Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce and

Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Present

The 40th Annual Business and Community Hero Awards

October 28, 2026 - 5 PM Gathering, 6 PM Program & Dinner Begins

The Grove at Centerton

The Chamber will join with the community to honor the service, character, courage, and achievements of this year's honorees, not just to thank them but to inspire others to support their efforts and to become community heroes and/or entrepreneurs themselves. 

THIS YEAR'S AWARD RECEIPIENTS ARE:

Francis H. Sharp, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award:

Theodore H. Ritter, and Jody Hirata and Ed Bowman

Gary F. Simmerman Community Leadership Award:

Dr. Gladwyn Baptist

Community Hero Awards:

Michelle Azpiri of Bridgeton Public Library

Isis Sosa, Unidos Para La Familia

Cumberland County Office on Aging, Lisa Williams, Executive Director

Business Hero Awards:

All That Dance Studio

Ed’s Body Shop

Salon Tinge

Expanded biographies of all award recipients, AND photographs are available at HeroWinners

Sponsors: Atlantic City Electric and Cumberland Mutual

Others to Be Announced.

Video Clip Introducing our 2026 Award Recipients to Follow

 CLICK HERE TO ATTEND, SPONSOR, OR DONATE

WWW.TINYURL.COM/BACCHERO

OPEN, COMPLETE, AND RETURN THE NOMINATIONS FORM:

Heroes Nominations Form 2026

CLICK HERE TO MAKE NOMINATIONS ONLINE

Nominations from Chamber members and the public are welcome at any time, but for consideration for presentation at the current year's  event, they must be submitted no later than June 5.  You may send nominations by email to bacc@baccnj.com.  Please include your name, the name of the nominee, information on why you believe they should be considered for an award, and the award category you believe they would qualify for: business hero, community hero, Gary Simmerman Community Leadership Award, or Francis Sharp Lifetime Achievement Award.

OR USE THIS QR CODE TO ACCESS ONLINE FORM

Past Award Winners 1987-2025 Alpha

RECENT YEARS' AWARD RECIPIENTS