The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon on February 16 spotlighted established and new members of the business community. Chamber president Becky Neville emceed the event and outgoing director Deb Curlis handed over the reins to new director Lindsay Walden.

Business Of The Year: Jalapenos Mexican Grill

The chamber recognized Jalapenos Mexican Grill (109 S Main, 419-634-0440) as the Business of the Year for 2021. Chamber members were invited to nominate a local business and the chamber board of directors selected the winning entry based on supporting materials.

Jalapenos has been in operation in Ada for eleven years. Owner Julie Thomas thanked her employees and credited her husband Dave as “being the glue” that helps her keep it all together. The family also operates a Jalapenos restaurant at 2507 Shawnee Rd, Lima.

The restaurant provides dine-in and carry out service Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The restaurant’s menu is attached.

Julie Thomas told the Icon that they were amazed by the extent of the recognition and subsequent response by the community in the 24 hours following the award. “We’re shellshocked,” she commented.

And the best part of opening a business in the village? Thomas says it’s “getting to know the people of Ada. That’s what a small town is all about.”

Program: Pegasus Specialty Vehicles

Chamber members were introduced to Pegasus Specialty Vehicles, 211 West Geneva St., Dunkirk, by company president Brian Barrington. The location is the former Diamond Plastics manufacturing facility, which provides the company with the ceiling height needed for bus manufacturing.

The company will manufacture several sizes of school bus and is developing four-wheel drive,  sliding door entry, and electric models. According to Barrington, school buses have a good routine for electric charging.

Pegasus expects to employ some 30-40 people in the first year at a starting wage of $17/hour.

Barrington is a graduate of Ohio Northern University and began his career working at MidBus, Inc.

Chris Burns-Dibiasio “Making A Difference” Award

The chamber surprised Chris Burns-DiBiasio, ONU’s “First Lady” and volunteer Director of Community Relations, when it honored her with the first Chris Burns-DiBiasio “Making a Difference” Award.

Burns-DiBiasio came prepared to talk about her experiences during the eleven years her husband Dan DiBiasio has been president of Ohio Northern University. She noted that “people make the place,” from the regulars who pass the President’s House on the “Green Monster” walking path to the ladies at the post office. Burns-DiBiasio marveled at the number of festivals hosted in the village and expressed her love for Ada’s sunrises and sunsets, as well as Main Street, which she called, “something to be really proud of.”

In closing, Burns-DiBiasio hoped that she “made an impact, not just at the University but … on this community…. This is a place to call home.” This proved to be a fitting introduction to the chamber award and engraved Lucite plaque establishing her as the first recipient of the Chris Burns-Dibiasio “Making A Difference” Award. She thanked the chamber for the honor and said there was “a lot of potential here in this room” for future recipients.

Recognition of Deb Curlis

Outgoing director Deb Curlis was also recognized by the chamber for her service totalling 11 years as a board member and director. Neville read a poem that reminded her of Deb as “someone that makes you believe there really is good in the world” and presented her with a decorative lantern.

Curlis will continue to serve on the chamber board as representative for the Beatitudes community center.

The luncheon ended with door prizes.

For more information about the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce visit http://www.adachamber.org/. The organization’s next meeting will be at 8 a.m. on March 16 at the Ada Public Library.