Awards

NOMINATION CRITERIA

The Banquet Awards Committee comprises three esteemed individuals who were recipients of awards in the previous year, two community members who are not affiliated with the Chamber, the current board chair, and a dedicated member of the Banquet Planning Committee.

Each nominee in every category undergoes a comprehensive evaluation, receiving scores on a 1–5-point scale according to the specified criteria.

Young Professional of the Year

The Young Professionals Group of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is a meaningful networking group of dedicated young professionals ranging in age from 18-40. The mission of the group is to create a platform for members to build relationships, develop professionally and contribute to the local community through specific activities.

Each Year a Young Professional that exhibits the following attributes is recognized as Young Professional of the Year.

Criteria:

  • A local professional under the age of 40.
  • Demonstrates creativity, innovation, character, consistency, and excellence in their field.
  • Makes significant contributions to the well-being of the community through work or volunteer activities.

Young Professional of the Year Previous Recipients (Last 5 years)
2020 Amy Frazier
2021 Tiras Greene
2022 Kirstan Knipple
2023 Corrie Gyory
2024 Winonna Pritts

 


Small Business of the Year

Criteria:

  • Awarded to the business (less than 34 employees) which best embodies the values of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce.
  • Demonstrates growth, integrity, innovation, community engagement, volunteerism, customer service, and workforce development.

Small Business of the Year Previous Recipients
2020 Community STARS
2021 Mane Street Hair Salon
2022 Mountain Run Winery
2023 Willow Moon Healing
2024 Thompson’s Auto Repair


Entrepreneur of the Year

Criteria:
  • Willingly accepts the challenges of entering the business world in exchange for the potential benefits thereof.
  • Possesses critical and creative thinking skills.
  • Demonstrates initiative and drive to bring a product/service to market.
  • Owns and/or manages a successful business venture which was started within the past 2 years.

Entrepreneur of the Year Previous Recipients
2020 Joy Orr
2021 Kristy Romeo & Aaron Wood
2022 Donny Thompson
2023 Courtney Simpson
2024 Franz & Karina Rodriguez


Non-Profit of the Year

The Non-Profit of the Year is to be awarded to a local non-profit with the following criteria:

  • Awarded to the non-profit which, through innovation or consistent service, most positively impacts the community.
  • Offers a breadth and/or depth of services that improve the well-being of the community.
  • Initiates collaborative efforts, creating synergy and mutual success amongst partner organizations.

Non-Profit of the Year Previous Recipients (Last 5 years)
2020 Aging Together
2021 Friends of the Rappahannock
2022 Culpeper Mid-Day Lions Club
2023 Culpeper PRIDE
2024 Girls on the Run Piedmont


Large Business of the Year

Criteria:

  • Awarded to the business (35+ employees) which best embodies the values of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce.
  • Demonstrates growth, integrity, innovation, community engagement, volunteerism, customer service, and workforce development.

Large Business of the Year Previous Recipients
2020 KidCentral
2021 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
2022 Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services
2023 Communication Corporation of America
2024 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative


L.B. Henretty Memorial Outstanding Citizen Award

This award was created in 1971 by L. B. Henretty, a past President and Director of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce who passed away in 1975.  L. B. Henretty was a former conservationist and a local businessman.  He was active in numerous civic associations and believed strongly that citizens should give freely of themselves to their fellow man and for the betterment of their community, county and state.  Each year the Chamber presents this prestigious award to someone who meets the following criteria:

REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATE’S ELIGIBILITY:

  • Must have attained the age of 21 years by the date of the award.
  • Must have been a resident of Culpeper for at least three years immediately prior to the date of the award.
  • Shall not be eligible to receive the award more than once.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF RECIPIENT:

  • The recipient shall be selected on the basis of his or her contribution to society, whether such contribution is made individually or through various organizations. Sex, race, color or creed  shall not be a factor in the selection.
  • Contributions to society may be in the form of service or assistance rendered to individuals or to groups on a community, county or statewide basis and the emphasis shall be on achievements resulting in benefits rendered to their fellow men on a community, county or statewide basis.
  • Service or community work of any kind carried on during the past shall be considered provided that the particular activities were projected to within five years prior to the granting of the award.
  • Activities resulting in any form of monetary gain to a candidate shall not be considered.
  • The primary consideration shall be basic effectiveness of service and leadership which results in tangible accomplishment.  The mere volume and number of activities in which an individual participates shall not be a primary factor.

2013 William Chase
2014 Gary Lee
2015 Mary Jo Browning
2016 Norma K. Dunwoody
2017  Joseph A. Troilo, Jr.
2018 Leon Fincher
2019 Ed Dalrymple
2020 Sue Hansohn
2021 Mike Dale
2022 Charles “Junior” Perryman
2023 Scott Found
2024 Lisa Peacock

Contact Us

Amy Frazier
President/CEO

Yovonne Letsome
Office Administrator

Sarah Langland
Events Coordinator

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce
629 Sperryville Pike, Suite 100
Culpeper, VA 22701

Phone: (540) 825-8628

Chamber Office Hours:
8:30 AM -4:30 PM, Monday – Friday

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce
629 Sperryville Pike
Suite 100
Culpeper, VA 22701

president@culpeperchamber.com

Phone: 540.825.8628