Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce to honor businesses, leaders at annual awards celebration

Area businesses and individuals will be recognized at the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce 67th annual awards celebration next month. The chamber will honor seven businesses and community leaders Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at the Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center.

Eleet Cryogenics of Bolivar will receive the Large Business of the Year award, which recognizes organizations with more than 50 employees. Breitenbach Wine Cellars of Sugarcreek was selected as Small Business of the Year.

Eleet Cryogenics was founded in 1996 by Garry Sears of Bolivar. During the past 30 years, the company has grown to include six facilities in the Bolivar Industrial Park and an additional operation in Conroe, Texas. Eleet repairs and reconditions cryogenic tanks along with cryogenic distribution and control systems. In addition to providing significant employment in northern Tuscarawas County, the Sears family is known for its generous support of community causes.

Breitenbach Wine Cellars marked 45 years of operation in 2025. The winery was founded in 1980 by Duke and Cynthia Bixler and continues to produce award-winning wines. Duke Bixler remains actively involved with assistance from daughters Anita Davis and Jennifer Kohler. The family-owned business has played a key role in the growth of tourism in Tuscarawas County for more than four decades.

SpringVale Health Centers was selected as Organization of the Year. The organization has been a vital part of the health care landscape in Tuscarawas and surrounding counties for nearly 60 years. During the past year, more than 10,000 individuals relied on SpringVale for services including primary care, dental care, behavioral health, pharmacy, OB-GYN, and medical and health urgent care. Chamber officials said each service added during the past decade resulted from listening to the community and addressing unmet needs.

Aimee Voll of the New Philadelphia City School District was named Educator of the Year. Her nomination was submitted by Assistant Superintendent Jeff Williams. New Philadelphia High School Principal Ryan Range said Voll, a high school intervention specialist and department head, shows exceptional dedication to helping students succeed regardless of challenges and helps students gain confidence in essential skills.

Frank Polen of Buckeye Career Center was selected as Volunteer of the Year. Polen serves as a chamber board member and former board chair and regularly participates in events such as Business After Hours, legislative luncheons and Tips Club. He has been a strong advocate for the chamber and its mission.

Attorney John P. Maxwell of Dover was named Citizen of the Year for his community leadership. Maxwell serves on the Dover City School Board, the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation Board of Directors and the Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. He is currently the United Way of Tuscarawas County campaign chair and has also been active with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic.

The chamber Hall of Fame honoree is Bill Ferris of New Philadelphia. For nearly 60 years, Ferris Chevrolet Buick has provided automotive sales and service to residents of Tuscarawas and surrounding counties. Under Ferris’ leadership, the family-owned dealership has continued to grow while employing more than 50 people.

Event sponsors include Aultman Health System, Aultcare Health Plan, Baker Florist, Buckeye Career Center, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, Dover Hydraulics, EJ Construction, First Federal Community Bank, First National Bank of Dennison, Huntington National Bank, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, McInturf Realty, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Neidenthal and Co., Ohio Means Jobs Stark and Tuscarawas counties, ProVia, R and J Cylinder and Machine, Schauer Group Inc., SpringVale Health Centers, Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board, The Commercial and Savings Bank, the Tuscarawas Valley Safety Council, Wayne Door, WTUZ Radio and WJER Radio.

For more information, contact the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce at 330-343-4474.