Jun 11, 2009
Each year at this time the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce recognizes local businesses that have made major contributions to the economic vitality and quality of life of Wyoming County. The Chamber’s criteria for selecting winners is based on actions such as expansion projects, capital investments, job growth, community involvement or for their contributions that strengthen their industry sector. According to James Pierce, Executive Director of the Wyoming County Chamber, “The award winners this year are all long-standing cornerstones of their communities. They have all shown innovation and dedication to their workforce and the business climate of Wyoming County, especially in these trying economic times. The Chamber is proud to announce our 2009 award recipients”:
Prestolite Electric of Arcade is being recognized as “Outstanding Manufacturer”
Emerling Farms of Perry is being recognized as “Outstanding Agribusiness”
The Bank of Castile is being recognized as “Large Business of the Year”
Complete Payroll Processing of Perry is being recognized as “Small Business of the Year”
Prestolite Electric - Outstanding Manufacturer 2009
Prestolite Electric Inc. of Arcade is a global manufacturer and distributor of alternators and starter motors for heavy duty automotive, defense and industrial markets, selling primarily to the after-market and original equipment manufacturers.
Prestolite Electric has been a savior of sorts coming to Arcade quite a few years back and essentially becoming a replacement employer following the devastating departure of Motorola who at one time employed as many as 2,000 people. Imagine the economic devastation that loomed at that time to the small community of Arcade where such a large employer was leaving and vacating a 340,000 sq. ft. building in the heart of the village.
Over the years Prestolite Electric, through aggressive applied technology and engineering, has allowed the company to continually introduce innovative new products and applications that has propelled them to the forefront of equipment suppliers to the heavy-duty market. This has positioned the company to become one of Wyoming County’s largest private sector employers with over 700 employees that was reached prior to the start of the global recession.
Prestolite Electric, which has other manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and in several other countries, has always touted the Arcade facility as the crown jewel citing primarily the productivity of the workforce. Several years back the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce embarked on a business attraction marketing campaign that featured local employers and why they are located in Wyoming County. Prestolite Electric was one those featured businesses and at that time they boasted that the Arcade facility was 15-18% more productive than any of the other facilities in the corporate family.
Prestolite Electric has been a good community citizen always plays an important role in the economic health of Arcade and Wyoming County community. Their involvement and commitment to the work of the Wyoming County Chamber is unprecedented, they recognize that efforts to encourage and promote the economic growth of Wyoming County’s business community is good for everyone.
“The Chamber of Commerce recognizes Prestolite Electric’s dedication and recognition of the importance of their workforce and company’s commitment and investment in Wyoming County. Prestolite Electric is well deserving of the recognition as Outstanding Manufacturer of the year for 2009” stated Chamber Executive Director, Jim Pierce.
Emerling Farms - Outstanding Agribusiness 2009
Over the past 50 years, Emerling Farms, a second and third generation dairy farm in Perry has grown from 25 cows to more than 1,200. Owned and operated by John and Betty, along with their son Mike and his wife Liz, this world class dairy operation is deserving of the Chamber’s Outstanding Agribusiness for countless reasons.
Emerling Farms is one of the County’s largest dairy farms, currently milking 1,200 cows three times a day. In addition to the milking operation, the Emerlings farm approximately 2,400 acres for forage. They are one of the most sophisticated, well kept farms in New York State. Recently recognized by Wyoming County Soil and Water as the Conservation Farm of the Year, Emerlings are committed to the land and environment that is so vital to their businesses. In an effort to operate more efficiently and help control odors from the farm, Mike worked to have an onsite methane digester installed at the farm. There are currently 10 onsite methane digesters on farms across New York State. Two of those farms are right here in Wyoming County. It is operations like Emerling Farms that put Wyoming County on the map. They are leading the way in the dairy sector, hosting visitors from across the Country, as well as international visitors anxious to learn about the new technologies and innovative farming techniques used on their farm.
