Greene County Chamber of Commerce Recognition Gala

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - The mountaintop-based Windham Manor served as host for the 2024 Greene County Chamber of Commerce Recognition Gala, on September 25, honoring businesses and individuals.

Awardees are selected in six categories including Distinguished Service, Small Business of the Year and Large Business of the Year.

Special attention is also given to the Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year along with a Not-For-Profit of the Year (in October 4 issue).

PETE KUSMINSKY

Greene County sheriff Pet Kusminsky is the Distinguished Service awardee. A home-county kid, Pete attended elementary school at Rowena Memorial School in Palenville, then graduated from Catskill High School and Columbia-Greene Community College.

Pete has been a public servant his entire adult life. He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1983 and a police officer since 1986.

He first received Municipal Police Training, sponsored by the Town of Durham Police Department, subsequently earning an appointment as a New York State Trooper.

After serving as a Trooper and an Investigator in Greene and Ulster counties, he was promoted to the permanent rank of Sergeant and appointed to the rank of Senior Investigator where he became the Law Enforcement Supervisor of the Orange County Child Abuse Task Force.

Pete also served as the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Supervisor in Kingston and Catskill for several years.

He was the Troop F Hostage Negotiation Coordinator where he supervised the State Police Crisis Negotiation Team covering five counties.

Pete was one of New York State’s first Drug Recognition experts, a charter member of the Greene County Fire Investigation Team, a Hostage Negotiator, a DCJS certified instructor and a Field Training Officer.

He served 33 years in the State Police, receiving 52 Troop Commander’s Commendations and 5 Superintendent’s Commendations for exemplary police work in addition to being named “Greene County Lawman of the Year” in 1998 and “Troop F Investigator of the Year” in 2008.

Sheriff Kusminsky, retired as the BCI Supervisor in Greene County and was elected as sheriff in 2019. Since becoming sheriff, the Road Patrol and the Corrections Division have become accredited by the State of New York and The New York State Sheriffs’ Association, respectively.

He has instituted a Senior Call in Program to check on senior citizens daily and an Impacted Citizens’ Program to assist those suffering from addictions.

Pete has also expanded the School Resource Officer Program (SRO) to assure there is added safety in all of the schools in Greene County.

Sheriff Kusminsky remains dedicated to providing professional and courteous services to the citizens and visitors of Greene County.

WILLA”S
The Small Business of the Year is Willa's, uniquely named, located in an historically restored creekside building on Water Street in Catskill,

Willa’s takes its name from co-proprietor Greg Hamm's dog and has been “a huge hit” since its opening in July, 2021, the proprietors say.

Prior to that date, Greg and his partner, Andrew Buemi, ran the restaurant in Hudson, with Greg handling the baking and Andrew the cooking.

Now at Willa's Catskill, Greg continues to lead the baking department, assisted by a talented group of local cooks, all of whom either live in Catskill, raise their children in Catskill or were attendees of Catskill schools.

"Along with our dynamic front-of-the-house team (including a prestigious Chronogrammy Award for Best Barista in the Hudson Valley), we work hard to serve our Greene County community, and we're proud of how far we've come in just three years! " Hamm says.

Their commitment to serving the community earned them the Small Business of the Year 2024 Crystal Award.

BIG TOP TENT RENTALS

No function, personal or professional, is too large or small for Big Top Tent Rentals, the 2024 Large Business of the Year Crystal Award winner.

Big Top Tent Rentals is a trusted provider of event rental equipment, offering expertise and experience to create perfect event settings.

Founded in 1997, Big Top Tent Rentals is a recognized leader in the event rental industry, starting from humble beginnings in Freehold, in founder Mike West’s home, evolving to a large warehouse in Cairo in 2002.

From backyard barbecues and parties, they kept growing in the industry with weddings, black tie affairs, corporate events, and university commencements such as Ivy League universities at Yale and Brown, the University of Hartford and nearby Hartwick.

In 2004 they expanded to Big Top Portable Toilets, employing a seasoned staff of 50, offering superior equipment while building lasting relationships through excellent service (and they get to travel all over the northeast).

In addition to the many accolades Big Top Tent Rentals received over the years, they are also extremely community-minded and have been supportive of many county youth sports groups and civic organizations.