Chamber Announces Winkelmeyer Award Winners

Since 1987, the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (GSPACC) has nominated several members annually for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Baltimore district Small Business Week Awards. Although the national organization made changes to its program this year, the GSPACC expanded its awards ceremony and named it after chamber founder Walter Winkelmeyer.

During a luncheon at the Severna Park Elks Lodge in November, Walter’s daughter, Betty Winkelmeyer-Wells, shared her view on the importance of small businesses that help their local communities. Her friend, keynote speaker and Severna Park historian Scott Jay, regaled the crowd with stories of growing up in the town and how it has changed.

Here are the 2025 winners of the inaugural Winkelmeyer Awards:

Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Christian Buchleitner, Mad Soaps Inc.
Family-Owned Small Business: Cornett Heating & Cooling
Financial Services Champion: Mark Yarbrough, Shore United Bank
Home-Based Business: CheckMark Power Washing, owned by Deanna and Alex Prevezianos
Minority-Owned Business: Taichi Bubble Tea, owned by Amy Chen
Veteran-Owned Business: Maid Healthy, owned by Robert Wade
Woman-Owned Business: Image Creators Salon and Spa, owned by Silvia Campana
Accountant Advocate: Ed Herold, CPA
Attorney Advocate: Raymond Brown, PA
Insurance Advocate: Reilly Insurance, owned by Ed Reilly
Small Businessperson of the Year: Dr. Allan Rutzen, Rutzen Eye Specialists & Laser Center
Entrepreneurial Success: The FaceBar Aesthetic Medicine