SHERBURNE – Commerce Chenango recognized two community members, a local business owner and a non-profit organization for their contributions to Chenango County Wednesday at their 8th Annual Membership Appreciation Luncheon, held at the Fox Run Event Center in Sherburne.
Those recognized were this year’s recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, Tom Sutton; Agricultural Advocate, Keith Severson; Woman Owned Business of the Year, Jill Eddy of Lily Katherine’s Bridal Boutique; and Non-Profit Agency of the Year, Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County.
The event was sponsored by Preferred Mutual Insurance Company, GHS Federal Credit Union and Frontier.

Volunteer of the Year Award
“Spirited and talented volunteers are a community asset that must be valued,” said Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter as she introduced this year’s award recipient, Tom Sutton of NBT Bank.
Carpenter enumerated the many organizations in which Sutton is involved, including the Chenango Foundation, Leadership Chenango, Norwich Business Improvement District, Friends of the Park and the Chenango Memorial Hospital Foundation. He has also been involved in a coaching capacity with various youth sports organizations, she said, including baseball, football and basketball.
“Tom cares about his community and is dedicated to finding time for those causes that he feels will impact the community he lives in,” Carpenter said. “Like most that volunteer, it’s not about the recognition or the acknowledgment; it’s about making a difference in the quality of life that we all deserve.”
Sutton said he was humbled by the award. “I’m simply one of a large group of individuals in our community,” he explained, taking the time to acknowledge others who often donate their time, including Dave Emerson and Pegi LoPresti. Their volunteerism, he said, “is truly inspirational.”
The NBT executive also thanked his employer, “for encouraging community involvement and volunteerism” in their employees and allowing staff members the opportunity to “follow (their) passions and make a positive impact.”
Sutton also had words of advice for those who have not fully taken advantage of opportunities to volunteer. “Give generously of your time,” he encouraged. “It can really help to make a better community for us all.”

Agriculture Advocate
“Our Agriculture Advocate of the Year is a leader in efforts to increase awareness of the issues facing by the agriculture industry and is focused on improving the future of agriculture in this area,” said Carpenter, as she announced Keith Severson as this year’s award recipient. Severson has served as Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County since 2002.
“Keith has demonstrated a solid commitment to agriculture in Chenango County and is known for his ability to educate individuals in the industry,” she said.
Severson, who recently announced his retirement, he has served on the boards of numerous local organizations, including Farmland Protection and the Ag Development Council, the Chenango County Area Corporation and The Place.
“Keith has been a great addition to our community,” said The Place’s Executive Director, Dave Sheldon.
Upon receiving the award, Severson took the opportunity to thank the Chamber for their commitment to agriculture.
“I’m really delighted at the transition that Commerce Chenango has made, to really recognizing agriculture in the last few years,” he said, specifically noting the efforts of Jennifer Tavares.
Severson spoke emotionally about his staff and experience in Chenango County. While he said he plans on leaving the area when he retires in July, he said he plans to come back.
“You should all leave Chenango long enough that you thirst to come back,” he said.

Woman-Owned Business of the Year
“At the chamber, we want to recognize examples of entrepreneurial distinction and commend those who have faith in doing business in Chenango County,” explained Carpenter. “Our Woman-Owned Business of the Year award is presented annually to an active business owner with recognizable success and sustainability.”
This year Jill Eddy, owner of Lily Katherine’s Bridal Boutique, received the award.
“Jill has shown a great deal of business intelligence, savvy and insight leading her to this accomplishment,” Carpenter reported. Eddy fulfilled a life-long dream when she purchased her business, the former House of Windsor Bridals from Bernie Windsor 2007.
“I am very happy to have the opportunity to congratulate Jill on this wonderful recognition as a young entrepreneur,” Carpenter quoted Windsor saying, “I am so proud of Jill’s work ethic and professionalism, and I wish her many years of continued growth and success.”
Eddy acceptance of the award was emotional, as she spoke about her dream of opening the business and thanked her husband and each of her staff members for their support of her business.
“These women continue to take pride in what we do,” she said, adding that without them her success would not be possible.
She also spoke about her two daughters, for whom the shop is named. “95 percent of what I do in my life is for my daughters,” she said.
The boutique owner also had words of gratitude for Commerce Chenango, for helping her forge the business relationships which have helped her business be successful, and selecting her to receive this year’s award.
“Thank you for letting my story be told today,” Eddy said.

Non-Profit Agency of the Year
According to Carpenter, the involvement of local non-profit organizations are an indication of the level of caring and giving that exists in our communities.
“Our Non-Profit Agency of the Year is ... an agency that has served the needs of the terminally ill and their families for over 18 years,” the chamber executive announced. “Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County has been chosen to receive this award on behalf of the volunteers and employees that are committed to selflessly serving others.”
Through a combination of dedicated volunteers and paid staff, Hospice provides pastoral care, bereavement services, counseling and nursing services to those nearing the end of their life.
The organization was formed in 1984, she said, and while the core mission was to provide comfort and care “with compassion, kindness and consideration to cancer patients,” Carpenter explained that they now provide the same type of care to anyone who faces a terminal illness.
“It has been an honor for me to see this organization grow,” said the organization’s board president, Patricia Warski. “Our staff goes above and beyond with their patients and families and shows an amazing amount of love, respect and dignity to their patients.”
Hospice and Palliative Care Executive Director Patricia Outhouse accepted the award on behalf of the non-profit agency.
“I know I speak for all of our staff when I say that it really is with deep humility that we accept this award,” Outhouse said.
Over the years, she explained, access to hospice services and the quality of those services have improved and expanded thanks to the collaboration with various individuals and organizations.
“Death is a mighty equalizer. It is something that all of us, I think, have probably been touched with in our lives,” the executive director stated. “That commonality brings us together in service to others and the hopes to be served by others when our time of need is present.”
All those involved in Hospice, she said, strive to “give those who approach the end of their lives hope.”