At this event, the future of Hamilton looked awfully bright

Attorney Cynamon Trokhan became chairwoman of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce on Friday during the organization’s 108th Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Courtyard by Marriott and said 2018 should be a great year for local business.

“Walk around town, and you are sure to see several new stores and restaurants,” she said. “Pick up a paper and you can’t miss the headlines touting our community’s continued growth and economic development.

“Tonight, as we stand poised on the precipice of even greater things, I contend that we should no longer approach our future with the goal of merely surviving day to day. Instead, as we look forward to 2018, we should strive to make decisions so that Greater Hamilton thrives.”

She told of her 11-year-old daughter, Lena, who came home from school bursting to tell a story, offering the preamble: "Mom, you are going to be shook…."

She told the chamber audience that she hopes Hamiltonians will continue improving relationships with each other, finding creative solutions, and “believing impossible things.” She hopes that at next year’s annual dinner, “the results of the collective efforts will leave us all shook.”

In the biggest applause of the night, the Hamilton Citizens of the Year Jason and Tammy Snyder were praised for their efforts in creating Operation Pumpkin, a festival that draws people to the downtown area, boosting sales at stores and restaurants, and also extending the holiday shopping season in Hamilton by weeks.

In fact, the couple, after a video about their accomplishments in creating the city’s Operation Pumpkin festival, received a standing ovation.

“I came up here with a general idea of what I’d like to say, but that video threw me off,” said Jason Snyder. “We really had no idea what kind of impact we were making.”

“We’re very happy and proud to be one of the many parts making Hamilton what it is today.”

The couple praised the many Operation Pumpkin volunteers for making the festival what it has become.

“We’re not from here,” added Tammy Snyder, who like her husband is from the Canton area. But she said they “fell in love” with the city. In accepting their award, they asked the festival’s committee to stand for applause.

“We are beyond humbled and very grateful for this award, so thank you very much,” Jason Snyder said.

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