Small businesses honored for perseverance, innovation

GREENE – Most agree that it takes a David vs. Goliath-like mentality to overcome the challenges of being a small business in what’s become a big business world.

Wednesday, Commerce Chenango (formerly known as the Chamber of Commerce) held its annual “Salute to Small Business Dinner” and honored six of the county’s over-achieving underdogs in 2007 for energizing their communities and continuing to succeed and innovate in the face of often tough economic conditions.

“You are the power lines our communities need, not NYRI,” said Mang Executive Dennis Mirabito, who opened last night’s awards presentation in the banquet hall at the Baron’s Inn in Greene. “When you succeed, we all succeed.”

Honorees for 2007 are as follows:

• “Small Business of the Year” – Frank and Betsey Baio, owners of New York Pizzeria in New Berlin.

• “Entrepreneur of the Year” – Alex and Katie Ives, owners of Ives Cream and the Ives Cream Parlor in Norwich.

• “Manufacturer of the Year” – Bryant and Denise LaTourette, owners of Rapid Reproductions, LLC in Oxford.

• “Small Business Gems” – Canasawacta Country Club, Hayes Office Products and Peggy Parker Real Estate.

“Receiving this award makes this year just about perfect,” said Frank Baio, thanking his wife Betsey, children Rosario, Pietra and Francesca and patrons after being handed the “Small Business of the Year” honors. “Twenty five years in business, 25 years in marriage and now this. I never imagined anything like this when I came to this country in 1972.”