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Tipp City Chamber of Commerce

Annual Award Recipients

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Large indoor holiday gala with guests dining and socializing around decorated tables beside a brightly lit Christmas tree.

Celebrating Excellence in Tipp City, Ohio

Each year, the Tipp City Chamber of Commerce proudly recognizes the individuals and businesses who go above and beyond in service to our community. These awards honor leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, civic involvement, and long-standing commitment to Tipp City, Ohio. From business owners and young professionals to dedicated citizens and growing organizations, our award recipients reflect the strength and spirit of our community.

Award winners are announced annually at the Chamber Holiday Gala, held on the first Wednesday in December. The 2026 Annual Holiday Gala will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

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Tools That Help Businesses Grow

While nominations are open year-round, any nominations submitted after Oct. 31, 2026, will be considered for the 2027 Holiday Gala. Winners for all categories will be announced at the 2026 Annual Holiday Gala on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

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Past Winners

Award Categories

Nominations are accepted annually between September and October in the following categories:

Citizen of the Year

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Tipp City community through service, leadership, and civic involvement.

Recipients are often individuals whose impact reaches far beyond their professional responsibilities.

Young Professional of the Year

The Young Professional of the Year Award honors emerging leaders who show initiative, drive, and meaningful engagement within the business and community landscape of Tipp City. This award highlights the future leaders shaping our region.

Youth Resources

Business of the Year

This award recognizes a business with 11 or more employees that has demonstrated outstanding performance, community support, and leadership within the Tipp City economy.

Small Business of the Year

Small businesses are the backbone of our historic downtown and regional economy. This award honors a locally owned business that has shown resilience, growth, customer commitment, and community involvement.

A group of six professionals posing together with several framed plaques and achievement awards.

2025 Award Recipients

The 2025 Award Recipients represent excellence across multiple sectors of the Tipp City community:

  • Staci Shirley – Chairperson’s Award
  • Dr. Amy Myers – Young Professional of the Year
  • Dr. Jim Ranft, Tipp Eye Center – Business of the Year
  • Charlie Burgbacher – Citizen of the Year
  • Greg Enslen, Tippecanoe Gazette – Small Business of the Year
  • Samantha McFadden – Chamber Executive Director

These individuals and organizations embody leadership, commitment, and service within Tipp City, Ohio.

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Recent Award Recipients

The Chamber is proud to honor the accomplishments of past recipients from previous years. The Chamber continues this tradition annually, recognizing individuals and businesses that elevate Tipp City’s economic vitality and community character.

A group of seven professionals posing together with framed achievement awards and plaques.
  • Luke Zerkle – Young Professional of the Year
  • Senator Steve Huffman – Citizen of the Year
  • Sheila Ingram, Tipp Center – Small Business of the Year
  • Howard Wingert, Concrete Sealants – Business of the Year
  • Nick Heinl – Chairman’s Choice Award
  • Andy Heinl – Chamber Past Board Chair
  • Meredith McKee – Chamber Executive Director
  • Simon Patry – Chamber Board Chair
A group of seven professionals posing together with framed achievement awards and plaques.
  • Liz Sonnanstine – Chairman’s Choice Award
  • Nick & Andrea Hoover, Bodega – Business of the Year
  • Ryan Liddy – Young Professional of the Year
  • Dr. Jim Ranft – Citizen of the Year
  • Meredith McKee – Chamber Executive Director
A group of six local professionals posing with several framed plaques and achievement awards.
  • William House – Young Professional of the Year
  • Abbott – Business of the Year
  • Lisa Santucci – Citizen of the Year
  • Amlin Advantage Real Estate – Small Business of the Year
A group of five smiling professionals posing with framed achievement plaques.
  • Corey Vaughn – Chamber Board Chair
  • Kevin Cox – Young Professional of the Year
  • Dr. Greta Kumpf – Citizen of the Year
  • Aaron Mauk – Mauk Cabinets by Design, Small Business of the Year
  • Liz Sonnanstine – Chamber Executive Director.
A group of seven professionals smiling while holding several framed awards and plaques.
  • Liz Sonnanstine – Chamber Executive Director
  • Chris Spejna – Odawara, Inc.
  • Rod Martino – Miami Valley Wine & Spirits
  • Heather Salazar – Pink Ribbon Girls, Distinguished Chairman's Award
  • Rebecca Schinaman – Citizen of the Year
  • Brandon Cox – Young Professional of the Year
  • Nathan Rentz – Chamber Board Chair.
A group of six local business professionals posing with several framed plaques and awards.
  • Liz Sonnanstine – Chamber Executive Director
  • Jon Glaser – Glaser Softwater
  • Tammy Wick – Randall Residence
  • Dee Gillis – Citizen of the Year
  • Rachel Billups – Young Professional of the Year
  • Kelly Markely – Chamber Board Chair.

A group of six smiling professionals posing with framed awards at a formal community event.
  • Michelle Ireton – YP of the Year
  • Deborah Dungan – Broadway Hair Studio as Business of the Year
  • Mashell Stith – Field Property Management as Small Business of the Year
  • Matthew Buehrer – Citizen of the Year
  • Also pictured is Aaron Mauk – chamber chairman and Liz Sonnanstine – chamber director
A group of six local professionals posing together with framed achievement plaques.
  • Gordon Pittenger, Sr., Kristy Reis, Lewis Renollet – Monroe Federal
  • Jim Bayliff – Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home
  • Also pictured: Liz Sonnanstine, director and Kevin Cox, 2017 Chamber Chairman
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2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016

A Tradition of Recognition

The Citizen of the Year Award dates back to 1961, reflecting more than six decades of honoring community leadership in Tipp City. Likewise, Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Young Professional Awards have recognized hundreds of deserving individuals and organizations over the years. This longstanding tradition reinforces the Chamber’s commitment to celebrating the people who make Tipp City exceptional.

