Photo by Graham Cullen The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce presented its annual Summit Awards on Thursday. From left are Thomas Kleinhanzl, vice chairman; Denise Brady Jacoby, chairwoman; Nick Damoulakis, Orases Consulting Corp.; Dr. Jeanne O'Connell, Sylvana Institute for Medical Aesthetics; Jean Peterson, Jean Peterson Design; Karen Smith, St. John Regional Catholic School; Nancy Karaszkiewicz, DynPort Vaccine Co. LLC; M.L. Carroll, Canapes Inc.; and Ric Adams, chamber president. Purchase this photo

The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce presented its annual Summit Awards at a breakfast at Ceresville Mansion.

Honored were Jean Peterson Design, Sylvana Institute for Medical Aesthetics, Orases Consulting Corp., Canapes Inc., DynPort Vaccine Co. LLC and St. John Regional Catholic School.

The event also gave Chamber President Ric Adams a chance to reflect on the past year for the organization.

He said the Chamber held 80 events last year, including dinners, breakfasts, award presentations and business card exchanges.

The Chamber is now on Twitter, and a Social Media Conference is set for June 5 on "How to Tweet" for members.

Last year the organization also launched brown-bag lunches for 30 people at the chamber office to discuss specific topics. The Chamber also held programs for students with local business speakers including "dress for success" tips.

Additionally, the organization launched a Major Employer Group. The group provides businesses with 400 or more employees a forum to discuss issues. "Many of the people from those large companies had never met each other," Adams said.

The Chamber is offering a free drug prescription card for anyone who lives in Maryland. Adams urged members to take advantage of discounts offered member to member, including employees of member companies.

Adams said a new program on the horizon is "coffee and contacts," an early morning event to meet fellow members. The Chamber is also looking at events to attract the under-40 members. "This is the group that will be running the Chamber and on the board in the future," he said.

Jean Peterson Design won the At Your Service Award for generating customer loyalty and satisfaction and bringing positive recognition to Frederick County.

Sylvana Institute for Medical Aesthetics won the Entrepreneurial Award for increasing employment and doubling its workspace.

Orases Consulting Corp. won the Technology Award for its innovative products that increased sales, product quality and profitability.

Canapes Inc. won the Made In Frederick Award. The catering company earned the award for demonstrated product quality, increased production and sales growth of a business that makes or assembles products in the county.

DynPort Vaccine Co. LLC won the Workforce Development Award for consistently offering its employees training and education. The company also invested money and resources in local programs that affect workforce development.

The nonprofit Partner in Business Award went to St. John Regional Catholic School for developing partnerships with the business community. Students from the school visit residents of Homewood at Crumland Farms retirement community. Older students, grades five through eight, provide entertainment, crafts and fellowship. Younger students are involved in the Sunshine Readers Program that fosters reading skills and bridges generations.