CHENANGO COUNTY - Commerce Chenango is gearing up to celebrate their annual Membership Appreciation Event on Thursday, September 18.

Members are invited to come enjoy an evening of free food, drinks, and entertainment to thank them for their support throughout the year.

At this event, Commerce Chenango recognizes an individual member who goes above and beyond in their support of the organization. This person embodies the spirit of the membership base, taking advantage of opportunities, donating their time to volunteer at events, and championing Commerce Chenango initiatives.

When selecting the awardee this year, Brian Burton was at the top of the list.

According to Sal Testani, Commerce Chenango President & CEO, “Brian is a tremendous supporter of Commerce Chenango and Chenango County. He cares deeply about our community, and he is always willing to do whatever he can to make it a little bit better.”

Burton is NBT Bank's Chenango County Retail Market Manager and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), one of Commerce Chenango’s related entities. This position comes after completing his tenure of Chair of the CCIDA board. Burton has also served as a board member for the Development Chenango Corporation and Commerce Chenango.

Burton states, “I am truly humbled to be honored by Commerce Chenango. I have been lucky enough to work for NBT Bank, a company that encourages community involvement. Commerce Chenango has been an integral part of my professional and personal growth over the years. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of many of their boards dating back to 1996.” He continued, “I am grateful for the relationships and opportunities the Commerce Chenango has help me to be a part of over the years.”

The Member Excellence Award will be presented at the Commerce Chenango Membership Appreciation Event on Thursday, September 18th at 4:30pm at the Rentals to Go Ranch on East River Road.

This annual event will celebrate Commerce Chenango’s Membership with food from Nina’s Pizzeria, beverages from Hidden Springs Brewhouse, music by Empire Live Sound, and tours of the RTG Longhorn Cattle ranch. Registrations must be completed online.

Two representatives from each Commerce Chenango Member will be admitted for free, and each additional member will be charged an admittance fee of $25. Non-Members are welcome to attend for an admittance fee of $50.

To learn more about the event and to register, go to commercechenango.com, click on “upcoming events” and select Membership Appreciation Party on the event calendar. Then, complete the registration process as prompted. Visit commercechenango.com to view event details or email info@chenangony.org with questions regarding the online payment process.