CHESTERTOWN — Each year the Kent County Chamber of Commerce presents Community Excellence awards in three categories: Business of the Year, Organization of the Year and Individual of the Year.
According to the chamber’s website, nominees are “carefully evaluated to consider factors such as leadership, innovation, community involvement, and the overall positive influence on the local community.”
Main Street Chestertown board President Kristen Owen is the chamber’s Outstanding Individual of the Year for 2025.
This category pays tribute to an individual whose personal and professional efforts have made a lasting and positive impact on the Kent County community.
“Whether through leadership, volunteerism or philanthropy, the Individual of the Year award recognizes someone whose commitment to the community goes above and beyond, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps,” according to the chamber’s website.
In addition to her role with Main Street Chestertown, Owen is a member of the finance committee of the Garfield Center for the Arts board.
She also is a past president of the Downtown Chestertown Association.
Owen received the Community Excellence Award at the chamber’s annual meeting at Chester River Yacht & Country Club.
Printed below is her acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much for the kind recognition. All of you contribute so generously to our community, and I feel that I am simply following your lead.
“Downtown Chestertown has been part of my daily life longer than I remember. I spent time at my Poppy’s feed company on Cross Street. My sister and I went on errands with our grandmothers to McCrory’s, The Yardstick and The General Store. When we were sick, prescriptions were filled at Stam’s, where we would also be treated to another form of medicine — fountain cherry Cokes.
“I remember seeing movies at the Prince Theatre and browsing through Twigs & Teacups when it was at The Bookplate’s current location.
“A couple of my friends and I waited outside of Andy’s until midnight on the eve of my 21st birthday, when Cindy agreed to let me in for my first legal drink.
“In high school, I got my first job at The Finishing Touch.
“After college, when I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I found myself back on High Street at Chesapeake Bank & Trust. Working at a community bank, I was encouraged to get involved in local organizations, and luckily, they never asked me to stop.
“Volunteering with the Chestertown Wildlife Festival board and Downtown Chestertown Association offered opportunities for creative thinking and collaboration.
“Most importantly, my volunteer work outside the bank helped me develop collegial relationships with local retailers, artists, entrepreneurs and
leaders.
“We all have specific reasons for loving this community, but I think we can also agree there’s something special about it we can’t name. Whatever that something is, I want to keep it alive.
“Some days, it feels frivolous to attach emotion to the nonprofit economic development work we do at Main Street Chestertown, when there are so many pressing issues that our community is working to address.
“However, I believe that keeping the spark of Chestertown alive will continue to attract thoughtful, caring people to our community, as it has attracted or kept so many of us.
“With careful planning and targeted investment, we can ensure that there continue to be first jobs for local high school students and career paths for college graduates.
“I’m glad some of the touchstones of my childhood are still there. My friends’ kids can still dream over treasures at Twigs & Teacups and have an ice cream at a new version of Stam’s.
“I also want them to have the opportunity to develop deeper connections to our community over time, if they so choose.
“The younger generations deserve attractive job opportunities, attainable housing choices, and unique cultural and recreational experiences, all right here in Kent County.
“Living and working in Kent County has been the most rewarding experience, and I believe the best way to give back to the community is to continue to serve alongside so many of you as we build the community we want to see with our time, our commitment, and our belief in this place.
“Together, I hope we can create a brighter future for the next generation of community leaders and volunteers.”