Photo Provided Craig Karges will be the keynote speaker at the annual St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce award dinner at 5 p.m. Thursday at Belmont College’s Dowler Hall.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual award dinner at 5 p.m. Thursday at Belmont College’s Dowler Hall.

Three area businesses and one resident will be honored at the event. The District Distinguished Employer award will be presented and sponsored by Project BEST. The Community Involvement award will be presented by the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Service Above Self award, given to an individual instead of a company that the chamber believes has gone above and beyond for the community, is presented and sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Clairsville. The Business of the Year award will be presented by the event’s title sponsor, WVU Medicine.

Chamber Executive Director Lisa Kindler said she’s excited for her first award dinner in the role.

Kindler replaced Wendy Anderson, who recently retired after eight years as executive director.

She has spent the past three years as assistant director, so she has experience with the dinner but this is her first time organizing it.

Kindler believes the annual dinner is important to highlight the people and businesses making a positive impact on the community.

“We hold this particular event because we like to recognize those that are our members who help out our local community,” Kindler said. “We want to recognize those who go above and beyond and are deserving of such awards.”

This year’s keynote speaker will be nationally known award-winning entertainer Craig Karges.

According to Karges’ website he uses the art of magic with the science of psychology and the power of intuition to create the impression that nothing is impossible. He has made more than 40 national television appearances and has been seen on The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox News Channel, CNBC, E! Entertainment Television, Lifetime Television, Wisdom Television and has starred in a pair of one-hour television specials.

Kindler said that Karges’ appearance was made possible through Trinity Health System’s sponsorship.

“We’re really excited to have him. I’ve heard he’s really good and a lot of fun,” she said.

She added that tickets for the event will not be sold at the door and it is technically sold out currently.

Kindler said that 150 people have already purchased tickets but she is accepting a waiting list.

“It is an RSVP event, you do have to have a ticket. We don’t sell tickets at the door. Currently we are sold out but we have started a waitlist for those that are interested,” she said.

Those interested in joining the wait list can contact the chamber at 740-695-9623.