The Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (CCCBI) hosted its second annual Business Excellence Awards Luncheon, presented by Constellation Energy, honoring nine Chamber Members and welcoming esteemed writer, Brad Ingelsby, for an exclusive discussion.
More than 260 business leaders, entrepreneurs, partners, and community members gathered to celebrate excellence, leadership, and innovation across Chester County’s business community.
In her opening remarks, CCCBI President and CEO, Laura Manion, reflected on her personal connection to Ingelsby, who taught her computer class at St. Patrick School when she was in seventh grade. Manion recalled Ingelsby telling students that he planned to move to Hollywood and become a successful writer and director, a bold ambition that, at the time, felt larger than life to a room of middle schoolers.
More than two decades later, Ingelsby has done exactly that, earning national acclaim as the creator of Mare of Easttown and Task. Manion shared that reconnecting with her former teacher by chance last year led to the invitation for this year’s event.
His journey is a powerful example of the luncheon’s central theme: that excellence is achieved by setting a bold vision and pursuing it relentlessly.
“I remember sitting in Mr. Ingelsby’s class in 2003 and hearing him tell us he was going to move to Hollywood and become a famous writer and director,” said Manion. “At the time, we all thought to ourselves, ‘okay, Mr. Inglesby, sure.’ But he did exactly what he said he would do, and he did it in a remarkable way. To interview him, as his former student and now as President and CEO of the Chamber, was incredibly special and a reminder to everyone in the room that excellence begins with the courage to believe in what’s possible.”
Manion finished her introduction by saying, “to everyone here today, he is Brad Inglesby, but to me, he will always be Mr. Inglesby.” This truly touching story energized the room leading up to the anticipated award ceremony.
Constellation Energy introduced the nine honorees, each nominated by their peers for their achievements, leadership, and commitment to the Chamber and broader community.
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners:
- Camphill Soltane – Nonprofit of the Year
- Fearless Restaurants – Family Business of the Year
- Greencastle Consulting – Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
- Jen Saverio, Vice President, Commercial Lending, Meridian Bank – Rising Star of the Year
- Meghan Popoleo, President, The O’Connor Group – Female Business Leader of the Year
- Minuteman Press Chadds Ford – Minority-Owned Business of the Year
- Phamily Orthodontics – Small Business of the Year
- Roman Coia, Owner, Roman Coia Photographer – Entrepreneur of the Year
- SERVPRO of the Main Line – Community Partner of the Year
This celebration stemmed from the combination of two of our most popular and meaningful events—our Small Business Awards and our Women Influencing Business Awards—into one powerful celebration of business excellence. “The result was truly a bigger, bolder, more unified event that reflects the full strength, diversity, and spirit of our business community,” said Laura Manion.
To showcase the excellence of Membership at its core, honorees and sponsors filmed a series of videos with Valley Creek Productions, sharing in their own words why this annual event matters: to celebrate leadership, commitment, and the lasting impact CCCBI members make across industries and communities.
Learn more about the award winners and Brad Ingelsby attending the Business Awards Luncheon at Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry.
