Annual Awards go to Marshall Monuments, Speedway, Main Family, and Mosier Chiropractic

Submitted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Photos by Cheryl Lee Photography

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce brought together members of the local business community, elected officials and community leaders Thursday evening, November 12, for its sold-out Annual Dinner & Awards at Cornerstone Chapel & Celebration Center.

The evening celebrated the accomplishments of local businesses and individuals while providing an opportunity to reflect on the Chamber's progress over the past year and discuss opportunities for Washington County's future.

First Harrison Bank served as the evening's networking sponsor, which Joe Mahuron represented as a guest speaker during the main program. Chamber Executive Director Jacob Dufour followed with a progress report highlighting changes within the organization since he took the position just over a year ago.

Among the most notable developments was the Chamber's new investment-based membership model, introduced in August following a period of declining membership. The model, branded "A New Chapter for a New Chamber," incorporates sponsorship credits into higher membership levels, allowing businesses to invest in the organization while receiving additional visibility through its programs and events.

The response has been encouraging, Dufour said, with membership returning to an upward trajectory after two consecutive quarters of decline and more than 20 new members joining since the August relaunch.

He also highlighted several successful Chamber initiatives, including a record-attendance Small Business Saturday Cookie Walk in 2025, the highest-rated Women in Business luncheon to date, and the return of Friday Night on the Square in October, which attracted more than 100 vendors.

Salem Mayor Justin Green also addressed attendees, discussing the importance of local partnerships and sharing his vision for continued collaboration between the City of Salem, the Chamber and the broader community.

Looking ahead to 2027, Dufour outlined several opportunities the Chamber hopes to explore, including small business roundtables, educational workshops, workforce development initiatives, a potential job board connecting local employers with job seekers, a Veterans in the Workforce summit, and a springtime Renaissance Faire or agricultural appreciation event aimed at bringing additional visitors and tourism opportunities to Washington County.

"The goal isn't just to do more. It's to find new ways to help businesses grow, bring people together, and make Washington County a better place to live, work, and do business," Dufour said.

The evening also included a live auction of decorated Christmas trees. Mosier Family Chiropractic sponsored the trees, while members of the Chamber volunteered their time and creativity to decorate them. Billy Hagan and Jeff Souder of T&S Auction Service conducted the auction, with proceeds designated to support the Chamber's community initiatives in 2027. The auction raised a grand total of $6,800 for the organization.

The highlight of the evening was the annual awards ceremony, recognizing businesses and individuals whose contributions have made a difference throughout Washington County.

Marshall Monuments received the 2026 Business of the Year Award, recognized for its longstanding history in Washington County and continued investment in the community.

Founded in 1946, the business has served local families for 80 years. Since becoming its owner in 2024, Corey Churchman has continued that legacy while investing in the business's future, including relocating to a new location on North Main Street in Salem.

The Chamber also recognized the company's willingness to go above and beyond for the community, including repairing damaged gravestones following incidents ranging from vehicle accidents to tornadoes.

Other Business of the Year nominees included H&R Bakery, Huckster's Hall, Lincks Clothing & Shoes, Mosier Family Chiropractic, Sullivan's Concrete Coating, Titan Tint & Graphics, Totally Baked Sweets, Tracy's Bar & Grill, Vermillion Ink, and Washington County Actors' Community Theatre.

Brent Harmon and Melissa Middleton received the 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year Award for their work revitalizing Salem Speedway and operating Thunder Valley Raceway.

The Chamber recognized their significant investment in both motorsports venues, which have longstanding connections to the community, saying that their efforts help preserve an important part of Washington County's history while creating opportunities to attract visitors, host events and generate additional economic activity.

Other nominees for Entrepreneur of the Year included Lakin Jones of Born, Seth Marshall of Marshall Sales & Fireplace Shop, Dr. Chris Mosier of Mosier Family Chiropractic, Matthew Moskal of 2nd Life Tech, Bobbie Jo Myers of Bargain Barrel, Glenn Robinson of Robinson Construction, and Mackenzie Robinson of Totally Baked Sweets.

Daniel and Charity Main were named 2026 Citizens of the Year in recognition of their leadership and dedication to Washington County Actors' Community Theatre and Pied Piper Children's Theatre. Through their work over the years, the couple has provided opportunities for thousands of local children to explore the performing arts, develop their talents and work ethics, and build confidence.

The Chamber highlighted the lasting impact of those experiences, noting that skills developed through theatre, including communication, collaboration, creativity and self-discipline, can benefit young people well beyond the stage.

Other nominees for Citizen of the Year included Corey Churchman, Maurice Godfrey, Judy Lynn Harper, Geoffrey Harrison, Taylor Humphrey-Arnold and Chase Stanfill.

The Chamber also brought back its White Knight Award for the first time since 2016, which is a Chamber appreciation award reserved for individuals, businesses or organizations whose commitment to the community goes above and beyond ordinary expectations.

The honor was presented to Mosier Family Chiropractic. Led by Dr. Chris and Ellen Mosier, the business was recognized for its exceptional generosity, community involvement and continued investment in local events, organizations and initiatives.

The Chamber noted that the Mosiers' contributions extend beyond financial sponsorships, reflecting a consistent willingness to step forward, offer support and help make community projects possible.

Throughout the evening, Dufour emphasized that the Chamber's recent progress should serve as a foundation rather than a finish line. He encouraged local businesses to become involved, existing members to consider increasing their investment, and community members to share ideas and opportunities that could benefit Washington County.

"The Chamber's work doesn't end when tonight is over," Dufour said. "We have so much more to build, so many more opportunities to pursue, and so many more ways to bring our community together."

The Chamber also recognized the evening's sponsors, including First Harrison Bank, 360 Accounting & Tax Services, Mosier Family Chiropractic, Awareness Washington County, Dr. Black's Eye Associates, Marshall Monuments, PNC Bank, Pro Star Painting and Salem Rotary Club.

The sold-out gathering reflected the continued support of the local business community and provided an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations helping shape Washington County's future.