More than 200 members of the business community came together to celebrate being voted the best in their categories for the Times News Readers’ Choice awards.

The annual dinner and recognition ceremony was held at the Orioles Community Center in Lehighton. It was a chance to visit with old friends, make new ones and tout accomplishments.

Longtime business representatives said what sets them apart is customer service.

Sylvia Abril, branch manager at the Albrightsville office of Mauch Chunk Trust Company, said it’s the personal touch that the bigger banks can’t offer. “I know the names of people who come in for service,” she said.

The company stays competitive with interest rates for savings and mortgages.

When a prospective customer walks in, she takes the time to meet with them to find out what the bank can do for them. “I tell them I’ll call them if their account is overdrawn. I tell them ‘just give us a chance,’ ” Abril, a longtime banker, said.

For Tom Zimmerman IV, the secret is not messing with the formula his grandfather created for ice tea in the 1960s. “I don’t want to ruin a good thing,” he said.

With eight employees Zimmerman’s delivers to Mount Pocono, Easton and everywhere in between. The word of the tea, lemonade and orange drink spread literally by mouth.

Joe Pachorkowsky has been setting off fireworks as Pyro Joe for 22 years. “We can shoot in any weather,” he said, as his goal is to be busy 365 days a year.

His business model is to treat each customer like family. “You get to know everybody,” he said. It’s not easy to find people you trust enough to set off fireworks, so he seeks out the best.

He has three employees from New York state — two who drive five hours to get to jobs — one from Bangor and one from Pen Argyl. “All of our guys give everything they have,” he said.

Sometimes it’s about being creative. Or downright scary. Pachorkowsky also won for haunted attraction by fulfilling his dream for a coffin simulator. He drove with his wife Mary for 16 hours to buy it in Indiana.

The result is Pyro Joe’s Last Ride Coffin Stimulator located inside Horror Hall in Nanticoke. The setting is like a funeral home with a red carpet. People who dare get in the coffin in pure darkness, hearing a story, and smelling flowers, feeling the ride and then smelling dirt. They even smell burning rubber as the hearse pulls out.

Sometimes business owners don’t have to be scary. They just have to be there. Bob Silver, owner of All Brand Vacuum Repair, said his philosophy is simple. “I answer the telephone.”

Silver said it’s so important today to be there for customers.

He should know. He started working with his dad at age 22 and now he’s 87.

“It’s about treating people the right way,” Silver said.

Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, won in 29 categories, including best place to work.

Terry Purcell, Lehigh Valley Health Network senior vice president, said the people who work at the Carbon campus are “outstanding.”

He said the employees are proud to work there, are flexible and they care for each other and the patients. “We have a great reputation in the community,” he said.

While most health care facilities are experiencing a worker shortage, LVH-Carbon has none of that.

Tammy Trimbur, operations manager at LVH-Carbon said health care is a difficult industry, but the staff at LVH are supportive of each other. “We give them the opportunity to engage and mix with each other,” she said. Smile cards, snacks, crazy socks and a popular pumpkin decorating contest all contribute to breaking the tension.

Times News Advertising Director Jen Benninger congratulated all the winners. “ The Times News Media Group is happy to be your partner in business, helping to spread the word about who you are, all the things you do and the goals you’ve accomplished,” she said.

She added that the award is about “reaching out to our people: customers, readers, and all those who support this thriving community. Calling out to those people and then hearing back the overwhelming support for the businesses they frequent, want to try out, or sometimes just supporting a friend.”

Benninger thanked people for their hard work and pride into everything they do.

“We hope this award of recognition is proof enough that the people of Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton counties and beyond depend on and love you. We wish you continued success and hope to work with you for years to come,” she concluded.

The Readers’ Choice insert with lists of all the winners will be included in Thursday’s edition.