The clock is ticking on the voting phase of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Business Awards. The voting closes at the end of the day, next Thursday, May 29. The votes from the CDCC members in the three categories determine the top three winners who have excelled in business for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The categories are: Large Employer, Small Business and Young Professional.

The CDCC is passionate about fulfilling its mission to be “the essential resource for the development of businesses in Central Delaware,” and this peer-driven award ceremony is just one of the many ways the CDCC accomplishes this goal for the community. With less than a month before their annual Awards for Excellence Celebration on Wednesday, June 18, the CDCC is busy planning the event to be an evening filled with celebratory high fives, sparkling décor and long-lasting memories — but they need your help by casting your vote for excellence.

The Awards for Excellence Celebration is the crowning event of the CDCC year, which marks a praiseworthy close to the nonprofit’s fiscal year. This award ceremony is important to the Central Delaware business community because the votes come from people like you — business professional peers. Mark your calendar now and RSVP to attend the Awards for Excellence Celebration on June 18 at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, beginning at 5:30 p.m. But, before that, be sure to place your vote for excellence by the May 29 deadline.

Here is the list of nominees for the CDCC’s 2025 Excellence in Business Awards — Large Employer of the Year category:

• Bally’s Dover Casino Resort - hospitality, casino and entertainment company

• Century Engineering, LLC, a Kleinfelder Company - a multi-discipline professional service firm providing a full slate of engineering related services to the Mid-Atlantic region

• N.K.S. Distributors, Inc. - beverage wholesaler/distributor for beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages in the state of Delaware
Small Business of the Year category:

• Delaware Farm Bureau - a membership-based nonprofit organization, that focuses on advocating on behalf of farmers and Delaware agriculture

• Forrest Avenue Animal Hospital – veterinary hospital providing medical care for animals

• Hilton Garden Inn Dover - overnight accommodations, full-service catering and meeting services, and a full-service restaurant and bar

Young Professional of the Year category:

• Codi Lyn Canasa, owner/head piercer, Agapé Body Piercing

• Kylie Frazer, community outreach & event specialist, Bayhealth

• Malcolm Jacob, transportation planner, Dover/Kent MPO.

CDCC business members are invited to cast their votes through the CDCC website or by following this link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDCCAwards2025. Remember, only CDCC members are eligible to vote and only one vote is allotted per business in each category. The deadline for voting is Thursday, May 29.

Everyone involved is excited to celebrate with the community at the 2025 Awards for Excellence Celebration on June 18 at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort. Once you have completed your voting, visit www.cdcc.net/events/chamber-events and register to attend the celebration.

The CDCC sends special thanks out to the Awards for Excellence Celebration Signature Sponsor: Merrill Lynch – Connell, Alexander, Duncan & Associates; Dinner Wine Sponsor: Faw Casson; Patron Sponsor: Delaware Division of Small Business; and Host: Bally’s Dover Casino Resort for the important role they play in making this party a reality. You don’t want to miss this spectacular, memory-filled evening!

Upcoming Events:

May 28 – The Chamber Mini Masters/Sunset Business Mixer, 4–7 p.m., Tre Sorelle Dolce Ice Cream & Mini Golf, members and invited guests

June 5 – Kent County Open for Business, Kent County Administrative Complex, Room 220, 8:30–10 a.m., open to all

June 11 – Coffee Coaching, “Building Content That Attracts (the Right) Attention,” presented by Tessa MacDonald, B.I.G. Investment Services, via Zoom, 8–9 a.m., members only

June 12 – Memorial Orientation, via Zoom, 8:30–10 a.m., members only