More than 350 attendees came out to Bethlehem’s ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks for the December 9 Lehigh Valley Business of the Year ceremony. (photo by Diane Richter Photography)

A Bethlehem software company, Easton-based electronic payments provider, and Upper Macungie Township engineering firm were among the winners at the 2016 Business of the Year awards hosted this week by Lehigh Valley Business (LVB).

More than 350 attendees came out to Bethlehem’s ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks for the Dec. 6 ceremony, which was co-sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

The winners included Apprise Software, Inc. of Bethlehem (Business of the Year, 101+ Employees), EPS Financial of Easton (Business of the Year, 25-100 employees), Barry Isett & Associates (Corporate Citizen of the Year, Organization), and Archery Addictions of Walnutport (Emerging Business of the Year).

“We’re very grateful for all the work all of the businesses nominated tonight have done,” said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of LVEDC. “We’re here tonight to celebrate winners, but you’re all winners because you’re all driving the Lehigh Valley economy and making it happen.”

Apprise Software has expanded to six locations in six countries on four continents since its founding more than 30 years ago, according to said Natalia Stezenko, LVB senior account executive.

“With its global expansion, the company relies on the dedication and expertise of its employees to ensure smooth operation and excellent customer service,” she said. “As a result, it has made mentoring and staff support programs an integral component of its philosophy.”

Founded in 2009, EPS Financial charged taxpayers half the traditional cost for its services, according to LVB Publisher Mike O’Rourke. As a result, they have processed over $12 billion in tax refunds through its systems and grown by 640 percent since its inception.

“Having expanded to a staff of more than 30 employees, the company works hard to make each one is able to grow within the company,” O’Rourke said.

Catherine Bailey, Chief Operating Officer with Rea.deeming Beauty, was named Executive of the Year. The Bethlehem cosmetics company also won the Innovation Award for Entrepreneurial Achievement at the 2016 Ben Franklin iXchange, and topped the list of LVB’s Fastest Growing Companies for two consecutive years.

DESCCO Design & Construction Inc. of Fleetwood, also won Business of the Year (1-24 Employees), and Frederick W. Rentschler of Rentschler Chevrolet-Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram was named Corporate Citizen of the Year (Individual).

Additionally, three individuals were inducted into the Lehigh Valley Business Hall of Fame: Father Daniel Gambet, president emeritus of DeSales University; Jan Heller, President and CEO of JS Heller LLC of Bethlehem; and J. Marshall Wolff, president of Kressler, Wolff & Miller in Easton.

“It’s my pleasure to be here tonight to recognize the businesses and individuals who – with their energy, passion, dedication, and fearlessness – have made 2016 a great year to do business in the Lehigh Valley,” Stezenko said.

See below for a full list of all of the nominees in each category:

Business of the Year (101+ employees)

• Apprise Software Inc.
• Andesa Services
• BerkOne Inc.
• Fraser Advanced Information Systems
• Keystone Food Products Inc.
• Nazareth Pallet Co. Inc.
• Traffic Planning and Design Inc.

Business of the Year (25-100 employees)

• EPS Financial
• Genomind Inc.
• Hyatt Place Bethlehem
• Interior Workplace Solutions
• Levan Machine and Truck Equipment
• Valley National Financial Advisors
• Vistacom Inc.

Business of the Year (1-25 employees)

• DESCCO Design & Construction Inc.
• 3Seed Marketing / Design / Interactive
• Appalachian Creations Inc.
• Hayes Ivy Manufacturing Inc.
• Klunk & Millan Advertising
• MGN Logistics Inc.
• MKSD Architects LLC
• Rich Mar Florist

Emerging Business of the Year

• Archery Addictions
• BOLTS Technologies Inc.
• Digital Feast Inc.
• Flackable
• Jerdon Construction Services
• Liven Up Health and Fitness

Corporate Citizen of the Year (Organization)

• Barry Isett & Associates
• Liquid Interactive
• Trifecta Technologies Inc.
• Wells Fargo Bank

Corporate Citizen of the Year (Individual)

• Frederick W. Rentschler, of Rentschler Chevrolet-Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram
• Ashley Russo, of ASR Media Productinos
• Nina Tulio, of Ashley Anthony