From Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Pictured above: Mike Massimino, GRCA’s keynote speaker and former NASA astronaut, relayed his time in space and what he learned to a crowd of more than 700 people. Photo courtesy of Wayne Becker, Zerbe Studio of Photography
On Wednesday evening, May 13, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) celebrated the vitality of the Berks County business community at its 113th Annual Dinner held at the Santander Arena. More than 700 people gathered for the space-themed event.
The evening began by instantly transporting attendees to the moon with a space-themed showcase featuring companies that have worked directly or indirectly with NASA. VIP sponsors were treated to an exclusive experience, complete with signature cocktails delivered by a roaming robot named KettyBot, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and a photo opportunity with keynote speaker and former NASA Astronaut, Mike Massimino. As other guests arrived, they were welcomed by dancing and high-fiving a robot named PepperBot. The excitement continued with lively photo backdrops, the use of CatapalloVR’s headsets to land a crashing spaceship, and hang out in Reading Truck’s speakeasy lounge. Smoke billowed, and subwoofers shook the room to emulate a rocket launch.
During Massimino’s 45-minute speech, he recounted being rejected by NASA three times before finally being accepted into the 1996 astronaut class. He encouraged the audience to never crush the ideas of the new person on your team, even if they aren’t good, because they’ll be less likely to share when they have a good idea. He also reflected on his role in a complex repair of the Hubble Space Telescope, encouraging the audience to trust their tools, training, and team when facing high-pressure challenges.
“You never know when innovation is going to come,†he said.
During one of the many lighthearted moments from his speech, Massimino talked about sending the first tweet from space.
“Take that, Neil Armstrong!†he recalled thinking.
Shortly after, he received an email from his kids learning that not only were their friends and they making fun of him, but also the comedians on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.
The evening continued with recognizing the 50 companies that made up the Business Excellence Awards in Category 1. Vision Mechanical Inc., Irish Creek Construction, and Mail Shark took the top three spots. The honored businesses in Category 1 are for-profit companies, with revenues of at least $1 million in each of the past three fiscal years.
Twenty small businesses were recognized in Category 2, with Blades of Steel Landscaping, Bime Beauty, and Disc Centers of America making up the top three. The recognized companies in Category 2 are for-profit businesses, with revenues of at least $250,000 in each of the past three fiscal years.
“The Annual Dinner was a strong reflection of the innovation and forward momentum across the Greater Reading business community,†said Jeff Rush, Chairman of the Board. “With a nod to exploration and discovery, the evening highlighted businesses that are leading the way and setting a high standard for growth in Berks County.â€
The Platinum Sponsor of the event was JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Diamond Sponsor was Shuman Development Group.
