OC Chamber announces annual honorees

(Feb. 3, 2023) The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce announces the 2023 annual award honorees. The award recipients will be recognized at the annual awards celebration Friday, March 3, at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on 40th Street.

• Lifetime Achievement Award goes to John Fager of Fager’s Island.

This award recognizes an individual for a lifetime of consistent community leadership and philanthropic endeavors that have made a lasting impact on their community. Their actions, achievements and contributions evoke admiration and respect.

The nominee should have an exemplary community service record in the area and their influence and contributions will have made a tangible impact on the lives of those around them, their communities, and their place of business for many years of their lifetime and in the future.

Fager visited Ocean City when he was a child then moved to the town permanently in the early 1960s.

He started his entrepreneurial journey with the Purple Moose Saloon and grew his empire over the years.

He is now the owner of Fager’s Island, The Lighthouse Club Hotel, Edge Hotel, Bad Monkey, and Atlantic Hotel in Berlin.

Fager has been a monumental part of

Ocean City’s growth and is always positively impacting tourists.

He is on the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum Board and Rackliffe House Historic Trust Board. He was also a founding member of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Directors.

• Business Person of the Year is Glenn Irwin of Ocean City Development Corporation.

This award recognizes someone who is the founder, owner, CEO or president of a business that is a member in good standing with the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

The nominee should exhibit business leadership and vision, displaying a significant commitment to the success of both business and the area.

The honoree serves as a positive role model for others, demonstrates a commitment to their community and is widely recognized as a successful business manager or owner.

Irwin is the fearless leader of downtown Ocean City, with over two decades of experience working to revitalize and develop the area.

Whether spearheading projects or working with officials at city hall, Irwin is one of the most well-connected and busiest people in town.

Irwin’s OCDC is also well-respected because of its “Façade Improvement Program,” which since 2002, has given over 270 downtown buildings a facelift.

Irwin has worked tirelessly over the years to improve downtown Ocean City with events like the Shorecraft Beer Fest and Sunset Park summer concert series as well as numerous public art projects.

He helped create design standards for downtown Ocean City and then upper downtown.

He has worked to provide a new home for the Ocean City Beach Patrol and workforce housing.

Irwin has strengthened the downtown Ocean City community and gone above and beyond his day-to-day job. Glenn frequently volunteers his time to help other organizations. He truly cares about this community, and it can be witnessed in his commitment to making Ocean City a better place to live, work and enjoy.

• Citizen of the Year is Robert A. Rothermel, Jr., owner of Tours, Entertainment, Amusements, Management.

But, everyone knows him as simply “Bob” from T.E.A.M. Productions.

This award recognizes an individual who, through his or her unselfish commitment to the community, embodies the best characteristics of community citizenship and serves as an example to all.

Rothermel was very active at Ocean City Elementary School as vice president and president of the PTA.

This led to 16 years of elected service on the Worcester County Board of Education of which nearly half he served as vice president and president.

He was actively involved with Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troop 261, and has served in various leadership roles at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

He has served on countless committees and initiatives including the Ocean City Art League, Ocean City Museum Society Foundation, the Wor-Wic Community College Foundation as well as leadership roles in the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club, the Downtown Association, and the Worcester County Arts Council.

• First Responder of the Year is Galen Curtis of the Ocean City Fire Department.

This award honors one first responder from the 21842 area code for exemplary acts of valor, outstanding community service, as well as going above and beyond the call of duty.

Paramedic Curtis’ focus and direction during the covid pandemic through today kept OCFD personnel safe, healthy, and provided the ability to maintain staffing for emergency responses to sick patients.

His actions have saved and protected the lives of personnel, residents and visitors.

OCFD career and volunteer members were directed to contact any one of the covid safety and health officers at any time of day if they were exposed or had covid symptoms.

Curtis provided information on protocol regarding exposure protection and or treatment based on their situation.

• Young Professional of the Year is Rush Stehley of the Taustin Group.

This award recognizes a person between the ages of 21-39, who is employed by or owns a business that is a member of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

Someone who has gone above and beyond to grow personally and professionally through community involvement, who exemplifies leadership skills and exhibits exceptional vision that contributes to success in the workplace.

Stehley is beverage director of the Taustin Group, a partner of Captain’s Galley Crab Cake Shack, and works extremely hard to raise money for local charities.

He has been a leader for Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea and was named Prom King in 2020, raising over $50,000.

He has continued to devote time to the cause, working on the recent Scunny McCusker mini golf fundraiser, raising money for the United Way’s Dine United through the Taustin Group and is currently chairing the United Way Holiday Ball in December.

• Non-Profit of the Year is the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation.

This award is presented to an active 501-C-3 organization that has made a notable impact on the quality of life for those who live and work in the area while adhering to their nonprofit’s mission statement.

The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation (JMFF) was established in 2007 to honor Josh Freeman, the former chair of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, after his untimely death in December of 2006.

The foundation seeks to honor Josh’s passion and commitment to excellence by creating programs — including the Freeman Arts Pavilion located in Selbyville, Delaware — he would have been proud of.

Since its founding, JMFF has remained unwavering in its focus of making the arts accessible for all and has impacted more than 750,000 people through its arts programs at the Freeman Arts Pavilion as well as its Arts Access Initiative, including over 120,000 residents and visitors annually.

The honorees will be recognized at the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Celebration that will be held 5:30-10 p.m. on Friday, March 3, at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center’s bayfront ballroom. Tickets cost $110 per person, which includes cocktail hour, plated dinner, professional photos by Kyle Hughes and Dana Marie Photography, and music by Teenage Rust.

Visit bit.ly/OCCCAwards and click “Register Now” to purchase tickets and view sponsorship opportunities, or contact events coordinator Colby Noble at 443-664-3052 or colby@oceancity.org.