(Exton, PA) August 2019 -- The Exton Region Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the winners of their 2019 Annual Dinner Awards presented by DNB First. Recipients of the awards will be recognized for their positive impact on the region and their dedication to fostering a climate of economic prosperity and diversity.
The Harold Martin Leadership Award, intended to recognize a person from the Exton Region who has achieved a significant and acknowledged level of success in their career and who has demonstrated leadership and a long-standing, unselfish commitment to improving the quality of life in the Exton Region, will be awarded to Robert Nicolini, CPA, Partner at Clarke Nicolini & Associates, LTD. Throughout his 40 completed tax seasons, chamber membership has been important to Rob. Serving 18 of those years as a Board member shows exceptional commitment to the Exton region. As a CPA, Rob has served as Treasurer of the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Board three times and worked beside Harold Martin himself in this capacity. His dedication to Mission Community Church as an elder, the Bridge Academy, Chester County Women’s Services as a volunteer and board member and his family, conveys the long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life in the Exton Region.
The Small Businessperson of the Year Award will be given to Maria O’Connell, Owner of Express Employment 
Professionals, Chester County (Main Line) for her contribution to the economy and vitality of the region. Since 2015, Ms. O’Connell and her team of 6 at Express Employment Professionals, Chester County, has provided employment to over 772 Associates and has partnered with 332 companies. Top line sales have grown year over year to $1.5M+. Driving a culture of inclusion, high performance and impact, Maria is leading her office toward "Circle of Excellence" status in 2020, an accomplishment for outstanding growth and sales performance. Maria partners with the Chester County OIC, the SOAR program in Coatesville, serves as the Vice Chair for the Chester County Workforce Development Board, as an active board member on the Penn State Great Valley Advisory Board and volunteers her time and resource to help support many community events at the PA.
The 2019 Annual Dinner will take place on September 19th at the Desmond Malvern, a Double Tree Hilton, beginning at 5:00 PM. The keynote speaker is former Reality TV star, businesswoman and philanthropist, Heidi Hamels. She will share her inspirational story about what drove her and her husband, Cole Hamels to start the Hamels Foundation, enriching education for children around the world. There will be a Silent Auction of Sports memorabilia as well as an opportunity to support the No Empty Shelves project, transforming the Namunda Primary School Library with books and bookbags.
Tickets are $100 per person and sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit www.ercc.net to learn more about the event and purchase tickets—including early-bird pricing until August 23, 2019.
Exton Region Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to advance the economic success of their members and the comunity by providing opportunities for businesses to build relationships, market their business, share industry knowledge, and provide community outreach. For over 45 years, the Exton Region Chamber has been focused on meeting the diverse needs of its members and provides a wide array of events and programs to enhance the business climate and quality of life in Exton. www.ercc.net
The Hamels Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Chicago Cubs Pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife Heidi. The Hamels Foundation provides support for quality education both in the United States and Malawi, Africa. They are planning the 3rd Annual Top of the Hill fundraising event on Saturday, September 14th at Arasapha Farms in Glen Mills from 1-4 pm. Visit www.thehamelsfoundation.org for more information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities.