LEWISTON — Nearly 500 Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce members and guests gave a heartfelt send-off to retiring President Chip Morrison at the organization’s 127th annual meeting Thursday night.

“Thank you for letting me be a part of the great success story of Lewiston-Auburn,” Morrison said as he nears the end of 20 years at the helm of the chamber. Morrison plans to retire this spring.

The capacity audience at the Ramada Conference Center gave Morrison an extended standing ovation. He presented brief remarks highlighting his arrival in Auburn 37 years ago as city manager.

“Auburn-Lewiston is home,” he said, adding, “L-A is all about community.”

Morrison gave credit to the area’s business and civic leaders for a long list of accomplishments during his career. Among the milestones were continuous chamber growth from 680 members in 1995 to its present status as the state’s largest chamber, with a membership of 1,418.

Dana Connors, president of the Maine Chamber of Commerce and the evening’s keynote speaker, told chamber members about his two decades of friendship with Morrison. He noted their parallel career paths as city managers — Morrison in Auburn and Connors in Presque Isle — as well as stints as commissioners under Gov. John R. McKernan, and 20-year careers as part of Maine’s chamber family.

Connors voiced the appreciation of all chamber members “for the part you played in making this region so special.” He said Morrison’s contributions “go beyond communities of the Androscoggin” and “apply to the whole state.” He called Morrison’s success a result of “a precious, priceless and timeless gift of giving.”

Ronald P. Lebel of the Auburn law firm of Skelton, Taintor & Abbott and a former chamber board chairman, called Morrison “the best and most passionate ambassador this community has seen.”

He announced that the chamber’s annual scholarship golf tournament is now named the “Chip Morrison Chamber Scholarship Scramble.” The event has raised $560,000 in its 15 years under Morrison’s formation and guidance.

Other accolades for Morrison included recognition of his role in many career and job fairs.

Clif Greim of Harriman Architects and Engineers in Auburn served as master of ceremonies for the meeting. He conducted the presentation of awards to 18 business and civic leaders. The event included recognition of past Chairwoman Patti Gagne of Patti Gagne Allstate.

In his review of the chamber’s accomplishments in the past year, Greim said the organization added 137 members.

He reported that the chamber’s Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area now has 600 members.

Carl Sheline of Center Street Dental, YPLAA chairman, credited Morrison for “his skill at dispensing just the right advice at the right time.”

He presented Morrison with YPLAA’s Forever Young Award.

YPLAA honors three

Three members of the Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area were honored Thursday night at the annual meeting of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Conference Center, Lewiston.

They are Kelly David, Hillary Dow and Dr. Ashlee Vandiver.

David served as YPLAA chairwoman during the 2013-2014 term and currently sits on the Steering Committee. She is the marketing and communications director for Central Maine Orthopaedics. She serves as a co-chair for the Y-Not Committee and is a member of the Realize Maine Network Steering Committee, representing YPLAA.

Dow received recognition from the organization for creating her own innovative business called “Live. Work. Play. Maine.” The former director of marketing and business development at Austin Associates, she has served as Steering Committee chair for YPLAA and is a member of the L/A Betterment Committee.

Vandiver is an audiologist associated with the L/A Hearing Center. She serves as both a Steering Committee member and Y-Not Committee co-chair, earning the organization’s recognition for her outstanding participation in the interactive, community-building Y-Not program in 2013.

The award winners

Awards in business excellence and leadership were presented Thursday night at the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce’s 126th annual meeting.

The Business Leadership Award for a larger company was presented to Thayer Corp. of Auburn. For over 30 years, Thayer Corporation has been providing Maine with a range of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and refrigeration solutions.

The Business Leadership Award for a smaller company was presented to Rolly’s Diner and Ken Blais of Auburn. Rolly’s is the gateway to and cornerstone of New Auburn and is known for its friendly service and good food. It is also a primary gathering place for the community.

Also receiving a Business Leadership Award was Payroll Management of Auburn, a family-owned company led by Gary Hemenway. He founded the company in 1989 and it is now one of the largest independent payroll companies in Maine. The company has experienced significant growth, including an expansion a year ago into central and southern New Hampshire.

Patti Gagne of the Patti Gagne Allstate Agency was named recipient of The Ray Geiger Award, which recognizes how deeply its namesake, the founder of Geiger Brothers, cared for his adopted hometown. Gagne is past chair of the Chamber Board of Directors. She has been involved in Chamber leadership for more than a decade, was a candidate for state Senate in 2014, and has been among the most ardent cheerleaders on behalf of the Lewiston-Auburn community.

Tammie Grieshaber received The Chamber’s Community Service Leadership Award. Three nominators cited Tammie’s long-term community service in Lewiston Auburn and her strong support promoting the arts in the community. Recently retired as the owner and curator of the Lyceum Gallery, an anchor of the renewed Lisbon Street community, Grieshaber has lived and worked in the heart of L-A’s revitalization environment. She has been a prominent fixture in downtown activities, such as the Artwalk in Lewiston-Auburn.

The Public Service Leadership Award went to Roland Miller, Auburn’s director of Economic Development. For 34 years, Roland Miller has been one of the city’s leaders of economic and community development. Among projects Miller has worked on include the historic preservation of great buildings on Main Street, the development of the inter-modal rail facility near the airport, plus several business parks in that area, and the development of the city’s mall area.

The Chamber named Robert Thompson, executive director of Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, recipient of this year’s prestigious Ken Additon Business Advocate Award. Created in 2004, this award is presented to those who embody Additon’s spirit and dedication to his clients.

Ron Partridge and Don’s Automotive Repair received the 2015 Lisbon Business Award. Partridge has been among Lisbon’s biggest local advocates, and the business is committed to providing meticulous diagnosis of auto problems.

The Greene Business Award was presented to Affordable Exhibit Displays. This family-owned company provides top-quality trade show display products to customers across the country and around the world.

The Poland Business Award went to the Wolf Cove Inn and new innkeepers Sue and Roy Forsberg. The inn on Tripp Lake has undergone a major renovation and face lift. Rather than dispose of excess material, the Inn made large donations of material to the Poland Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity.

The Education and Workforce Development Award was presented to Lewiston Regional Technical Center. LRTC designs each of its programs to integrate rigorous academic study with the opportunity for students to apply that learning in real world.

Two winners were named for the prestigious President’s Award.

The first President’s Award went to Uncle Andy’s Digest and Jim Marston. Uncle Andy’s is a monthly publication of advertising and humor. Since 2001, Uncle Andy’s also has been providing employment opportunities to numerous people with disabilities at John F. Murphy Homes.

The second President’s Award was presented to Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, an Auburn company with worldwide recognition. Thos. Moser furniture is in business board rooms, universities and homes all over the world.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Chamber presented the Cool Chamber Award, this year to eWaste Recycling Solutions of Auburn. That firm partners with businesses, municipalities, transfer stations, and other nonprofits and organizations to ensure the safe recycling of electronics, including destruction of discarded hard drives.