The Chamber Gala, hosted by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, took place on November 3rd at the Scranton Art Haus Theater and Cinema Club. During the event, the 2023 SAGE Awards (Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence) were presented, and employees from various companies were in attendance to celebrate. Merut Construction was one of those companies.

Unique Venue

The award ceremony was a unique experience as it was held at a community theater house, which was a deviation from the usual formal setting. The venue choice piqued curiosity, and attendees wondered what to expect. However, the organizers did not disappoint as they had taken care of every detail to ensure that the ceremony was a success.

The guests were welcomed with a red carpet, which added to the glamour and excitement of the event. The lobby was beautifully decorated creating an excited and welcoming atmosphere. The organizers had even set up a photo booth, which was a hit among the attendees, who took pictures to commemorate the event.

The most impressive part of the ceremony was the use of advanced technology to broadcast it on eight different movie screens. Each screen was assigned to the attendees, which made it convenient and comfortable for them to view the ceremony. The technology used was top-notch, making the broadcast crystal clear and adding to the overall experience of the ceremony.

Ceremony Opening

The ceremony was opened by the Chamber board chair, Jerry Musheno, who expressed his gratitude to all the finalists, award sponsors, and Gala sponsors for their dedication to the NEPA community. The presenters for the evening included John Basalyga, owner of Scranton Art Haus, Marketplace at Steamtown, and JBAS Realty, and Robert McGuckin, manager of state and local government affairs for Verizon. Mike Castellano, the special projects manager of United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike Counties, served as the emcee for the evening.

A Memorable Evening

Merut Construction had a memorable evening being honored as one of the three finalists for the Products and Services Excellence Award, sponsored by UGI Utilities, Inc.  The recognition as a finalist was a remarkable achievement for the company in itself. To add to the excitement, the team was also announced as the winner and escorted to a separate room to receive the award with George Fetch, Operations Director, making an unexpected speech of gratitude.

As champagne glasses were raised, Megan Rutkoski, the owner of Merut Construction, shared how winning this award not only showcased their dedication and commitment to serving their customers but also validated the hard work and passion they put in every day.

The Merut Construction team is grateful to The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce panel for their consideration and appreciative of the recognition. This honor has further motivated team members, who are grateful to be honored among other outstanding local businesses.

Lastly, Merut Construction would like to thank UGI Utilities, Inc. for sponsoring this category and for their continued support of local businesses. The team would also like to express their gratitude to everyone who was involved in organizing this event, from the planning committee to the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this night a success.  Merut staff is humbled to be recognized and looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact for their customers.

They would like to extend their congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the evening. The team had a great time and is looking forward to next year!