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Annual Awards

The Greater Harrison Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards honors outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals who promote growth and prosperity in our community. Over the years, honorees have been celebrated in a number of ways including a banquet, videos and publicity.

2025 Awards Nominations

Nominations are due August 1, 2025

Online Nomination Form
Printable Nomination Packet

2025 Awards Nominations

  • 2025 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Maddie Kaeser (Enchanted Novelties)
  • 2025 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Tammy Simendinger (Western and Southern)
  • 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award: Dan Losekamp
  • 2025 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: Queen City Revolt
  • 2025 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: Cronin Automotive
  • 2025 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Aberson’s Kitchen and Desserts
  • 2025 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit of the Year: Pathways Harrison
  • 2025 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Healthy ZZZ’s Sit & Sleep

2024 Award Winners

  • 2024 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Heather Jackson (Made In The Shade Cincinnati West)
  • 2024 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Cindy Wuestefeld (FCN Bank)
  • 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award: Joe Maas (JTM Food Group)
  • 2024 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: Co:Mission Collaborative
  • 2024 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: Conservative Financial Solutions
  • 2024 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Hearth Brewing
  • 2024 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit of the Year: Christ’s Loving Hands
  • 2024 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Parlour on the Avenue

2023 Award Winners

  • 2023 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Taylor Toerner (Key Bank)
  • 2023 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Doris Gibbons (Gibbons Insurance
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary Ellerhorst (Crown Plastics)
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: Harrison Mattress
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: Crown Plastics
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Bright Family Eye Care
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit of the Year: Yeager-Benson American Legion Post 199
  • 2023 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Harrison Home Bakery

2022 Award Winners

The following award recipients were recognized at a reception Feb. 23, 2023. This event also commemorated Chamber’s 10th anniversary.
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Haley Kummer (Smart Start Childcare)
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: The Little Fern Shop
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: 1860 Taproom & Bottleshop
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Southwest Local School District
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit of the Year: Reach Out Pregnancy Center
  • 2022 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Brater-Winter Funeral Home

2021 Award Winners

Most of the Chamber’s 2021 award recipients were recognized during a special reception Jan. 5, 2022. You can view photos from this event on Facebook.

  • 2021 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Gennifer Kurtz, Gypsy Wagon Print Co.
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: O’Reilley Floral & Design
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Liberty Tax (Harrison)
  • 2021 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Gail Chuck
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Lawrence Kluener, DDS
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: Mattress by Appointment
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit of the Year: Pathways to Home
  • 2021 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Gibbons Insurance Agency of American Family

2020 Award Winners

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Chamber did not have an in-person banquet in 2020. However, we were thrilled to recognize the following honorees in video presentations which you can view on Facebook.

  • 2020 Greater Harrison Emerging Business of the Year: Car Country
  • 2020 Greater Harrison Corporate Community Excellence Award: Gibbons Insurance Agency of American Family
  • 2020 Mary Lou Smith Outstanding Community Service Award: John Hamstra, superintendent, Southwest Local Schools
  • 2020 Greater Harrison Rising Star of the Year: Mark Meibers, athletic director and assistant principal, Harrison High School
  • 2020 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Brenda Leonard, co-owner, Market Street Grille
  • 2020 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: LifeSpring Community Christian Church
  • 2020 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Market Street Grille

2019 Award Winners

  • 2019 Greater Harrison New Business of the Year: Casey’s Storage Solutions
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: AccuDoc Urgent Care
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Corporate Citizen of the Year: Ahead of the Curve Gifts
  • 2019 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Dan Losekamp
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Young Professional of the Year Award: Dr. Saniya Johnson
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Hank Menninger
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: Reach Out Pregnancy Center
  • 2019 The Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year Award: The Coffee Peddlar
  • 2019 Greater Harrison Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Jim Kinnett

2018 Award Winners

  • 2018 Greater Harrison New Business of the Year: Boley Braces
  • 2018 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Cincinnati Test Systems
  • 2018 Greater Harrison Corporate Citizen of the Year: Skyline Chili (Harrison)
  • 2018 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Jennifer Mohr (FCN Bank)
  • 2018 Greater Harrison Young Professional of the Year Award: Spencer Ford (Conservative Financial Solutions)
  • 2018 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Keith Lake (Lake’s Sporting Goods)
  • 2018 The Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: Pathways to Home
  • 2018 The Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year Award: JTM Food Group
  • 2018 Greater Harrison Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Sara Cullin (Signal Tree Creative Communications)

2017 Award Winners

  • 2017 Greater Harrison New Business of the Year: Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Innovator of the Year: Cincinnati Test Systems
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Corporate Citizen of the Year: JTM Food Group
  • 2017 Mary Lou Smith Community Service Award: Mary Lou Smith
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Young Professional of the Year: Joey Madden (Cincinnati Asphalt)
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award: Walter Schunk (Schunk Excavation & Trucking)
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: Celebrate Recovery / Church on Fire Ministries
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: F&M Mafco
  • 2017 Greater Harrison Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Gary Ellerhorst (Crown Plastics)

2016 Award Winners

  • 2016 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: Hubert Company
  • 2016 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: Pathways to Home
  • 2016 Greater Harrison Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Sara Cullin (Hubert Company)

2015 Award Winners

  • 2015 Greater Harrison Chamber Business of the Year: JTM Food Group
  • 2015 Greater Harrison Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year: City of Refuge
  • 2015 Greater Harrison Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Doris Gibbons (Gibbons Insurance Agency of American Family)