By JAIME STUDD

For the Express

JOHNSTOWN — Hundreds gathered at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown Thursday night for the Fulton County Chamber Awards dinner.

Five awards were presented to local businesses who, over the years, have earned distinguished reputations as representatives of Fulton County’s business community and who have worked in partnership with the chamber to further it mission of promoting the county as a center of commerce and community.

Thursday’s dinner was the first since the chamber’s longtime president, Wally Hart, resigned his post.

Serving as interim president, Terri Swierzowski, kicked off the event by welcoming guests.

“This is a very exciting time for the chamber,” said Swierzowski. “2012 will bring great new possibilities.”

Swierzowski admitted having spent some sleepless nights in the days leading up to the dinner, her first since taking the reigns of the organization.

“It was a little daunting following in “Mr. Public Speaker’s” footsteps,” she laughed, referring to Hart. “The support that people have shown me since I took over as chamber president has been unbelievable.”

While the annual dinner is not the largest event hosted by the chamber over the course of the year, Swierzowski said it is one that holds a special place in her heart.

“We don’t often get a chance to come together and celebrate these businesses,” she said. “Every single business has such a rich, rich history.”

The recent decision to explore a possible merger with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce shared the spotlight with the award winners at Thursday night’s dinner.

Among the approximately 245 guests in attendance were several representatives from the Montgomery County chamber, and a potential merger was referenced by several of the evening’s speakers.

The newly installed chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors, Terri Easterly, said an affiliation with Montgomery County will “strengthen the voices of all members.”

“We are looking for our business community to have a much stronger voice in our region, in Albany, and in Washington D.C.,” Easterly said.

While talks regarding the merger remain in their infancy, Swierzowski said that it’s important that the two groups “come together on what the new company will look like.”

Ultimately, said Swierzowski, “It doesn’t matter what we think, it matters what our membership thinks.”

Throughout the course of the dinner, chamber members were encouraged to speak to Montgomery County’s representatives.

“We want your feedback,” said Swierzowski.

The 2011 Fulton County Chamber of Commerce Award Winners were:

• Business Partner of the Year Award — Universal Warehousing Inc./Owner Fred Olbrych

• Tourism Partner Award — Wildlife Sports and Educational Museum/Robert Kazmierski

• Small Business of the Year Award — Ruby & Quiri/Rick Ruby

• Centennial Business of the Year Award — Peck’s Flowers/Robert Peck

• Chamber Family Award — Carville National Leather/Hugh Carville and Family