The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce will honor four businesses on Wednesday during its Annual Awards Gala, "Celebrating Wyoming County Business." Large Business of the Year — Five Star Bank "Five Star Bank" had two separate meanings when the company assumed its new identity five years ago. The bank's four predecessors were being merged into a single organization under their longtime owner Financial Institutions Inc. of Warsaw. The new name also stood for the quality its customers receive daily. Five Star Bank is being honored as the 2010 Large Business of the Year by the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. It's the latest for the bank whose roots date back to the 1850s. "Their personal services to customers, accessibility, responsiveness and community involvement are keys to their success and ability to make a difference," said Laura Lane, president and chief executive officer of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. "They are committed to supporting and reinvesting in the local communities they serve, whether through donations and sponsorship to fund local organizations, or the lending of 4,000-plus volunteer hours by staff since the inception of their STAR Volunteer program in 2006." Five star's origins reach back to when President and CEO Peter Humphrey's great-grandfather Wolcott Humphrey started Wyoming County Bank. He put the priority on his customers and the communities in which they lived. Other regional banks were founded in the same era. They included the former Bank of Geneva, Salamanca Trust Company and Bath National Bank — all of which were brought into the FII fold by 2001. Five Star Bank now has more than $2 billion in assets and does business in the 14 contiguous counties of Western and Central New York. It has more than 50 branches and has added more than 70 Automatic Teller Machines over the years. "It's always an honor to be recognized, and I think it supports all the efforts over the many years, and the focus we've had in the Wyoming County area," said Matt Murtha, the bank's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "We're quite pleased. " — By Matt Surtel Manufacturer of the Year — Drasgow Inc. One of Wyoming County's smaller manufacturers has also been among its most up-and-coming. Drasgow Inc. has made a name for itself combining high quality with traditional business sense. That emphasis has helped it grow from a garage-based operation to its purpose-built facility on Poplar Tree Road in Wethersfield. The business has been recognized as 2010 Manufacturer of the Year. "It is quite an honor for a company as small as mine to receive an award as large as this," said founder Karl W. Drasgow. "I'm very proud of my company, my employees and myself. I'm also very thankful that the McCauley Family gave me the opportunity to become the person that I am today." Drasgow, 47, started the business in 2003 after 20 years in the machinery trade. He recognized that auto parts manufacturers were relying increasingly on independent suppliers. He banked his operation on high-quality, proper training and common sense. "An area manufacturer needed these particular components produced, and instead of having them mass-produced overseas, Karl presented a business model that proved a more-efficient and cost-effective means for their production locally," said Laura Lane of the Chamber of Commerce. And his concept's proven successful. Drasgow Inc. grew over the next four years, and moved into its new facility in 2007. It now employs 10 people and Drasgow sees the rural surroundings as an advantage. The facility on Poplar Tree Road allows a short drive for locally-based workforce — avoiding the long drives Buffalo or Rochester. The company's operating philosophy includes lean manufacturing and just-in-time delivery. It also stresses education and perpetuating the U.S. machinery trade. And Drasgow's kept true to his word. His company now makes more than five million small parts annually, for United States and international customers. "Karl chose to expand in Wyoming County because the local mindset, vision and work ethic in the county so closely aligns with his ideals," Lane said. "He has a stellar workforce that is unmatched elsewhere. Karl credits these employees for their dedication and commitment in advancing Drasgow Inc." — By Matt Surtel Agri-Business of the Year — Agri-Fab & Repair Inc. In March 1998, Shawn Dunning created Agri-Fab & Repair in a rented facility on Route 20 in Pavilion. Dunning, who grew up in Leicester, had most recently been employed in the service department of the former Byron Enterprises. "To make a long story short," he said, "after they became Oxbo (International Corporation) they wanted to get out the construction business — and I decided I'd get into it." Dunning started with three employees. Over the years, Agri-Fab has grown and expanded into a multi-division business that Dunning said employs 45 people at peak operation. The company is the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce's 2010 Agri-Business of the Year. "Agri-Fab & Repair is a prime example of the many amazing agriculture support enterprises in business supporting the needs our county's No. 1 industry — agriculture," Chamber President Laura Lane said in a news release. The company primarily designs, installs and services grain handling equipment. It services all of New York and has completed projects in 12 states. In 2005, the company purchased its current location on Route 63 in Covington. This year, Agri-Fab completed an expansion by adding a 165-by-65-foot warehouse. In addition to "concrete" building expansions, Agri-Fab has consistently expanded and diversified its operation over the years. In 2007 the company added an electrical services division known as AFR Electrical, which employs six full-time employees capable of new installation, upgrades, repairs and service in both agricultural and commercial industries. In 2008, the company continued on this growth trend by again expanding the Agri-Fab division to provide crane services through AFR Crane Services, for both the agricultural industry and to contractors for residential and commercial installations. The company operates two boom trucks and one 75-ton crane. This division employs three individuals. Dunning said the Chamber award is "an unexpected honor." Small Business of the Year — Warren's Carpet Cleaning Warren Meidenbauer started his self-named carpet cleaning business in 1992. He worked part time out of his home, and out of the back of his Ford Fiesta. Nearly two decades later, Warren's Carpet Cleaning is the Wyoming Chamber's 2010 Small Business of the Year. "It's nice to have a service business recognized," Meidenbauer said last week at his Warsaw office. "We're the guys who are under the radar." It's a big honor for a business that is no longer quite so small. Hard work and careful planning have brought Warren's Carpet Cleaning from essentially a one-man operation into a solid, three-tiered business. Meidenbauer currently employs close to 20 people and operates multiple divisions that specialize in not only carpet cleaning but furniture cleaning and protection, water restoration and janitorial services. After working on a part-time basis for two years, Meidenbauer decided to go full time. In the first year he saw a spike in business with more than $100,000 in sales. Since then, Meidenbauer has worked diligently to continue to grow the business whether it be by adding more of his signature vans, hiring employees, adapting to economic changes, diversifying operations or purchasing office space to fit his needs. Meidenbauer said he has taken a "proactive" approach to running — and growing — a business. "We're always trying to keep ahead of things," Meidenbauer said. "All the little things are important." "I'm proud of my employees and what we've done," he said. Perhaps the most important employee is the office manager — Meidenbauer's wife, Jennifer, whom he credits with keeping the business on a solid footing. The most well-known employee may be Meidenbauer's son Michael, 13, who is the voice of Warren's radio commercials. The couple also has a 5-year-old son, David. This spring, Warren's Carpet Cleaning moved into remodeled office space inside a former flooring business on Route 19 in Warsaw. The building is actually far more space than the business needs, or will in the foreseeable future. Meidenbauer said his offices occupy only 800 square feet of the 4,500-square-foot building; he's considering plans for the unused space. In announcing the Small Business award, Chamber President Laura Lane called Meidenbauer an "entrepreneur at heart." Indeed, Meidenbauer said he enjoys running a small business because of its demands — mechanical talents, business talents, interpersonal talents. "It uses all my skills," Meidenbauer said. "And there's some satisfaction after you do a job, and it looks great." The Daily News Posted: Monday, June 7, 2010 Updated: 11:53 am, Thu Apr 8, 2010