48th Annual Civic Trust Awards

On November 12th, the BIP held its 48th Annual Civic Trust Awards program at the Palmer Kiwanis Youth Center in Palmer Township.  Before the dinner, Jeff Young, President of the BIP welcomed the members present and the recipients. After dinner, Chairwoman of the Awards Committee Debra Young presented the 2025 Civic Trust Awards recipients.

booster award – Brenda DeGerolamo

This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Palmer Township community. It is presented to the person who has exhibited outstanding service to others thus distinguishing Palmer Township through their contributions to their fellow man, business community or political environment.

Booster Award – Brenda DeGerolamo

This award is sort of bittersweet. The bitterness is saying farewell to a long-standing, dedicated township employee, but that is met with the sweetness of retirement. The BIP Booster Award is presented to a person who has exhibited outstanding service to others, thus distinguishing Palmer Township through their contributions to their fellow man, the business community or political environment.

Brenda DeGerolamo has personal history of outstanding service, starting her professional career at Ingersoll-Rand. With a display of the dedication she possesses, Brenda worked there for 20 years, through the merger as the company became Ingersoll-Rand Dressor Pump Company.  She worked most of that time in the Human Resource Department.  

In February of 2002, Brenda accepted the position of Administrative Assistant to the Palmer Township Manager, which was in a temporary to permanent capacity working with Bob Anckaitis. Realizing her stellar work ethic, Brenda was offered a permanent position in July of that year.   Working with multiple township managers, Brenda offered stability and knowledge which allowed the township to move forward with her leadership and direction and in 2018, Brenda was officially promoted to Assistant Township Manager.   Bob Williams describes Brenda as a hard-working, loyal and dedicated worker. She not only achieved her own success but also set the example to inspire others to do the same.

Brenda has supported our Board of Directors and general membership as Secretary of BIP, keeping us organized and on task. Beyond those duties, Brenda volunteered at BIP events, such as our golf outing, annual 5K, Palmer Community Weekend and wherever help is needed and drags Gary along for fun!

We will miss you Brenda but share in the excitement of your retirement spent at the beach. Wishing you and Gary many weeks full of Saturdays and Sundays enjoyed with family and friends, and living each day with a grateful heart.

Congratulations and many thanks.

community service award
Craig Conner

The Community Service Award recognizes individuals and/or groups who by the service to others or contributions to the Palmer community help to distinguish Palmer as a caring community.

Craig Conner

When I reached out to Craig Conner and told him he was selected for our Community Service Award, I could tell he was a bit apprehensive. Appreciative but apprehensive.  Not to be selected, but because I asked him to share with me the extent of his involvement and volunteerism with Palmer Township. For those who don’t know, Craig is known as Gator, so that is how I will refer to him.

Gator’s volunteering began when his daughter Olivia was 6 years old and a flag football cheerleader. In 2001 he began cooking in the concession stand during football games and this continued for 16 years. As his three children – Olivia, Garret and Jack – participated in different sports, Gator’s resume’ began to grow.  From softball coach to baseball coach, Junior Legion Coach to boys basketball coach, and then in 2017 he was elected as the Palmer Football co-commissioner.  There seems to be a common link in the way parents get involved in the volunteer game.  Our kids play, we volunteer.

Gator’s volunteering went beyond his kids’ sports. In 2012, when the Miracle League held opening day, Gator cooked hot dogs all day for the attendees. You will also find him selling Christmas trees at 5 points every holiday season, celebrating at Coach Fest and of course behind the AA tent at Palmer Days. Gator also served on the committee for this building, the Palmer Kiwanis Youth Center, as part of the fund-raising team and in the design and set up of both this community room and the field house below us. He has been a board member of the Palmer Township Athletic Association since 2013 and in 2018 he was awarded their Lifetime Membership.

Gator has been a board member of Palmer Fire Company for 9 years and is proud to be part of their scholarship program, which funds are raised through their quoit league. Involvement on both boards is rewarding because they work hand in hand, both promoting scholarships to give out and knowing the recipients involved in the athletic association. 

Gator, your dedication to the youth of Palmer Township has not gone unnoticed and tonight we are pleased to present you with the Community Service Award.

civic trust award
Brown Daub KIA

The award is the highest tribute that the association of professionals can pay to a business, corporation or individual conducting commerce within the township boundaries of Palmer. It is intended to recognize significant physical improvement to existing properties, as well as new structures, which through the free-enterprise system in turn make an outstanding contribution to the business climate of the township.

