Photo by Justin Criado

The 2015 Northside/North Shore Chamber of Commerce (NS/NS CC) business awards were held at the North Shore’s Rivers Casino July 29.

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By Justin Criado

The 2015 Northside/North Shore Chamber of Commerce (NS/NS CC) business awards July 29 started with a sing-along to one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved neighbors, Mr. Fred Rogers, which went along with the day’s theme of welcoming new neighbors.

“We’re all very proud to be part of this business community with the diverse neighborhoods,” Scott Pipiton, NS/NS CC president and CEO of Pipitone Group, said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Mayor Bill Peduto were guest speakers, while Jane Werner, Children’s Museum executive director, served as MC.

“We’ve got a lot of good things happening and let’s just continue to work together,” Fitzgerald said.

Peduto added: “We’re in the living room of an entire region right now, and how people see this is what they think of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.”

The neighbors to be welcomed were Faros Properties and Innovation Works, which now both call the site of the former Allegheny Center Mall home. Faros Properties announced the Allegheny Center complex, renamed Nova Place, in March, and Innovation Works became the new tech-hub’s first major tenant, moving from its East Liberty quarters.

“It’s progressive leadership like that (of Mayor Peduto and Fitzgerald), and local leadership like Councilwoman Darlene Harris and organizations like the Northside Leadership Conference that make our lives easier when we’re trying to put these pieces together,” Jeremy Leventhal, Faros Properties managing partner, said.

Both Levanthal and Terry Glueck, Innovation Works Director, Communications & Community Development, both received red sweaters like Mr. Rogers became synonymous with, complete with “Northside” embroidered on the chest.

“It’s hard to imagine a better place for us to be,” Glueck said of Nova Place and Northside.

The following won awards, Legends of the North Shore (Favorite Restaurant), Huntington Bank (Chamber Community Champion-Large Business), October Development (Chamber Community Champion-Small Business), the Sarah Heinz House (Chamber Community Champion-Non-profit), Erin Conley of AMCOM (Salesperson of the Year), and David Burns of 3E Studios (Most Visible Professional).

The awards were voted on by NS/NS CC members.

Paul Hoyson received special recognition for his years of work with the NS/NS CC board, which he’s currently President Emeritus of.

The Buhl Foundation was also recognized with a special award for its OneNorthside initiative.