Citizen of the Year Legacy

1961    Wilmer Leiss
1962    L.T. Ball
1963    Tom Kyle, Jr. 
1964    Dr. M. C. Kiser
1965    Clayton Finch
1966    Tom Kyle, Sr. 
1967    Joe Nies   
1968    Paul Shearer
1969    Howard Hiegel
1970    Russell Flora, Jr.
1971    Dr. John Lorms  
1972    Marie Lewis 
1973    Robert Spencer
1974    Dr. E. G. Puterbaugh
1975    Harry J. Yetter
1976    Grace Kinney
1977    Ron Re
1978    Otto Frings
1979    Phylis Giesseman
1980    Russell Lehman
1981    Emmert Studebaker
1982    Donn Davis
1983    Clarence Drewing
1984    Nelson Borchers
1985    Mary Butler
1986    Jesse Chamberlain
1987    Rhoda Hausfeld
1988    Zay Jones, Jr.
1989    Becky Mohr Brown
1990    Phil Wampler
1991    V. Jack Bowling
1992    Jim Kyle
1993    Marilyn Fennell
1994    Richard Long
1995    Jackie Wahl
1996    Jim Flesher
1997    Thomas Dysinger
1998    John Borchers
1999    Ron Thuma
2000    Patricia Wampler
2001    Carol Sue Cook
2002    James Bayliff
2003    Diana Borchers
2004    Mike Jackson
2005    Peggy Hadden
2006    Ron Re
2007    Phillip G. Cox
2008    Dr. Martin English
2009    Dr. Andrew Davidson
2010    Gordon Honeyman
2011    Dr. Charles Smith
2012    Ruth Safreed
2013    Tim Evans
2014    Stan Evans
2015    Heather Bailey
2016    Gordon Pittenger, Sr.
2017    Matthew Buehrer
2018   Dee Gillis
2019    Rebecca Schinaman
2021    Dr. Greta Kumpf
2022   Lisa Santucci
​2023    Dr. Jim Ranft
​2024    Senator Steve Huffman

Business of the Year Recipients

1998    Winco                 
1999    SK Mold & Tool      
2000    Repacorp Label Products   
2001    Bruns General Contracting
2002    Dysinger, Stewart, & Downing
2003    Tip Top Canning Company    
2004    Tipp City Veterinary Hospital
2005    Health Park Dentistry
2006    A.O. Smith (now REGAL)
2007    Meijer Distribution Center 
2008    Captor Corporation
2009    Harrison’s Restaurant
2010    Hickory River Smokehouse
2011    Coldwater Café
2012    Voss Honda 
2013    Indian Creek Fabricators
2014    Energy Optimizers, USA
2015    Proto Plastics
2016    Monroe Federal Savings & Loan
2017    Broadway Hair Studio
2018    Randall Residence
2019    Odawara Automation, Inc.
2022   Abbott
​2023    Bodega
​2024    Concrete Sealants

Small Business of the Year Recipients

1999    Schroeders Tennis Center
2000   Cairns Collectibles
2001    The Tipp Eye Center
2002    Benkin Antiques Gallery
2003    R.J. Mains & Associates Inc.
2004    Tower Office Products, Inc.
2005    Evans Title Agency
2006    Midwest Memories
2007    Phillip G. Cox Agency
2008    Bud Polley’s Floor Center
2009    American Veterans Institute
2010    Tipp Cyclery
2011    Sharon Elaine Photography
2012    Curves of Tipp City
2013    Midwest Memories
2014    Living Simply Soap
2015    Bash Foo
2016    Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home
2017    Field Property Management
2018   Glaser Softwater
2019   Miami Valley Wine & Spirits
2021    Mauk Cabinets by Design
2022   Amlin Advantage
2024  Tipp Center

Young Professional Recipients

2007    Reed Spencer
2008    Greg Enslen
2009    Lori Spencer
2010    Michael McDermott
2011    Carli Amlin Dean
2012    Katie Wahl
2013    Diana Featherstone
2014    Matt Tarzinski
2015    Simon Patry
2016    Kristy Reis
2017    Michelle Ireton
2018    Rachel Billups
2019    Brandon Cox
2021    Kevin Cox
2022   William House
2023    Ryan Liddy
2024   Luke Zerkle

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Nominate An Award Recipient

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2026 Tipp City Chamber Teen Leadership Academy application

This program is for any student who resides in the Tipp City or Bethel School Districts in Ohio. Students must be a Junior entering their Senior year of High School (graduation in 2027)

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List name of high schools and dates attended along with any post-secondary.
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Please list community, civic, religious, social, athletic and other organizations in which you have been involved in during high school.
How has your involvement in these activities helped to develop your leadership skills?
How would you describe your knowledge of community structure and policies?
Please give your reasons why and any recommendations for approaching and resolving these issues. (250 word limit)
Name a leader and why you admire them. What does it take to be a great leader? (250 word limit)
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    Letters must come from community leaders, faculty members, club advisers, etc. Only one (1) of the letters may be from a school academic faculty. Letters may not be from a parent, guardian, or relatives. Files need to be named clearly with your name. (for example: Joe_Smith_1rec.doc, Joe_Smith_2rec.pdf) *Recommendation letters can be emailed (samantha.mcfadden@tippcitychamber.org) or hand delivered / snail mailed to the Chamber office (12 South 3rd Street, Tipp City).

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