The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry moved its most prestigious event of the year online, where it recently fulfilled its long-standing tradition of celebrating its accomplishments throughout the past year while looking ahead to the future.

The CCCBI held its Annual Awards Celebration last Thursday night from Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, where it honored Victory co-founders Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet as its Executives of the Year and State Sen. Andrew Dinniman as its Citizen of the Year.

In 1996, Covaleski and Barchet, longtime friends who met as fifth-graders, opened Victory and began serving the full-flavored, innovative beers that have become nationally renowned.

“When I look back on 24 years, nearly 25 at this point, what I really see is a tremendous team effort,” said Covaleski. “I see a team of people that made Victory a success.”

“The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry has always supported the goals and interests of us (businesses),” said Barchet. “One only has to look at the current COVID-19 crisis to see all the kind of work they do on behalf of Chester County businesses. (CCCBI President) Guy (Ciarrocchi) and his team have worked tirelessly to help businesses react to the crisis in all manner of ways, but with equal zealousness (in) representing our views, concerns, and solutions to various government bodies and officials.”

Sen. Dinniman, who announced his retirement earlier this year, spent nearly 30 years serving Chester County as a Commissioner and State Senator.

“Chester County is purple,” he said. “If you talk to people, we’re more moderate in our views. We want to simply get things done. This moderation is what we need in Harrisburg right now, in terms of the COVID pandemic. We have to keep people healthy, but at the same time, we don’t have to destroy business. There’s a happy medium here, and we need to work for it.”

In his closing remarks, Ciarrocchi lauded the region’s business leaders for being at the forefront of reinventing their businesses and finding common-sense solutions amidst the life-altering pandemic.

“They’re doing more for the greater good,” he said. “They’re sharing best practices with one another, buying local products and services, sharing and helping coordinate the purchase of PPE materials, and working together to be advocates.”

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