Paul Jassogne and Dr. Edwin Payne were the big winners at the chamber awards banquet
LANCASTER − Dr. Edwin Payne and media personality Paul Jassogne were the big winners at the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet Thursday at Fisher Catholic High School.
Payne, who recently retired as executive director of the Fairfield Center for disABILITIES and Cerebral Palsy, won the Floyd Wolfe Community Service Award.
Jassogne took home the Chairman's Award. He has a long career in local media and currently hosts Fairfield Today on Innerphase Video Productions. He is also involved in numerous local events like like emceeing the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades, among several other events.
The other award winners previously announced were:
Large Business of the Year - Claypool Electric
Small Business of the Year - Krile Communications
Tammy Nusser Customer Service Award - Jody Amspaugh
Non-Profit Organization of the Year - Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio
Brett Markwood First-Responder Award - Adam Hetterle
Young Professional of the Year - Delainey McIlwain
"There are a lot of wonderful people here," Payne said after winning his award. "I've known most of them and I've worked with most of them. Fairfield County just has a great many people that are very good. I knew Floyd Wolfe. I remember him here at the dinner."
Payne knew in advance he was going to win an award. But Jassogne was surprised over winning the Chairman's Award. He thought he was going to help present it to someone else.
"It was truly a surprise and an honor," Jassogne said. "I've always thought that I'm a lucky guy. I was born here. The only time I've really left was to go to college and when I was in the army. I've never really wanted to leave. I've been a Lancaster boy. I've been a Lancaster High School graduate. I went to OU (Ohio University Lancaster) out at the branch. Radio and TV guy all of my life. I'm just fortunate enough to do something I really enjoy."
The chamber hosted a trade show before the banquet where local businesses and organizations set up displays to promote their businesses and answer questions. The Lancaster Festival was one such business.
"We get to network with the people we often don't see out in the business world, which is great for us," Lancaster Festival Executive Director Deb Connell said. "A lot of us have the same hours, so we don't get to each other's offices, but we see them here."
Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio was also at the trade show.
"We love the trade show," director of community engagement Stephanie Taylor said. "It's a great opportunity for us to be out and advocate for what we're doing. We see a lot of the same people, but a lot of different people. They love coming to it and we enjoy being a part of it."
Chamber president Travis Markwood called the annual trade show and awards banquet one of the community's premier events.
"There's a lot of organizations and a lot of great events," he said. "But this is really here to recognize special business owners, business operators and the great work that they do, along with some real great community people that are always giving back to our community and volunteering. So it's a special night for our chamber of commerce and a special night, we hope, for the community as well."
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Jassogne and Payne were the big winners at the chamber awards banquet
