Exhibitors lined the halls of Waynesboro Area Senior High School for the Business Expo hosted by the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce Feb. 15.
* The Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce recognized several local businesses and individuals at its annual awards breakfast.
* Michael Cermak Jr. of Cermak Technologies Inc. was named Business Person of the Year.
* Other honorees included Waynesboro Construction Inc., McLaughlin’s Energy Services, Buttonwood Nature Center, and Michaux Brewing Co.
* Janet Pollard of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau received the Chamber Champion Award for her work in promoting tourism.
A handful of those who make Waynesboro the community it is were recognized at the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce Awards Breakfast on Nov. 6, 2025.
About 135 people were on hand as the awards were announced. Here are the honorees:
Business Person of the Year Award
Recipient: Michael “Mike” Cermak Jr., Cermak Technologies Inc.
Sponsor: Middletown Valley Bank
Cermak was “born to do what he’s doing,” said a video presentation that cited his “entrepreneurship, drive and passion.”
A self-described computer nerd, Cermak said he gets to do what he loves every day.
He started Cermak Technologies at 13, initially helping people for free; at 15, he launched the free Tech Support Guy website, which had 875,000 users worldwide when he eventually sold it; he was a computer trouble-shooter for teachers at Waynesboro Area Senior High School; and Cermak opened a brick-and-mortar location soon after graduating from Penn State Mont Alto in 2002.
He is an active member of the Waynesboro community, where he lives with his wife Heather and three children. He and his father, Mike Cermak Sr., also own a carwash and a professional building in Waynesboro and a business center in Hagerstown.
Heritage Award
Recipient: Waynesboro Construction Inc.
Sponsor: Martz Plumbing
The Heritage Award recognizes a distinguished business that has thrived for more than 25 years, and Waynesboro Construction Inc. has been part of the community for more than five times that long.
It’s been “an amazing 126 years – half the life of the country,” said President Greg Brown.
Brown said he hopes the company is around for another 100 years as “part of the fabric of a great community like Waynesboro.”
Small Business of the Year Award
Recipient: McLaughlin’s Energy Services
Sponsor: Graphics Universal
Garon Gembe of Graphics Universal noted that one in five small businesses close within their first year and 50% will close within five years as he presented the award for a business with 50 or fewer employees.
He highlighted the family-owned McLaughlin’s Energy Services’ 71-year tradition of offering great products and services and giving back to the community.
“My grandfather would be very proud of where we are today,” said Mark McLaughlin Jr. as he thanked friends, family and hard-working employees.
Non-Profit of the Year Award
Recipient: Buttonwood Nature Center
Sponsor: F&M Trust
Buttonwood Nature Center was called “the heart and soul of the community” in a video at the breakfast. It’s offered school programs, environmental education, special events and more since 1990.
Its mission is “to guide the people of the Cumberland Valley region to become stewards of their natural and cultural worlds.”
Executive Director Tracy Holliday accepted the award, but stressed the work of Buttonwood is a “team sport” with decades of partnerships, supporters, board leadership, employees and volunteers.
“This room is full of people on whose shoulders we stand,” Holliday said.
Trailblazer Award
Recipient: Michaux Brewing Co.
Sponsor: Blue Ridge Risk Partners
Jeb Keller of Blue Ridge Risk Partners had people in the room giving a shoutout in answer to the question “do you like beer?” as he presented the Trailblazer Award to Lauren and Dane Murray of Michaux Brewing Co.
The award recognizes a business or organization that’s less than five years old with good products, innovations and a commitment to the community.
Michaux opened in 2022, but “it feels like it’s been here forever,” Keller said.
“We love craft beer. How great it is to share with those who love craft beer?” said Dane Murray, thanking the chamber, community, family, friends and staff.
Chamber Champion Award
Recipient: Janet Pollard, Franklin County Visitors Bureau
Sponsor: Manitowoc
Janet Pollard believes Franklin County is a hidden treasure and loves to explore it, looking for the next great opportunity.
“I’ve watched her transform possibilities into reality … and see the big picture and details at the same time,” said Patti Nitterhouse of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau board, citing Pollard’s “tireless passion for tourism.”
A video presentation said Pollard has been a champion for all of Franklin County as executive director of the visitors bureau since 2007, following 10 years with the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce.
Her “visionary leadership” has included working with Franklin County commissioners to make the visitors bureau an independent organization. She oversaw the repurposing a 10,000-square-foot former bank building on Memorial Square into the FCVB’s home with space for displays, offices and events, even using the old vaults – one for children’s activities and the other to show videos about the area.
FCVB supports each community whole-heartedly and promotes the area with certified Tourism Ambassadors, blogs, publications, press releases, events and, most recently FCVB-TV.
“Janet has poured her heart and soul into Franklin County,” the video said.
Franklin County is a great place to live, according to Pollard, who said, “Tourists want this. We have it every day.”
