Commerce Chenango names Golden Artist Colors Business of the Year

NORWICH — Commerce Chenango has announced it will present its annual Distinguished Business of the Year Award next week to Golden Artist Colors, Inc., a manufacturer of paints used by artists.

The economic-development organization and chamber of commerce will also give its Commitment to Community award to Steven Palmatier and its Young Professional award to Lisa Natoli.

The awards will be handed out at Commerce Chenango’s 54th Annual Dinner, sponsored by NBT Bank and Frontier, on April 23 at Lt Warren Eaton Airport in Norwich.

Founded in 1964, Golden Artist Colors is located in a 100,000-square-foot facility in rural Columbus. Employees are committed to producing materials that encourage exploration of form and concept, while assuring archival integrity, the company says in a recent news release. Its Custom Lab is the only facility of its kind, dedicated to designing products to the specifications of individual artists, the company contends. Golden Artist Colors is majority owned by its 155 employees.

Commerce Chenango’s Commitment to Community award is given annually to an individual who has shown significant commitment to the community through his/her leadership and individual contributions. This year’s recipient, Steven Palmatier, is an “unstoppable resource for the community,” Commerce Chenango says.  Palmatier has helped with many festivals, including his long-time affiliation with the Chenango Blues Festival. Other organizations he has helped include Friends of the Park and the Governmental Affairs Committee of Commerce Chenango. Palmatier is a strong advocate for education initiatives to help local employers with their workforce. In 2002, he was Commerce Chenango’s recipient of the Manufacturer of the Year award under his business, Gilbert Machine & Tool.

The Young Professional award is new this year. It recognizes someone who continually exhibits excellence, creativity, and initiative in his or her business or profession and provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

Commerce Chenango’s 2013 recipient, Lisa Natoli, is a Norwich native who started a law practice with her husband Steve in 2006, after working for six years in the Albany area. Her volunteer activities include providing board support for many organizations such as Chenango Arts Council, Catholic Charities of Chenango County, Commerce Chenango, Holy Family PTO, Chenango County Bar Association, Adirondack Women’s Bar Association, Dollars for Scholars, Mentor for Capital District Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and more.

For more information about Commerce Chenango’s 54th Annual Dinner call Jill Eddy at (607) 334-1402.

Contact Carbonaro at mcarbonaro@cnybj.com