The Emerlings are true members of their community as well. Every year, they host hundreds of kids on tours of the farm - even allowing kids to milk the cows. They hold a community picnic at the farm each year for the public, capped off with a professional fireworks display. They were a vital part of the One Campaign to raise funds for the Wyoming County Community Hospital. They have hosted numerous tours for the Chamber, educating businesspeople and the general public about the magnitude of agriculture and its importance to the economic base of our county. They are active in Rotary, Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, 4-H and the list goes on.
“It is this kind of dedication to ones industry and community that makes Emerling Farms so deserving of the Chamber’s Agribusiness of the Year award,” stated Jason Beck, Chair of the Chamber’s Ag Committee.
The Bank of Castile - Large Business of the Year
In a time when we keep hearing of bank after bank closing their doors or heading to the government for a bailout, it is important and most appropriate to honor a local bank that has withstood the test of time and is more than keeping their head above water during these tough times.
In 1869, Wyoming County businessmen George F. Pierce and Giles A. Davis purchased the Castile branch of the Bank of Avon from Markam, Swan & Company for the grand sum of $500 - creating The Bank of Castile. Today, 140 years later, The Bank of Castile has grown to an institution with $700 million in total assets, 14 bank offices in five Western NY counties, and more than 100 employees.
There are many businessowners in this County that could stand up and say, “The Bank of Castile was there for me to help get my business off the ground and in some cases helping to keep the doors open.” Countless individuals and homeowners can say the same. The Bank of Castile has certainly helped to grow Wyoming County in many ways.
“Wyoming County is fortunate to have a hometown bank like The Bank of Castile and we are pleased to award them with the 2009 Large Business of the Year award,” stated the Chamber’s Board Chair, Rick Henry.
Complete Payroll Processing - Small Business of the Year
Complete Payroll Processing (CPP) headquartered in Perry was founded by Rick Fish Sr. in 1992. CPP offers a wide variety of high quality services from payroll and tax preparations to insurance and human resources. Since its founding, Complete Payroll Processing has grown steadily by expanding their list of clientele and services to a point where they now employ dozens of professional to serve the needs of their customers. CPP has reasoned their success is based on their integrity and their commitment to clients and employees.
Jim Pierce, executive director of the Wyoming County Chamber points out that “many people are aware of the great services that CPP provides but not enough people are aware of the overwhelming commitment and support provided by CPP in the community. Rick Fish Sr. has been actively involved with the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce since its inception, and no one has more passion and drive as Mr. Fish is to make Wyoming County a better place to live and grow a business. Even though his tenure is complete at the Chamber, Mr. Fish is still extremely active in the Chamber activities and initiatives and his infectious passion to succeed and to get involved has been passed along to the next generation.”
In recognition of CPP’s continued growth and investment in Wyoming County and in recognition of their community service that includes being such an integral part in the development and growth of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, CPP is being awarded the “Small Business of the Year for 2009”.
These four businesses received their awards at the Wyoming County Chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 10, 2009 at the American Legion Hall in Warsaw’s Village Park. T
The following businesses were sponsors of the event:
Gold Sponsors
American Classic Outfitters
Attica Auto & Hardware
The Bank of Castile
Bliss Machine
Bovis Lend Lease
Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center
Castile Ag Service, LLC
Clark Patterson Lee
Complete Payroll Processing
Creative Food Ingredients
Don Beck, Inc
Emerling Farms
Five Star Bank
Freed, Maxick & Battaglia
GenTech Scientific
Koike Aronson
McCormick Farms
Morton Salt
NYSEG
Pioneer Credit Recovery
Prestolite Electric
Tompkins Insurance Agency
Upstate Auto Group
Upstate Door
Wyoming County IDA
Silver Sponsor
Broughton Diversified Farming, LLC
Genesee Community College – Warsaw and Arcade Campus
Bronze Sponsors
Silver Lake Marine
Livingston-Wyoming ARC
RW Enterprise, LLC
GCC- Warsaw and Arcade Campus
The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit business membership organization with a mission to promote and encourage economic development in Wyoming County, New York. Serving the needs of existing businesses and attracting new businesses and industries is the core of the Chamber’s economic development program. For more information or to become a member please call 585-237-0230 or visit the website at http://www.wycochamber.org.