The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2017 Annual Dinner at the Drexelbrook Special Events Center on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 5:30-8:30 PM.

Guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a photo booth, followed by dinner. The Annual Dinner is the chamber’s way of recognizing its members who consistently take that extra step for their community and make a great impact on Delaware County.

This fun, elegant, and commemorative event provides a great opportunity for professionals alike to network with one another and congratulate their peers for their outstanding accomplishments.

The 2017 Keynote Speaker will be Jay DeFruscio, Current President of Cardinal O’Hara High School. DeFruscio is a native of Drexel Hill and graduate of Monsignor Bonner High School with a strong basketball background. Previously, DeFruscio was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he holds the most wins in program history and was named to the school’s Hall of Fame.

DeFruscio was a previous Assistant Coach of the Indiana Pacers from 2007-2011 and was an Associate Commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 2011 to 2017.

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“It is an honor to be able to recognize and show our appreciation for the business community and the amazing individuals that selflessly work for the advancement of Delaware County,” said Trish McFarland, President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations are requested from the chamber’s membership for several categories. The categories and 2017 honorees are:

• Company of the Year: Monroe Energy is one of the oldest operational refineries in the U.S. and the site is located along the banks of the Delaware River in Trainer. The refinery site in Trainer is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, since taking over the old ConocoPhillips site. The company owns and operates an 185,000-barrel-per-day petroleum refinery that employs nearly 500 team members from and around the tri-state region.
• Citizen of the Year: Michael L. Ranck, President and CEO of the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County. On a day-to-day basis, Ranck invests his time in ensuring all people have access to the Y and in implementing programs that are helping hundreds of children and families learn, grow, and thrive.
• Nonprofit of the Year: The Boys & Girls Club of Chester has been ensuring that the youth of Delaware County have the opportunity to reach their full potential and make a successful transition into adulthood. The club does this by providing an environment for boys and girls ranging from 6-18 years of age that supports excellence in education, good character and citizenship, and a healthy lifestyle.
• Economic Development: The Media Business Authority works daily to boost economic growth within the borough. Specifically, it focuses on positive visual growth, ways to promote events that enhance both the economic life and the quality of life for businesses in the area.
• Young Professional of the Year: Aimee Kate Braconnier is the Vice President and Executive Director of the Catholic Community Choir (CCC) and the Co-Founder of Crescendo Academy, both based in Springfield. Braconnier is also a Co-Director of the Theater Prorgram and Mini-THON Advisor at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Board Member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and actively involved in her parish St. Kevin’s and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• Community Impact Award: The Delaware County Heroin Task Force was formed in September of 2012 by Delaware County Council and District Attorney Jack Whelan as a result of the heightened number of heroin-related deaths reported by the medical examiner. In order to address the epidemic, the force has focused on three areas: prevention and education, treatment, and recovery. In order to attack this epidemic, the force has brought together a number of different facets from throughout the community to keep the people in Delaware County safe, educated, and alive.
• President’s Award: Penn State Brandywine recently opened its first residence hall, Orchard Hall, and celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The Penn State branch campus enrolls about 1,400 students and offers more than 150 major options.

For more information about the 2017 Annual Dinner, and details about the award nominees, call 610-565-3677 or click here.

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