BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner and meeting on May 15 with 300 business leaders in attendance.
During the event, the chamber reviewed the past year’s accomplishments, highlighted future plans, and honored several individuals for their accomplishments, the chamber announced.
Inessa Yonaty, owner of The Goldsmith, was honored as the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year, which honors leadership and entrepreneurial skills in a person who exhibits personal drive, innovation, and business acumen. After acquiring The Goldsmith in 2020 amid the pandemic closures, Yonaty worked to build an e-commerce website, used social media to gain new customers, and even delivered products herself.
(Sponsored)
Asset Acquisition Strategies: Choosing Between Financing, Leasing or Buying
When acquiring business equipment or machinery, how you choose to pay can significantly impact your cash flow, tax strategy and long-term financial position. The three primary optionsare financing, leasing and
In the Market to Build? Get Started in 4 Simple Steps
Finding the perfect home isn’t always easy, especially in our world today. The U.S. Housing Shortage has created an ongoing challenge for homebuyers across the nation, opening the door to
Idea Kraft founder and creative director Ewelina Zajac received the 2025 Small Businessperson of the Year award, which honors small businesses with a least five employees for employee and sales growth, innovation in products/services, and contributions to the community. In 2015, Idea Kraft won the Binghamton Business Plan Competition and took off from there. In 2024, the company reported net income growth of 213 percent and landed its first five-year, $500,000 contract with the state. The firm, which started with just Zajac, now has eight full-time employees.
Jennifer Craig, instructional designer/education and development at The Raymond Corporation, received the Distinguished Chamber Volunteer of the Year award. She is a member of the planning team for SPARK, a career-exploration experience for area 8th graders. Over the past two years, Craig has recruited a number of different Raymond departments to participate in the event, which takes place in January at SUNY Broome.
The Mercy House of the Southern Tier Executive Director Linda Cerra received the Civic Leader of the Year award, which honors someone who has had a long-term beneficial impact on the community. Cerra began as a volunteer working on the Mercy House concept in 2014 as marketing and fundraising chairperson. She then served on the board for two years before becoming executive director in 2017. Over the past nine years, Mercy House, which provides a home to people with terminal illness, has cared for more than 1,300 residents and their families and has grown to a staff of 25 with 200 volunteers. Mercy House recently completed an expansion project that added six resident rooms, bringing the total to 16. Cerra also serves on the Spiedie Fest board and as the marketing chairperson for the Holy Family Bazaar, where she also serves as a trustee.
