Chamber to honor Springbrook, Miller for distinguished service

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February 6, 2012

By Denise Richardson Staff Writer The Daily Star Mon Feb 06, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

The Otsego County Chamber will bestow its annual honors for distinguished service upon Springbrook and Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller.

Springbrook, an educational and residential institution for people with disabilities, was designated as the NBT Bank Distinguished Business.

Miller has been named a Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen.

"I'm flattered," Miller said by telephone Sunday.

The recipients will be honored at the chamber's annual dinner and Celebration of Business on March 24. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Hunt Union Ballroom of the State University College at Oneonta.

Otsego County Chamber Board Chairwoman Roxana Hurlburt said members are excited for the recipients.

A special committee reviewed candidates and decided on honorees.

Patricia Kennnedy, executive director of Springbrook, hadn't returned a message by 7 p.m. left on her cellphone Sunday.

Springbrook, as a major employer in the county, has a "very evident presence," Hurlburt said, and services the agency provides are "exceptional."

"We thank them for their commitment to making the difference for people with disabilities for a lifetime," Hurlburt said, referring to the Springbrook motto.

Springbrook, a nonprofit agency with headquarters near Portlandville, has a staff of about 980 employees, and has been expanding. Last week, the agency announced plans to buy the former St. Mary's School building on state Route 7 in the town of Oneonta.

Springbrook will pay $2.4 million for the 55,550-square-foot property.

The former parochial school property will be used to centralize many of the agency's operations and community functions from other locations, Kennedy said when the purchase was announced. The agency's preschool program will be located there.

Miller, the 20th mayor of the city of Oneonta, was an administrator in higher education before running for public office.

He was the ninth president of Hartwick College in Oneonta, and previously his positions included vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the State University of New York and top positions at the University of Rochester.

Before that, Miller was president and chief executive officer of Case-Hoyt, with which he had been affiliated from 1974 through 1987, a biography on the Oneonta city website said.

Miller said a reason he appreciates living in Oneonta is because of contributors who have been long-time community supporters, including those recognized by the chamber for distinguished service.

"To be part of that group is kind of humbling," Miller said.

Last year, the NBT Distinguished Business Award was given to Country Club Auto Group. The Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Award recipient was Erna Morgan McReynolds.