Originator of the “Miles of Smiles” tourism promotion, Marcy Birch of Barnyard Swing, center right, poses with her collaborators after she was honored with the 2015 Key Bank Small Business Award after this evening’s Otsego County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Banquet at The Otesaga. From left are Chamber Board Chair Joe Sutaris; “Miles” publicity director Peg Odell; Susan O’Handley of Central NY Mobile Marketing, which developed the “Miles” Facebook page; Liz Callahan, CEO/Executive Director of the Hanford Mills Museum, Birch’s partner in the venture; Marcy and her husband Bob; Chris Doucas, who operates Tickled Pink BBQ at Barnyard Swing, and Chamber President/CEO Barbara Ann Heegan. Allen Ruffles, Key Bank Cooperstown bank manager, presented the award. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)Northern Eagle Beverages President/Partner George Allen, center, who accepted the Excellus/Blue Cross Breakthrough Award on behalf of Northern Eagle Pelletizing Co., is flanked by, from left, Chamber Board Chair Sutaris, the Community Bank regional executive; Chamber CEO/President Heegan; Northern Eagle Sales Manager Brian Birdsall; Hager Hops principal Louis Hager; Allen; Ian Porto, general manager, Northern Eagle Pelletizing Co.; Melissa Miosek, Northern Eagle sales; state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, who presented the honorees with Senate and Assembly proclamations, and Allen Sessions, who chaired the Chamber Special Projects committee that chose the honorees. Excellus’ Bill Virkler presented the award.
