The Holmes County Chamber announced six award recipients ahead of its annual banquet on Nov. 13 at the Encore Event Center in Berlin. Honorees span a range of industries and community roles: Cline Plumbing & Heating (Small Business), Dutch Craft Furniture (Medium Business), Melway Paving (Large Business), Cheryl Shaver (Community Service), Joe Wengerd (Educator of the Year), and Steve Mullet (Lifetime Achievement).

The banquet serves as the Chamber’s flagship annual gathering, drawing local business owners, nonprofit leaders, educators, and public officials. Executive Director Tiffany Gerber said nearly three dozen new members joined the Chamber this year, a sign that organizations across Holmes County continue to view the Chamber as a vehicle for networking and promotion. Tickets for the banquet are $65 each or $475 for a reserved table.

By recognizing businesses at small, medium and large scales, the awards reflect Holmes County’s mixed economic base—homegrown trades, manufacturing-related furniture production, and construction services that together employ local residents and generate household spending. Award recognition often translates into marketing leverage, client referrals and heightened visibility in a county where local reputation matters for contracting and retail sales.

Sponsors for the event include Liberty Health Share, credited for video production, and the Holmes Area Safety Council, which is sponsoring the meal, alongside several local financial institutions. The involvement of the Safety Council signals an emphasis on workplace safety and training, an important factor for businesses such as plumbing, paving and furniture manufacturing that rely on skilled labor. Meanwhile, participation by local banks indicates continued interest from financial institutions in supporting small-business development and community events that foster economic activity.

For Holmes County residents, the banquet is more than ceremonial. It is a concentrated opportunity for workforce recruitment, supplier connections and informal policy conversation on topics such as workforce development, infrastructure needs and small business support. The presence of an Educator of the Year honoree highlights the link between local schools and employers; strengthening that relationship is often central to long-term talent pipelines in rural economies.

As the Chamber reports membership growth, the event will also function as a barometer of local economic confidence. Increased membership can signal greater business formation or an uptick in firms seeking resources and advocacy. For policymakers and local leaders, sustaining that momentum may require continued collaboration on workforce training, safety programs and access to financing—areas reflected in the banquet’s sponsor lineup and the profile of this year’s honorees.

The banquet tickets and reserved-table options remain available to the public, and organizers expect the event to showcase both community pride and tangible steps toward reinforcing Holmes County’s business ecosystem.