UTICA, N.Y. — The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Eve Van de Wal, regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Utica region, as its 2024 Businessperson of the Year, the chamber announced on Tuesday.
A lifelong Mohawk Valley resident, Van de Wal has served as the face of Excellus in the MV region. She recently announced she will retire effective April 30. Van de Waljoined Excellus in 1998, holding several administrative positions prior to her current role. Before joining the health plan, she worked as a critical care and coronary care nurse.
“We are incredibly proud of Eve and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor,”Excellus President/CEO Jim Reed said in the release. “Her leadership and passion in making a difference within Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and her community through her volunteer efforts, board memberships, and commitment to her friends, family, and neighbors is an example of her tireless dedication to the Mohawk Valley.”
In addition to volunteer efforts at hundreds of community events throughout her career, Van de Wal served on numerous boards including Adirondack Bank, Mohawk Valley EDGE, United Way of the Mohawk Valley and Greater Utica Area, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Health Workforce New York, Northern Area Health and Education, Utica First Insurance Company, and YWCA of the Mohawk Valley.
“Eve is a true leader by example,” Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Michael Bushard said in the release. “The depth of service Eve has given to the community through her service on various boards, coupled with her leadership at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and her unwavering support of the chamber, made it an easy choice to recognize her with this year’s award.”
Van de Wal has been honored with many awards throughout her career including Women of Distinction by the New York State Senate, On Point for College Foundation of Hope, American Red Cross Great Hero, the Genesis Group Joseph R. Carucci Legacy Award, and more.
The Greater Utica Chamber will host a celebration in Van de Wal’s honor May 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Delta by Marriott in Utica.