- By Doug Levine
- Around Town
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"The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce has expanded the awards program to include the Large Employer of the Year and the Not-For-Profit of the Year”, says Chamber Awards Committee Chair Laurie Linn. “We think it’s important for our award designations to reach across the diverse sectors of our membership and showcase their successes and their commitment to our community. This is the first year that the Large Employer and Not-For-Profit of the Year awards will be presented and we, of course, will have an annual event to acknowledge those organizations that fit the award criteria, every year. This expands the Annual Awards to four categories, New Business of the Year, David R. Strong Small Business of the Year, Large Employer of the Year and Not-For-Profit of the year. It’s an exciting time for the Chamber and our membership and we welcome and encourage members to submit entrees for 2007”. Annual Award recipients are chosen from nominations made by Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce members.
Cornell University Vice President of Human Resources Mary George Opperman says, “We are very pleased that Cornell University has been designated the inaugural “Large Employer of the Year” by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. In our county, Cornell is indeed a large employer, but we hope that in choosing Cornell to receive this award, the Chamber has recognized more than simply our size. We know the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce is an organization that has dedicated itself to promoting a high quality of life for all Tompkins County residents. That makes this recognition very special, as Cornell is similarly concerned about the quality of the work-life enjoyed by its faculty and staff. We take seriously our role as a responsible citizen of the county, and we are very proud to receive this award”. Cornell University is Tompkins County’s’ largest employer, with just over 8,000 employees working at its Ithaca Campus.
The Sciencenter traces its beginnings to 1983. Executive Director Charles Trautmann says, “From our beginnings in 1983, the Sciencenter has been a total community effort. Our vision is “to touch the mind of every young person in our community, “and we are particularly grateful to all of the individuals, businesses and foundations that have supported our effort to make science exciting, fun and accessible to all. Whether it’s Mars, life in a tide pool, nanotechnology, or what to do with your 2-year old, we want everyone to find something interesting at the Sciencenter”.
The December 8th awards luncheon is the second of two that the Chamber is holding this year, in response to suggestions from members. Chamber members indicated they think Annual Award recipients are deserving of more recognition than has been possible in the past, when all annual awards were presented at the Annual Dinner, which is held every year in January.
The Chamber recognized the Strebel Planning Group of Ithaca as the 2006 Small Business of the Year and Felicia’s Atomic Lounge of Ithaca as the New Business of the Year, at a luncheon on November 10, 2006.
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