Peace a Pizza owner named Business Person of the Year

At the Catonsville Business Awards last Thursday night, local business owners received special awards in seven different categories. Most of the award winners learned in advance of their honors, but two very special awards were not announced until the ceremony at Rolling Road Golf Club. Kristen Leister, co-owner of Narcissus Salon, received the President’s Award and Sally Grace, owner of Peace a Pizza restaurant, was named Business Person of the Year.

Sally was cited for her cheerful support of the community on multiple different levels. Not only does she gladly offer fundraising help to those who ask, she also seeks out organizations and invests her money, time and effort to help local schools, community sports teams, and especially, groups raising money to help the families with sick children.  Among other things, she hires students from UMBC, CCBC and surrounding high schools, and both trains them and serves as a role model for her young employees.

While she was still in college herself, she began negotiations to open the first Peace a Pizza franchise in the state of Maryland, and in the three years since she opened her restaurant, she has worked tirelessly to make her shop and the community that surrounds it the best it can be.

Kristen Leister was recognized by Sally Griffin, President of the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce, for her “pure excitement and absolute commitment to making a change in Catonsville.” Despite the demands of running a business and raising two young children, Kristen joined the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee and took on leadership of the Branding Committee because she has a vision of creating a better Catonsville. She also proposed and led the Chair Project, commissioning local artists to design chairs that were auctioned off to raise money for community improvement projects. She and her partner Kathryn Deuber are quick to offer donations to community groups and help support the arts by enabling local artists to display work in their salon.

Both award recipients were commended for their cooperative spirit and dedication to the community.

In addition to the President’s Award and Business Person of the Year, the Chamber of Commerce also recognized five other business owners for their outstanding achievements. The HUB/C’ville Bikes received the award for Entrepreneurial Spirit, EmbroidMe Catonsville earned the award for community enthusiasm, Automotive Collision Technologies, Inc. received the award for Innovation, Umami Global Bistro won the Revitalization Award, and ABC Equipment Rental was honored with year’s Legacy Award. To learn more about these award winners, see http://catonsville.org/events/businessawards.php