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'She is the backbone of the Chamber'
Kathy Engelhart named Small Businessperson of the Year
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Kathy Engelhart, secretary for the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, was named Small Businessperson of the Year by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Inc. last month.
Baldwin Chamber Secretary Kathleen M. Engelhart was named Small Businessperson of the Year at the 25th annual Small Businessperson of the Year and Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Inc. last month.
"I felt embarrassed to be recognized, but proud, too," Engelhart said, adding that she was honored to be recognized in her hometown of Baldwin, where she's lived her whole life. "It is all volunteer work, which at times people forget. We are all business owners that live and/or work in Baldwin. The town is important enough for us to make the time commitment. The Chamber is always looking for dedicated Baldwin businesses to share their ideas and get involved. This is a great way to make a difference.”
The longtime Chamber secretary says that for her, helping people with their financial planning is not a matter of making money, but of genuinely assisting them in mapping out their future. She said she is proud of the fact that she has helped people save for their first home, plan for their retirement and provide an inheritance to loved ones.
"I form relationships with clients, not sales to a customer," Engelhart said of her clients. "When I first meet with people, they are usually tense and stressed about a financial issue. As we go through the first meeting, I educate them and show them that we can make a plan. There is a solution. I can see them relax and feel better."
Baldwin Chamber Co-President Ginny Foley said that the Chamber — which congratulated Engelhart on the award at its October meeting — nominated her because she keeps all of the organization's records and membership activity, maintains the Chamber Web site, and takes part in all the Chamber events.
"She is the backbone of the Chamber," Foley said. She's a dedicated board member who partakes in all events and volunteers a lot of her precious time. She has three kids but she finds time to give a tremendous amount of hours to the Chamber."
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