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Awards
Nominations for Business Person and Humanitarian Awards
The Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Business Person of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year awards. Download the Nomination Form in PDF format.
Business Person of the Year Award Recipients
| 1994 | Vito Moreno |
| 1995 | Richard Murray |
| 1996 | Dolores Ortiz |
| 1997 | Leslie E. Smith, Jr. |
| 1998 | James DiTaranto |
| 1999 | Judy Kovach |
| 2000 | Dr. John Berezny |
| 2001 | Richard and Jane Clawson |
| 2002 | Billie Andrews |
| 2003 | Jeff Stadelman |
| 2004 | Rita L. Hilbert |
| 2005 | 50th Anniversary Year |
| 2006 | John and Judy Kovach |
| 2007 | Francis "Bud" Jones |
| 2008 | Anna Cirilli |
| 2009 | Lou Nisivoccia |
| 2010 | Donna Pilone |
| 2011 | Glenn Tippy |
Tom Klecka Humanitarian of the Year Award Recipients
| 1994 | Patricia Schaffer |
| 1995 | Myra Rubin |
| 1996 | Gloria Kelchner |
| 1997 | Christine Falconi |
| 1998 | Rosemarie Cortese |
| 1999 | Louis Terrezza |
| 2000 | Cecelia Thea Dunkle |
| 2001 | Rev. Paul Ingeneri |
| 2002 | Willie Cirone |
| 2003 | George Neumann |
| 2004 | Noreen Risko |
| 2005 | 50th Anniversary Year |
| 2006 | Frederick "Rick" Ege |
| 2007 | William "Bill" and Linda Sohl |
| 2008 | Sabine Elsasser |
| 2009 | Thom Torode |
| 2010 | Marco Rojas |
| 2011 | Bruce Gallagher |
Distinguished Service Award Recipients
| 1994 | Elmira Matcha |
50th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
| 2005 | Elmira Matcha |
| 2005 | Vito Moreno |
Anthony "Tom" Klecka
In Memoriam
As the years roll by, it might be easy to forget those who played a prominent role in the formation of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as an earlier Mt. Olive Township.
New people in the community, new businesses and business owners –. Tom Klecka was not only a good friend to the Mt. Olive Area Chamber of Commerce, he was a best friend to a growing Mt. Olive community.
There are many among us who could tell you how he urged, cajoled, or shamed us into coming out to Chamber. For Tom believed, and he wanted us to understand, that it was not only our right to know what was going on in the community, it was our duty to know. He pressed us, the business community, to become knowledgeable about everything that could impact our life and our livelihood.
Tom accepted a leadership role with the Chamber, which he served as president on numerous occasions, and with the Mt. Olive Economic Development Committee. He housed the Chamber telephone at his business, responding to inquires, meeting with potential businesses, always and ever promoting the Township.
Tom knew just about everyone in business in the town and they, in turn, knew and respected him, recognizing that he lent his voice to speak up in their behalf. Tom loved meeting people so he enjoyed riding in the Chamber car on Memorial Day, or selling the 50/50s at Chamber gatherings.
Tom set a standard for all of us in community activism… he is missed…the Chamber will not let him be forgotten.