Seneca Chamber Annual Dinner Set

Two individuals and a business that are well recognized in Seneca County will be honored by the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce at the organization’s Annual Dinner Meeting in January. Dan Motill, local artist and historic preservationist, has been named Citizen of the Year. Carl Casaccia, Director of Community Relations at Seneca Meadows, will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. And Petro Stopping Center has been selected as Business of the Year. The Chamber’s Annual Dinner, “A Tribute to the Shining Stars of Seneca County,” is sponsored by Five Star Bank and will be held Friday, January 19th, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Waterloo/Seneca Falls Holiday Inn.Mr. Motill moved to the Village of Ovid and began a new career as an artist fifteen years ago after spending nearly 30 years in a variety of engineering and management positions with IBM Corporation. His work, in the American Primitive Tradition, has received awards at a number of arts festivals and been featured in regional publications as well as on NBC’s “Today” show. In an effort to encourage and promote local artists, he, in cooperation with local banks and restaurants, sponsors a program called “Celebrating Local Talent”, which provides free art displays. Most recently, he has been a catalyst in the creation of a new nonprofit organization, focused on the preservation and restoration of the three historic buildings in Ovid known as “The Three Bears.” The Citizen of the Year award is being sponsored by Gay & Son Agency in Seneca Falls.Petro Stopping Center was named Business of the Month in June of 2006 and has been selected as Business of the Year for their impact on Seneca County. Since opening in November of 2004, Petro has offered a full-service facility for professional drivers, motorists, and local residents and ranks as the preferred travel plaza chain in the nation. While the approximately 100 employees at the facility operate under the corporate philosophy of customer service and sincere respect for drivers, local managers are committed to being a partner in the community. The Business of the Year award is sponsored by Seneca County IDA.Carl Casaccia has represented Seneca Meadows landfill for 23 years. He began as a salesman with the company in 1982 and eventually became Vice President and CEO. In 2003, he began making plans to retire but was asked by then owner Frank Dimino, then by IESI Corporation, to stay on as the Director of Community Relations. Over the years he has been a member of the Solid Waste Association of New York, the Italian-American Civil Rights Association, the Teamsters Union, and the Moose Club. He has worked with local organizations including the Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Elks, and many others as the primary point of contact for the company’s long history of community support and involvement. For his many years of service to the area, he was recognized with a Community Service award from the Seneca Falls Historical Society in July. L.M. Sessler Excavating is proud to sponsor the Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award.The Annual Dinner Meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, and refreshments, followed by dinner, the awards presentations, and a live auction. State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Assemblyman Brian Kolb and Seneca County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Shipley, Jr., are scheduled to speak as well. Live jazz from “in2rythm” will be performed throughout the evening. Cost is $50 per person with limited seating available. Register by stopping by the Chamber office with payment at 2020 Routes 5 & 20 in Seneca Falls or by downloading the registration form at www.senecachamber.org.Established in 1968, the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce provides initiative and leadership to promote the economic interests of the County. The Chamber represents over 450 business and associate members. The organization offers benefits and programs to support and promote members while supporting initiatives to foster economic development and enhance the quality of life in Seneca County.