MetroWest Chamber's 119th Annual Gala and Awards Reception Nov. 12

The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce will host its 119th Annual Meeting and Gala Awards Reception at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, Nov., 12.

This year’s theme is “You are Center Stage” and will showcase member achievements throughout the evening.

The suspense is building to find out who will win the prestigious Annual Business Awards.

There are three finalists in the following categories: Business Leader of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Non-Profit Partner of the Year and the Athena ™ Award and this year, the winner will be announced live!

The Business Leader of the Year award is given to recognize the specific leadership achievements of a MetroWest Business Leader who demonstrates effective leadership and civic involvement as hallmarks of the success enjoyed by their company.

Finalists in this category are Deborah Penta, CEO of Westborough based Penta Communications, Fran Colantonio, President of Holliston based Colantonio Inc., and Artie Fair, President of Natick based Fair and Yeager.

The Small Business of the Year Award traditionally is given to recognize the important contributions made by small businesses to the creation of new jobs and economic opportunities, as well as community involvement in MetroWest.

Finalists in this category are Chocolate Therapy, Inc. located in Framingham, Red Barn Coffee Roasters with locations in Westborough and Southborough, and Lonergan Construction located in Framingham.

The Chamber will also award the coveted ATHENA Leadership Award®. The award is presented to a woman-or man-who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Finalists in this category include Janet Drummey, owner of the Town Planner Calendar, Linda Vaden-Goad, Provost at Framingham State University, and Susan Nicholl, Executive Director of the MetroWest Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau.

The Chamber will award the Non-Profit Partner of the Year to an organization that exemplifies service excellence in community building and engagement. The organization should demonstrate leadership in community involvement, social responsibility, integrity and economic stability.

This year’s finalists include Natick VNA, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, and Framingham Adult ESL.

In addition, the Chamber will honor its Member Engagement Team “Rock Star” of the Year. This individual is selected based upon a long-term commitment to sustainable growth at the Chamber. It recognizes the positive impact of the Ambassador’s outreach to other chamber members, yielding a stronger membership base.

The event is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 12. To purchase tickets to this event ($75) or for more information, go to www.metrowest.org or contact Beth at 508-879-5600.

The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit business advocacy, community and economic development association committed to the support of its members’ growth and success and the development of a positive economic climate in the MetroWest region and beyond. A Five Star accredited Chamber from the U. S. Chamber of Commerce,

The MetroWest Chamber serves the communities of Ashland, Bellingham Dover, Franklin, Framingham, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, and Weston.