By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer
Pati Grady, owner of the
Cooperstown Cookie Co.,
said she was ``very surprised’’
when notified her
business will be recognized
next month.
``It’s a vote of confidence
from our local peers,’’ Grady
said.
The Cooperstown Cookie
Company is one of two local
businesses that will be recognized
by the Otsego
County Chamber of Commerce
at the Small Business
Banquet, Thursday,
Oct. 9 at the Otesaga Resort
Hotel. The cookie company
will be presented the
James Jordan Associates,
Architects third annual
Breakthrough Award and
The Shipping Room of
Oneonta has been selected
to receive the KeyBank
ninth annual Small Business
Award.
Grady said her company
has received other recognitions
in the past, but none
quite like the Breakthrough
Award.
In December, she said,
one of the cookie company’s
products, the Ballpark
Bunt Box, was given the
distinction as the newest
innovative product in baseball
from Minor League
Baseball.
However, Grady said,
that was product-specific,
whereas the Breakthrough
Award recognizes the company
as a whole.
``I think that takes us
one step further,’’ Grady
said.
The Cooperstown Cookie
Company is approaching
its fourth year in business.
Its primary business is conducted
online at its website,
www.cooperstowncookiecompany.
com. It also has
national accounts, works
with gift basket companies
and sells things through
about 15 local retailers.
Grady said she started
the company on a ``fluke.’’
She said she asked her husband
why nobody sold cookies
with a baseball theme
in Cooperstown.
``It seemed so natural,’’
she said. ``And the business
has been evolving constantly
ever since.’’
Grady said the cookie
company is very small —
she is the only full-time employee.
According to Grady,
products are made in cooperation
with Pathfinder
Village and she is proud of
her company’s work with
Human Technologies Corporation,
a nonprofit company
committed to enhancing
the quality of life for
people with disabilities and
others who have barriers to
employment.
Grady said she is also
pleased to announce that
the cookie company will
shortly be offering products
with Major League Baseball
and league logos. She
said the company has been
approved as a licensee last
January and she is close to
signing a contract.
Chamber President and
CEO Rob Robinson said
awarding small businesses
in the area has been a growing
event, and there is never
a shortage of nominations.
When determining
which will receive recognition
each year, he said, the
chamber staff looks for
well-rounded businesses
that give back to their communities.
``The awards celebrate
the true backbone of upstate
New York and the
nation’s economy,” said
Robinson. ``Small business
is where it all happens.’’
Gary Laing, owner of
The Shipping Room, said
he opened The Shipping
Room in his home in 1991
as a drop-off location for
UPS, Fed Ex and U.S. Mail.
In 1993, it expanded to mail
fulfillment and processing
of first class, presorted
standard, nonprofit and periodical
mail. In 1998, a
building was constructed
for the business on Chestnut
Street. Fall 2006
brought the opening of a
satellite office to provide
services for students, faculty
and staff members at the
State University College of
Oneonta campus.
According to Robinson,
The Shipping Room has
been an active partner in
the area’s community
events, including their annual
pig roast that raises
money for the Opportunities
For Otsego Heating Assistance
Program and the
Huntington Library Children’s
Reading Program.
For information about
the banquet, contact Pam
Ferguson at the Chamber
at 432-4500, ext. 201.
Past Breakthrough
Award winners include T.S.
Pink Soap Rocks and
GrafiQa Creative Services,
Inc. Businesses that have
received the Small Business
Award in the past include
The Fly Creek Cider
Mill & Orchard, Sport Tech,
Ultimate Broadcasting
Network, Cooperstown Bat
Company, H.W. Naylor Co.,
Inc, Information System
Division Inc., Gordon B.
Roberts Agency and Eastman
Associated, Inc.
