CAN DO celebrated the 10^th anniversary of its Curb Appeal Awards with a ceremony to honor its industrial park and corporate center tenants who have beautified and maintained the visual appeal of their properties.

The awards were presented to companies in the Humboldt, Valmont and McAdoo industrial parks, Humboldt Station and the CAN DO Corporate Center during an industry mixer held Thursday at Residence Inn by Marriott in Humboldt Station. The mixer was co-sponsored by Residence Inn and Coordinated Health.

The Curb Appeal Award plaques were presented in the categories of Companies with 1 to 75 employees, Companies with more than 75 employees, Commercial Service and Commercial – Hotels, Restaurants, Retail.

Residence Inn was named the overall winner, receiving the top award in the program. Larry Walko Landscaping completed the landscaping work for the Residence Inn.

Recipients in the 1 to 75 employees category are: The H & K Group Hazleton Site Contractors, Brake Parts Inc. LLC, Troy Manufacturing Inc., JPC Equestrian Inc., and UTC Cargo Group.

Recipients in the more than 75 employees category are: Aryzta, AutoZone Inc., First Quality Nonwovens Inc., and Mericle Commercial for the Graham Packaging building.

The Commercial Service award was presented to Fox Run Plaza in the CAN DO Corporate Center and the Commercial – Hotels, Restaurants, Retail award was presented to Residence Inn.

CAN DO President and CEO Kevin O’Donnell said, “Some of the most well-known national and international companies have chosen to locate within our parks. Every day they produce and distribute quality products around the world from inside their facilities.  However, what they do outside their buildings is just as important to the success of their operations. These companies know that the impression their property makes on current employees, potential employees, visitors and corporate leaders can go a long way in establishing them as a premier business in the area.”

O’Donnell thanked Nancy Stasko, of CAN DO, for coordinating the awards and mixer each year and recalled that the event came about from a discussion that he and Stasko had more than 10 years ago “about how well our parks are maintained and about the tremendous pride taken by the park tenants in the appearance of their individual properties. We felt that those companies who maintained their properties best should be recognized.” 

O’Donnell thanked Curb Appeal Awards committee co-chairs Lonnie Polli and Gary Danish, saying, “Gary and Lonnie work so hard to make this program a success. They’ve been co-chairs for all 10 years and I appreciate their dedication in helping this wonderful event continue.”

Polli said, “Improving the overall appearance of the properties in our parks accomplishes a number of goals. It can help to build team spirit and unity; add to employee pride and morale; improve employee recruitment and retention; and increase the overall appearance of each property and the attractiveness of our parks as a whole.”

Committee members encouraged companies in all of CAN DO’s parks to begin reviewing their facility’s curb appeal in advance of next year’s awards.

Thanks were extended to Curb Appeal mixer planning committee members Charlie Burkhardt, Elaine Judd and Stasko for their continued assistance with the Curb Appeal Awards program.

Award sponsors are: A & B Asphalt, Paving & Sealing; Eddie’s Lawn Care; Gottstein Contracting; J & S Landscaping; NEPA Manufacturers and Employers Association; Nause Landscaping; T. Verrastro Beverage Co. and Larry Walko Landscaping.

“We want to thank all our sponsors. We appreciate their commitment to the Curb Appeal Awards program and to business relations in Greater Hazleton,” O’Donnell said.