Every year, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC honors the visionary, dynamic leaders and organizations creating change in the Harrisburg region at the annual Catalyst Awards. These awards are presented to those making a difference in our communities, creating more opportunities for businesses and building a brighter future for our region. Award recipients are judged by a panel of local business and community representatives, and recipients are chosen by their impact and facilitation of change of our area.
Businesses and individuals do not need to be members of the Chamber to submit a nomination. Self-nominations are encouraged. Any issues with the nomination process or these forms, please contact info@hbgrc.org. Members of the organization’s boards of directors are ineligible to be nominated.
Award Categories
ATHENA AWARD
The Athena Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated the qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model.
Nominees have achieved the highest level of professional excellence, contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assists others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.
Past Athena Award Recipients
2022- Kathleen McKenzie
2021- Lisa Stokes
2020- Sharon Ryan
2019- Claudia Williams
2018- Kristal Turner-Childs
2017-Janice Black
Catalyst AWARD
The most prestigious award given by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is the Catalyst Award.
The Catalyst Award honors an individual or group of individuals whose leadership, business or governmental activities and community service have best exemplified the organization’s goal of being a Catalyst for our region in making it a better place to live, work and play. In short, it is special recognition for a person, group or organization who has made a difference over the past year or perhaps over a lifetime of service to the region.
Past Catalyst Award Recipients
2022- M&T Bank and CIE
2021- George Nahodil
2020- Joe Arthur
2019- Eric Darr
2018- TheBurg
2017-Joshua Group
Corporate Diversity Champion of the Year Award
The Corporate Diversity Champion of the Year Award is given to an organization that has implemented a strong internal diversity program and demonstrated strong values of inclusion in our region. They are a model for others to emulate.
Nominees for the Corporate Diversity Champion of the Year Award must be a business entity or non-profit organization with operations in Cumberland, Dauphin and/or Perry counties. The company/organization has enacted self-regulation (and/or codes of business conduct) to ensure attaining and maintaining compliance with all its legal obligations and generally accepted ethical norms. The company/organization should have and demonstrate an affirmative policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Past Corporate Diversity Champion of the Year Award Recipient
2022- The GIANT Company
2021- Gannett Fleming, Inc.
DIVERSITY Infulencer of the Year AWARD
The Diversity Influencer of the Year is someone who works in their community and/or organization to promote diversity and inclusion. This individual or group of people has shown exemplary leadership in ensuring that all individuals are included, represented and served. They have supported or pioneered existing projects or programs involving the advancement of diversity and inclusion.
Nominees may be an individual or group of individuals, but not a company or non-profit organization. Diversity Influencers may be found at every level and within any size of an organization and how they champion diversity may vary considerably.
Past Diversity Influencer of the Year Award Recipients (Formerly Business Diversity Champion)
2022- Dr. John J. “Ski” Sygielski
2021- McNees Wallace & Nurick’s Taskforce for Legal Equity Advancement Program
2020- George Fernandez
2019- Todd Snovel
2018- Hamilton Health Center
2017- Dr. Craig Hillemeier
Entrepreneur of the Year AWARD
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors an entrepreneur(s) who has taken a risk and demonstrated creativity, self-motivation and strong vision.
The Entrepreneur of the Year should be an individual or a group of individuals who assumed the financial risk of starting and operating a business venture. This individual or group of individuals must have founded (not purchased) at lead one company (no franchises) and that company must be in existence a minimum of three years. The company must also be locally owned and operated for-profit entity and Headquartered in Cumberland, Dauphin or Perry counties.
Past Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recipients
2022- Derek Dilks (Dilks Developments)
2021- Amma Johnson (Amma Jo Brand)
2020- Todd Phillips (True Legends Barbershop)
2018- Jason Klock (Klock Entertainment)
2017- Dr. Richard Rayner & Dr. David White (Aspire Health Concepts, Inc.)
2016- Russ DiGilio (Duck Donuts)
Government Leader of the Year Award
The Government Leader of the Year Award is a special recognition for someone who has made a difference over the past year, or perhaps even over a lifetime of service to the region.
Nominees must be an individual or group of individuals whose leadership in governmental activities, public administration or legislative leadership best exemplified the organization’s goal of good government, to good public policy, leadership on an issue of interest to the membership of the Chamber & CREDC or the region in general toward making our region a better place to live, work and play.
Past Government Leader of the Year Award Recipients
2022- Hampden Township Commissioner Nathan P. Silcox
2021- Pennsylvania Auditor General, Timothy L. DeFoor
2019- Representative Sheryl Delozier, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2018- Bob Reilly, Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Platts and Congressman Perry
2017- Fred Reddig, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (Retired)
Small Business of the Year AWARD
The Small Business of the Year Award honors a small business that demonstrates staying power, innovation and has a strong commitment to the community.
The Small Business of the Year must be locally owned and operated for-profit entity, headquartered in Cumberland Dauphin, or Perry counties and total employment may not exceed 100; and annual revenue cannot exceed $20 million.
Past Small Business of the Year Award Recipients
2022- Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2021- Macris Chocolates
2020- Viscul Creative
2019- Triscari
2018- Mountz Jewelers
2017- Classic Drycleaners and Laundromats
Volunteer of the Year AWARD
The Volunteer of the Year award is awarded by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC to an individual who has demonstrated above and beyond dedication to improving the Harrisburg region by serving the Chamber & CREDC in different ways. These individuals donate their time and energy to improvethe region by serving on board, participating in committees and acting as a Champion for the Chamber and other organizations in our area.
Past Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients
2022- Davis Holliday
2021- Karen Young
2019 – Sylvia Hepler
2018 – Lynda Morris
2017 – Devon DiBiase
2016 – Brenna Kernan
Judging and Winner Selection Process
- A committee of community leaders and dedicated Chamber representatives convene every year to solicit and review all applications for all the Catalyst Awards categories. The Harrisburg Regional Chamber staff does not participate in the selection of winners except in the selection of the Volunteer of the Year Award.
- All winners will be selected and informed in mid-September, 2022.
