Greater Utica Chamber names Business of the Year finalists

UTICA — The nominees are in for the 2022 Business of the Year awards from the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber recently announced the finalists in each of five categories and will announce and celebrate the winners at its annual Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Dec. 8 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro.

This year’s finalists in the for-profit business with 50 employees or fewer category are DJB Wealth Management, Sentinel Media Company, and the DiGiorgio Law Firm.

Finalists in the for-profit business with over 50 employees group are Fountainhead Group, Indium Corporation, and Mastrovito Hyundai.

On the not-for-profit side, the finalists for organizations with 50 employees or fewer category are Abraham House, Griffiss Institute, and Utica Monday Nite (UMN).

Finalists in the not-for-profit with over 50 employees class are Catholic Charities, CNY Home Health Network (CNYHHN), and Hospice & Palliative Care.

Bagg’s Square Brewing Co., Blue Truck Wine & Liquor, and LaFa Mediterranean by Zenia’s are the finalists for the Catalyst Rising Business award, which honors new businesses open for five years or fewer.

“We are incredibly grateful to be recognized amongst other amazing local businesses in our community,” LaFa Mediterranean by Zenia’s owner Elias Zenia said.

The café opened in New Hartford on March 1, 2021, and employs about 30 people, most of them high school or college students, according to Zenia.

“We pride ourselves on hiring team members who have no working experience, taking them through a rigorous training program, and giving them the practical and professional skills they need to be successful members of our community,” Zenia said.

In selecting finalists, the chamber looked at a number of areas including a firm’s staying power, response to challenges, product/service innovation, growth within their industry, longevity, community involvement, public service, business leadership, and involvement in the chamber.

The awards recognize that work and also provide publicity for the finalists and winners, Kari Puleo, executive director of the chamber, told CNYBJ in an August interview.

“It really puts a spotlight on business and gives people the opportunity to see a little bit more about an organization,” she said.

The chamber accepted nominations for the award through Sept. 1. The chamber’s executive committee reviewed all the nominees to select three finalists for each category.

The 2022 Business of the Year awards luncheon, presented by Staffworks, begins at 11 a.m. with networking, holiday, music, and beverage tastings. The program begins at noon. A one-hour television special recapping the event will air Dec. 28 from 7-8 p.m. on CBS-Utica 2 (WKTV).

Tickets and sponsorship packages for the event are available online at www.greateruticachamber.org. Tickets cost $55 each, or $420 for a table of eight.