Brown Daub KIA

Founded in 1936, the Brown-Daub Family of dealerships has been a proud part of the Easton Area community, serving their customers with integrity and a dedication to quality. With 7 locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, in 2012 Brown-Daub moved their KIA dealership into Palmer Township at 3600 William Penn Highway. Their 42 employees in sales and service center technicians are ready to assist.

Tonight, we recognize them for the significant improvements recently made to that building. Boasting a new modern edge from the outside, entering the showroom, you are welcomed with a bright open space with new cars on display and their 4 new sales offices and 3 new administrative offices. The large waiting area offers a lounge and sitting area with a big screen TV and a high-top desk area equipped with workstations for your computer if you need to work while you wait.

We Congratulate Brown-KIA as the 2025 Civic Trust Award recipient.  Accepting this award is their General Manager Mike Dalton.

The Charles Chrin Companies

The BIP Awards were first presented in 1977, the year after the association was organized.   Our founders had the foresight to recognize different facets of our businesses and leaders within Palmer Township to encourage growth, involvement and to continue to sow the seeds of a caring community.  We have honored businesses and individuals with 3 core awards:

• The Civic Trust Award
• The Community Service Award
• The Booster Award

Tonight we will present those awards, but we also needed to think outside the box. This year we want to recognize two families with special recognition awards. It is ironic that although they have had separate journeys, the individuals accepting the awards had big shoes to fill. They walk in the path their fathers began. We are going to hear about family legacy and the impact they bestowed on our community. 

Our first award is presented to The Charles Chrin Companies, founded 70 years ago on March 2, 1955, by twin brothers Charlie & Nick Chrin. It all started with one dump truck, and the rest is history. In Palmer Township alone, the Chrin family name shines brightly in our community center, the Chrin Commerce Center and the Miracle League field, to name a few. I must mention the generosity of this organization, having sponsored BIP year after year to give out free popcorn at Palmer Community Weekend. That is a small piece of their involvement in our community.  

The definition of the word Legacy is “the lasting impact one leaves on the world, encompassing more than just material possessions. It includes one’s values, character, life’s work, and the positive influence they had on others and future generations.”

I’d like to ask Greg & Caryn’s son Charlie to join me to introduce his father to accept this Special Recognition Award.

The Principato Family Legacy Award

Each year, I like to share the history of BIP for those who may be joining us for the first time. Back in 1974, the Board of Supervisors were considering to impose a Business Privilege Tax which was met with dissatisfaction from township business owners, but on May 31, 1974 the tax was enacted. By April of 1975, business leaders held multiple meetings to discuss ways to promote better communication between themselves and township government. They decided their mission was to provide a direct line of communication with Palmer Township Supervisors to address issues of interest to our commercial community. 

In March of 1976, The Business, Industrial & Professional Association of Palmer was incorporated made up of 33 business leaders. Then at the Township reorganization meeting in 1977, the Board of Supervisors voted to join BIP, thus creating the business to government affiliation that fulfilled that mission.

As I stated earlier, the first Civic Trust Award Banquet was held in 1977 and serving on the BIP Board as Vice President was Dick Principato. Later, he would be elected as President for a term and continued as a board member until 1986. Dick received our Community Service Award in 2000.

 That is a very important bit of information, because our second special award tonight will be presented to Dick’s son Rick. We are very proud to share with you that since our inception, a Principato has served on BIP’s Board of Directors. Almost 50 years!

As Dick stepped down at retirement, Rick joined our board with the same dedication and leadership. Rick served as President for two terms, first in 1989 then again in 2010.

Most recent, Rick has served as our Program & Publicity Director and has been a constant source of support for BIP.  He and his wife Megan have given plenty of time to Palmer Days scooping popcorn with a smile. Rick has now retired and will be stepping off our board as an officer but he will remain in our membership.

Dedication to others is a learned trait.  I commend you Rick, for following the leadership shown by your dad and for setting that same example for your children.

Tonight, we present you with The Principato Family Legacy Award. It is my privilege to announce in honor of the nearly 50 years of your family involvement sitting on our board, going forward the Civic Trust Award will be named The Principato Civic Trust Award.

Congratulations to you and your family!