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XL Specialized Trailers Named Manchester Chamber’s Business of the Year

XL Specialized Trailers has been named the Manchester Chamber’s 2023 Business of the Year.

The prestigious award was presented on Wednesday night at the Chamber’s annual banquet held at the Delaware County Community Center.

XL Trailers had a big year in 2023. The Manchester manufacturing company is approaching three hundred employees. They have completed phase one of an expansion, with a 50-thousand square foot addition – increasing the production capacity by 50%. They renovated their office space, upgraded manufacturing equipment and added more space for employees to work. With their continued growth, XL is looking for new ways to recruit employees – including recruiting candidates from Puerto Rico and assisting with relocation. XL Specialized Trailers has also been involved with the community, with staff participating on committees and the company donating to various causes.

President Stuart Sleper says being named the Manchester Chamber’s Business of the Year is humbling and an honor.

The two other nominees for Business of the Year were The Bread Basket and Good Neighbor Society.

Several other awards were also presented, including the Ernest Hayhow Chamber Person of the Year – which was given to James Riley, manager of the Manchester Fareway. This award is given each year to a Chamber member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the Manchester Chamber. Riley has been involved in nearly every Manchester Chamber event or fundraiser in some way, always ready to lend a hand.

Riley, who is not originally from Manchester, strongly believes that Fareway’s role in the community is bigger than just a grocery store. 

The Manchester Chamber also annually presents the Ambassador of the Year Award. The Manchester Chamber Ambassadors is a group of professionals who visits businesses on a monthly basis – whether it’s to celebrate a new business in town, a business that has changed locations or made renovations, or a business that is welcoming a new owner or manager. This year’s Ambassador of the Year Award goes to Dani Burke of KMCH, who has supported local businesses by attending nearly every Ambassador visit for the past two years. 

And the Manchester Chamber’s Meritorious Service Award is given each year to a person or group demonstrating exemplary volunteer service to Delaware County. This year’s recipient is Jo Schreck, who volunteers in the community by sharing her love for animals. When she retired from teaching, Schreck continued visiting the school in an effort to help kids with a therapy dog named Hannah. These days, she takes another therapy dog, Hector, to Regional Medical Center to visit patients. And she’s carried her passion for dogs into another area of the community, leading fundraising efforts to bring a dog park to Manchester. 

Manchester Chamber President Kurt Heims says they’re thankful for a great year last year and are looking forward to 2024. 

Heims, the owner of Heims Awards & Custom Gifts, will be serving his third and final year as Manchester Chamber President. Other Chamber board members include Vice President Jade Schneider with Delaware County ISU Extension & Outreach, Treasurer Luke Imsland with Community Savings Bank, Secretary Nicole Riley with Visit the Magic Travel Agency, Brian Klaus with Henderson Products, Leanne Fangmann with The Quiltmaker’s Shoppe, Lucas Fangmann with Physical Therapy Solutions, Julie Woods with Northwestern Mutual, Abby Buesing with Buesing LLC, Stuart Sleper with XL Trailers, Angie Salow with RMC and Loretta Welcher with KMCH.

 

photos courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH

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