2025 Business Excellence Awards – Congratulations to Our Winners!

Posted: October 31, 2025 | Member News

The Placentia Chamber of Commerce proudly presents its annual Business Excellence Awards winners, awarded on Friday, October 24th, at the Freshwater Community Centre. We’re especially proud to recognize our PCC members among this year’s recipients — local leaders setting the standard for excellence in our business community.

Let’s give a round of applause to:

Small Business Excellence (1–10 Employees): Mary Brown’s Chicken
Accepted by: Melanie Martin (Daughter of Donna & Terry Griffin)
Presented by: Jennifer Bennett (PCC Director; Manager of Tourism, Marketing & Communications, Town of Placentia)

Business Excellence (11+ Employees): Maher’s Contracting
Accepted by: Nancy Maher (Operations)
Presented by: Pam Constantine (VP, PCC; Owner & Manager, Mary Margaret’s Flowers)

Emerging Business of the Year: Placentia Dental
Accepted by: Dr. Renee Mulrooney (Owner & Manager)
Sponsored by: CBDC Avalon West
Presented by: Claudette Pittman (ED, CBDC Avalon West)

Innovation Champion Award: Hike Placentia Ltd.
Accepted by: Chris Newhook (Co-Chair)
Sponsored by: AXES.ai
Presented by: Karen Maher (PCC Director)

Community Impact Award: Community Connection Housing Coalition
Accepted by: Lilly Mulrooney (Coordinator, CCHC)
Sponsored by: Town of Placentia
Presented by: Mayor Jamie Neville (Town of Placentia)

Employee Excellence Award: Lorraine McCarthy, Express Signs
Accepted by: Lorraine McCarthy (Customer Service)
Sponsored by: Placentia Dental
Presented by: Dr. Renee Mulrooney (Owner & Manager, Placentia Dental)

Sustainability Leadership Award: Port of Argentia
Accepted by: Chris Newhook (VP Strategy & Growth)
Sponsored by: Argentia Industrial Services
Presented by: Erin Kearsey (EDO, ACOA NL & Lab Region)

Diversity & Inclusion Award: YMCA Placentia
Accepted by: Laura Brazil (Centre Manager)
Presented by: Angie Pittman (PCC Treasurer; ED, Genesis Employment Corp.)

Digital Transformation Award: Argentia Industrial Services
Accepted by: Jenny Browne (Mother of Morgan, Owner & CEO)
Sponsored by: JAC Marketing Agency
Presented by: Kim Kerrivan (PCC Director; Director of Communications, Brightisle)

Resilience in Business Award: RBC Placentia
Accepted by: Sherry Pomroy (Branch Manager)
Sponsored by: Freshwater Community Centre
Presented by: Paul Maher (President, FCC)

Non-Profit Excellence Award: Freshwater Community Centre
Accepted by: Paul Maher (Owner & Operator, Maher’s Funeral Home & Woodmar Construction)
Sponsored by: Placentia Lions Club
Presented by: James O’Keefe (President, Placentia Lions Club)

Customer Experience Excellence Award: Rosedale Manor B&B
Owners & Operators: Christopher and Lori Newhook
*The award will be presented at a later date!*

Chamber’s Choice Award: Physio & Co.
Accepted by: Amy O’Reilly (Owner; Locations in Bay Bulls, St. John’s, Torbay & Placentia)
Sponsored by: Placentia Chamber of Commerce
Presented by: Lilly Mulrooney (PCC Director; Coordinator, CCHC)

Pictured (L-R):
Back: Nancy Maher, Paul Maher, Chris Newhook, Claudette Pittman, Sherry Pomroy, Melanie Martin, Lorraine McCarthy
Front: Jenny Browne, Amy O’Reilly, Dr. Renee Mulrooney, Lilly Mulrooney, Laura Brazil