The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development held its annual awards gala last Friday with the theme of “Into the Wild.”

Business has often been compared to a jungle. These businesses have managed to tame it just a bit.

Dressed in their best safari wear, guests began the evening with cocktails and appetizers in a Summit Lodge ballroom at Blue Mountain Resort.

Inside the ballroom, a bushel of balloon monkeys swung from a tall balloon tree while a balloon giraffe - nearly as tall as a real one - stood nearby. The balloon art were creations of Robbie’s Balloons and More in Lehighton. His business served as the jungle animal sponsor for the event.

“The CCEDC is proud to be an integral part of the county that we call home, and to be able to work with all types of business so they can thrive here,” said Kathy Henderson, the executive director of CCEDC. “We’re looking forward to another banner year for CCEDC, and we’re excited to have all of you come along for the ride.”

The most touching award of the evening was the William H. Bayer Lifetime Achievement Award presented posthumously to Mike Harleman. His widow, Doreen, accepted it on his behalf.

“We all loved him,” said Tony Ianelli, the president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. “He was so full of energy.”

Harleman was the executive vice president of First Northern Bank of Palmerton, and was a positive force as a board member of the CCEDC.

“He was phenomenal,” Doreen Harleman said. “He always had a very positive attitude. ... He could bring a smile to people. He’s still smiling on us. He’s smiling on our family. Thank you all for all of your support. He loved you all.”

Marlyn Kissner, vice president of membership and community relations at the Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau, presented the Mike Harleman Arts and Entertainment Award. She had worked with Harleman during her time as director of CCEDC. Kissner said the award is the perfect tribute to Harleman because he loved to entertain.

“He touched all of us with his kindness, his lighthearted spirit, his caring attitude, and his ability to always make you laugh. I was incredibly blessed to have Mike in my life and to work with him. He was a mentor. He was a friend, and every day he was such an incredibly inspiration,” Kissner said.

The award was presented to Stabin Museum/Café Arielle and Vic’s Jazz Loft. The multipurpose center hosts the Jim Thorpe Film Festival Gala, and has welcomed national music entertainers in the jazz room. They also offer classes and host local musical acts.

The Rookie Business of the Year Award was presented to Palmerton Pharmacy by John Nespoli, the president of St. Luke’s University Health Network-Carbon Campus. Palmerton Pharmacy took over when Shipman’s Pharmacy closed.

The award recognizes a business that has demonstrated enthusiasm, community spirit and excellent customer service, and is committed to growing in Carbon County.

Rebecca Worthy received the Young Professional of the Year award, presented by Jared McEvoy of Miers Insurance. Worthy is the youngest member of the Lehighton Borough Council. She is also involved with numerous other organizations.

“I think a lot of good work starts where you live and in your community,” Worthy said. “As you heard, I have a laundry list of things I’m involved with, all of them I really enjoy. I always wanted to look back at my life and not regret that I didn’t do something, but be happy and grateful that even though I had some sleepless nights I was there to do it.”

The award is presented to a young professional involved with CCEDC events and community programs that is making a difference in the community and to his or her clients.

The Tourism Business of the Year of the year was Jack Frost Big Boulder in Kidder Township.

Patrick Reilly, the president of Mauch Chunk Trust, presented the award to JFBB and said the resort “continues to provide amazing lasting experiences for its guests. Their mission is to create the experience of a lifetime for their employees, so they in turn can create an experience of a lifetime for their guests.”

The award honors a business that attracts guests and businesses to the area through recreation, hospitality, amusement or culture.

The next award was presented to a woman who has given much of her time to volunteer work.

Robyn Plesniarski was presented the Volunteer of the Year award by Christine Biege, president of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon. Plesniarski also has a long list of associations in which she does volunteer work.

“I can think of probably 10 other people who really deserve this award more than me,” Plesniarski said. “To be a volunteer, we don’t do things to be recognized. We do them because we want to be where we can be when we can be.”

Bulldog Fire Apparatus in Nesquehoning received the Economic Development Impact Project award from Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein.

When fire truck manufacturer KME announced its closing, Bulldog provided a place for its employees to go.

“Since 2022, they are now up to 70 employees and all but five or six are former KME employees,” Nothstein said.

Bulldog is an emergency vehicle and fire apparatus supplier and producer of brush breaker and tanker units, so KME’s former employees fit right in.

The Business of the Year was presented to Befesa Zinc USA Inc. by Marj Federanich, owner of Dream Vacations. Befesa is located at the former New Jersey Zinc Plant in Palmerton, and is a zinc recycler. They employee 133 people.

This award recognizes a business that has demonstrated achievement and innovation in management, workplace excellence and has committed to growing here in Carbon County.

The event sponsors included Lehigh Carbon Community College; Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank; First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union; St. Luke’s Carbon Campus; Mauch Chunk Trust Co.; Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon; Andreas Plumbing Heating Air; Blue Mountain Resort; PenTeleData; NEPA; Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau; state Rep. Doyle Heffley, Bennett Family Properties LLC.; Servpro, signature drink sponsor; PPL, dinner sponsor; First Northern Bank and Trust, Swahili Lounge; Buckno Lisicky and Co., silent auction sponsor; CTC Manufacturing, swag bag sponsor; EBC Printing, program sponsor; The Times News Media Group, centerpiece sponsor; Michael Straub, photography sponsor; Mr. Perfecto 360, photo booth sponsor; and L.E. Williams Printing LLC, welcome sign sponsor.