Rostraver Chamber honors partnerships in the Mon Valley
Greg Evanina
The Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce recently highlighted the work of a trio of dynamic duos at its annual Recognition Dinner. From left: Capts. Susan and Joel Thwaite of the Salvation Army Monessen, John LaCarte and Jon King of Stoney’s Brewing Co. and Lindsay and Greg Winslow of Winslow Winery.
Pa. State Rep. Justin Walsh (right) (R-Rostraver Township) presents John LaCarte (left) and Jon King of Stoney's Brewing Co. with a state House of Representatives citation.
Greg and Lindsay Winslow, winery owners and the Rostraver Chamber's Young Professionals awardees, display their citation from state Rep. Justin Walsh (right).
At its annual recognition dinner last week, The Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce (GRC) honored six of its members who run businesses brewing beer, making wine and helping people.
The awardees included Greg and Lindsay Winslow of Winslow Winery and Captains Joel and Susan Thwaite of the Salvation Army Monessen, as well as friends Jon King and John LaCarte, who joined forces to operate Stoney’s Brewing Co.
According to Tanya Chaney, Chamber vice president, the GRC has been recognizing outstanding individuals and businesses in local communities for 43 years. Originally called the Rostraver Business Association’s Founder’s Day Dinner, in recent years its name changed to the GRC Recognition Dinner.
Chaney said the chamber was recognizing three separate categories: Community Service, Young Entrepreneurs (Professionals), and Business of the Year-Visionary to reflect the diversity of the group. In addition to the recognition received from the GRC, she said each recipient would also receive a citation of honor from State Representative Justin Walsh, who was on hand to present the awards.
Jake Cuthbert, president of the GRC and master of ceremonies, explained that all the awardees belong to the chamber. He said, “It’s a great night to recognize some of the members who are making an impact in several different areas.”
Cuthbert first recognized the Thwaites for community service. “Their commitment and service to not only Monessen, but the entire Mon Valley can be seen in the programs and initiatives that they facilitate,” he said.
Under the direction of the Thwaites, the Monessen Salvation Army provides an array of social services of food and basic needs assistance, community outreach focused on drug and alcohol programs, bible study, Sunday school and worship services, and assistance for the disabled and elderly, plus outreach for underprivileged and at-risk youth, including after-school programs.
Susan Thwaite said she and her husband were humbled by the recognition. “We’re used to giving things away — not receiving honors,” she said, “so we’re on the opposite side of the table tonight, which is very nice, and we’re very happy.” Her husband said that every once in a while, the Lord will throw you a bone for your good work, and that receiving the community award was “a femur — a big one.”
The second award of the evening was for Young Professionals of the Year, which Chaney said was designed to recognize the young, successful entrepreneurs who are taking chances and pursuing opportunities. She said the Winslows were selected because they exemplify these traits.
Greg Winslow made wine in his youth with his grandfather and brother, and even while he was in college. When he met Lindsay a decade ago, they began making wine for their personal consumption. Five gallons quickly grew to 30 gallons, “and it just grew out of control from there,” he said.
So, the couple, both of whom also work full-time at other jobs, turned their hobby into a second career. In the summer of 2012, they planted 400 grapevines on a one-acre plot, and the following spring added 100 more grapevines to their vineyard. In the spring of 2014, they broke ground for the winery building and opened the doors to Winslow Winery in October of 2015.
Greg and Lindsay still maintain full-time careers, in addition to operating the winery that includes all aspects from maintaining the vineyard to production to wine sales and events at their tasting room, which is located at 42 Pine Lane in Perryopolis. “This is a full-time second job,” he said.
“It’s a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Lindsay, who described receiving the award as “surreal.” She added, “It’s a very nice honor to be recognized for an award that is voted on by members of the chamber of commerce.”
The third set of business partners to be honored by the GRC was King and LaCarte of Stoney’s Brewing Co. in Charleroi. These good friends, who purchased the brewery in 2017, received the Business of the Year — Visionary award for being creative and forward-thinking, according to Cuthbert. He said, “Along with hard work, and a little luck, as the story goes, they had a vision to make something old, new again.”
“I never pictured myself being a visionary,” said King, president of the company. His great-grandfather Stoney Jones started the brewery in 1907, and it went through colorful ownership changes before he and LaCarte bought it in 2017.
LaCarte, who is the chief executive officer, said his great-grandfather also worked for Stoney’s, hauling beer by horse and wagon. “We have a real emotional connection to this beer. It is more than a business venture for us,” he said. “We really wanted to bring it back. It’s part of a lot of family’s histories as well. I think there is something pretty neat about a family connection to our past.”
For GRC Executive Director Gina Lynn, the recognition dinner is her favorite chamber event. “I love to recognize our business partners for what they contribute to our communities through their passion of owning and operating businesses, or in the case of our community service recipients, to give unselfishly to the community members they serve. I applaud our honorees for their dedication, their vision and their passion to make the communities that we live in a better place, and it is my pleasure to know and work with each of them.”