Ontario County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement, Business and Nonprofit of the Year awards.
They will be recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. March 6 at Finger Lakes Community College.
Sponsored by Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, Constellation Brands, F.G. Rayburn Mason Contractors and UR Medicine Thompson Health, this year’s awards will be presented to:
- Tim Chaapel, founder and former owner of Mobile Music, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes someone who has demonstrated exemplary service to the greater community and its people, over and above what can be expected of one person.
Chaapel started Mobile Music as a van service and opened a brick-and-mortar store in Canandaigua in 1981.
Mobile Music has grown to support the music programs of 52 local schools, and Chaapel is well known for being the region’s leading instrument repairman.
He has given back in numerous ways, including his involvement with Fort Hill Performing Arts Center, Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club.
At the end of 2024, Chaapel sold Mobile Music to a longtime employee, but he still works there repairing instruments.
According to Lindsay Loiacono, a neighboring business owner, “Tim has instilled his passion for music and growth to all individuals in this community and many others.”
He and his wife, Denise (who owns her own downtown Canandaigua business, Sweet Expressions), have three children and five grandchildren.
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LaBarge Media, established in 1984, will receive the Business of the Year Award, which recognizes a business that demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the economic vitality and success of the community.
LaBarge Media has been telling powerful stories for over 40 years. What started as a small video production company founded by Dave LaBarge Sr. has grown into a family-owned full-service media company, now led by brothers Jason and Dave LaBarge.
Rooted in creativity and driven by results, LaBarge specializes in video production, website design and strategic storytelling.
From producing local TV commercials in their early years to collaborating with global brands like Xerox and Adobe, LaBarge has evolved with the industry while staying true to its passion — crafting impactful stories that connect and inspire. Whether designing an engaging website, producing a compelling video, or launching a digital campaign, they bring a cinematic approach and a results-driven mindset to every project.
LaBarge supports local and national businesses with innovative solutions and has consistently been ranked among Canandaigua’s top advertising firms.
- Neighbor to Neighbor, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in Ontario County, will receive the Non-Profit of the Year Award, which recognizes a non-profit organization that demonstrates exceptional commitment to supporting local communities and residents.
Originally established in the 1970s, a group of Canandaigua-area citizens revived the Neighbor to Neighbor Fund in 2020 to address the unprecedented financial hardship many in the community faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization continues to provide emergency funds to those struggling to afford necessities such as housing, food, healthcare, childcare, and transportation.
The organization is managed by a steering committee comprising local community members with no administrative costs.
Presented by Lyons National Bank, the Annual Dinner also will feature a cocktail hour, buffet dinner, silent auction and photo booth.
The event is open to the public, and tickets are available at w ww.onchamber.com/annualdinner.
For details or sponsorship information, contact Marisa at (585) 394-4400 or [email protected].
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