’s a great way to give back and help grow.”
Salman credited collaboration between the finance committee and local supporters, particularly the city of Hermitage, for helping the chamber become financially strong enough to support new members without relying on outside contributions.
Wanted posters adorned the desert table.
In his address, Bombeck praised the chamber’s volunteers, sponsors and board members for their work behind the scenes and set the stage for the award presentations.
“This evening is literally one of my favorite nights, because it gives us a chance to pause and reflect and celebrate what makes our community so great, and that’s our people,” Bombeck said.
“Each of the awards we’ll present tonight represents more than just professional success,” he said. “They represent leadership and service and a commitment to something larger than oneself, the belief that when business and community work hand in hand, everyone rises.”
The Phoenix Award for Growth Business went to Hurricane Ventures, a Greenville-based manufacturer and distributor of Hurricane Fans.
President Alec Miller said the company has experienced remarkable expansion since its founding.
“Year-over-year, we’ve grown our workforce by 300% as well as our revenue, and we’ve taken a much bigger market share as a company as a whole,” Miller said.
Executive Director Jim Bombeck presents the Growth Business Award to Alec Miller, president of Hurricane Ventures.
Miller said the company invested more than $1 million in new equipment to increase efficiency and wages for its workers.
The Innovation Award was presented to the Hermitage Water Pollution Control Department for its Food Waste Digester system, the first municipally operated facility of its kind in the United States.
Superintendent Wayne Covert said the program diverts millions of pounds of food waste from landfills each month, converting it into renewable energy that helps power the plant.
“Today, we process an average of 3.8 million pounds of food waste each month,” Covert said. “Each month, we capture about 1.5 million cubic feet of gas, which we use to fuel our combined heat and power generator. Our food waste program accounts for more than 9% of the plant’s annual revenue, and despite inflation, it has helped keep sewer rates stable with no increase since 2013.”
Covert added that the system benefits multiple groups, the environment and local farmers, as well as residents and manufacturers, all while reducing costs and emissions.
The New Business Startup Award went to Envy Hair and Nail Studio, owned by Amanda Bonner, who opened the salon in 2024.
“Being a part of a small business in this community, we can join forces,” she said. “We don’t have to all do the same services or provide the same things for individuals, but we can still come together and show support for each other and have fun while doing it.”
Additional Phoenix Awards went to:
- Primary Health Network for Beautification, recognized for enhancing its Shenango River property with new walkways, paving and landscaping.
- Sunbelt Solomon for Growth Manufacturing, honoring its investments in transformer remanufacturing and workforce expansion.
- Mercer County Food Bank for Nonprofit Achievement, celebrating its continued impact in addressing hunger across the region.
- Sharon Regional Health System for Community Impact, recognizing its ongoing commitment to health care access and community wellness throughout Mercer County.
Pictured at top: Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jim Bombeck presents the Phoenix Award for innovation to Wayne Covert, superintendent at the Hermitage Water Pollution Control Department.
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