News Release: Michael Feiden has been named Businessperson of the Year
August 12, 2026
KINGSTON—Michael Feiden has been named Businessperson of the Year by the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is Vice President of Earl B. Feiden’s Appliance at 661 Broadway, Kingston. The company is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Kingston and 100th year in business.
Feiden will be honored, along with seven other local businesses and organizations, at the annual Ulster County Business Recognition Awards Dinner at Diamond Mills Hotel and BLACKBARN Hudson Valley in Saugerties on Oct. 22. The awards recognize Ulster County businesses that are leaders in their sectors, have achieved outstanding results or have shown dedication to furthering business and the quality of life in Ulster County.
Earl B. Feiden founded the appliance business in 1926. It began as an ice and coal business in Latham and later shifted to electrical appliances once mechanical refrigeration was introduced to the market. To this day, it remains a family-owned and operated business with showrooms in Kingston, Latham and Clifton Park.
The business sells a wide variety of appliances at discount prices from the most trusted brands like Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and Weber. The company also delivers, installs and repairs its products and sells parts for all major brands. It is one of the few independent dealers in the Hudson Valley that does repairs.
Other honorees at this year’s Business Awards Recognition Dinner include:
Feiden will be honored, along with seven other local businesses and organizations, at the annual Ulster County Business Recognition Awards Dinner at Diamond Mills Hotel and BLACKBARN Hudson Valley in Saugerties on Oct. 22. The awards recognize Ulster County businesses that are leaders in their sectors, have achieved outstanding results or have shown dedication to furthering business and the quality of life in Ulster County.
Earl B. Feiden founded the appliance business in 1926. It began as an ice and coal business in Latham and later shifted to electrical appliances once mechanical refrigeration was introduced to the market. To this day, it remains a family-owned and operated business with showrooms in Kingston, Latham and Clifton Park.
The business sells a wide variety of appliances at discount prices from the most trusted brands like Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and Weber. The company also delivers, installs and repairs its products and sells parts for all major brands. It is one of the few independent dealers in the Hudson Valley that does repairs.
Other honorees at this year’s Business Awards Recognition Dinner include:
- Business of the Year, UHY Advisors, the largest certified public accounting firm in the Hudson Valley. In recent months, UHY has expanded its presence in New York by combining with RBT CPAs, a certified public accounting practice in Lake Katrine and Hudson.
- Small Business of the Year, Artisan Beauty Bar, an Aveda exclusive salon with two locations at 10 Abeel St. and 284 Wall St. in Uptown Kingston. Owner Eden Selle credits her success to the Aveda line of natural, vegan and eco-friendly hair and skin-care products.
- Tourism Business of the Year, Ashokan Center, a 385-acre nature preserve in Olivebridge which attracts travel visitors from all over the country for retreats, weddings and events. Its mission is to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art.
- Community That Cares, YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County, a well-known nonprofit known for its group fitness classes, basketball and pickleball leagues, swimming lessons, leadership and educational programs and myriad youth enrichment activities.
- Heritage Award, C & C Unisex at 1204 Ulster Ave., Kingston, a family-run salon founded by Camillo Iovieno in 1981. The salon recently moved to its new location at 1204 Ulster Ave. in the town of Ulster. Iovieno’s daughter, Concetta, manages that location and is district manager at other locations in New York and New Jersey. His son, Pasquale, is a master barber and assistant manager at the Kingston salon.
- Len Cane Heart of Ulster County (posthumous), Dave Gagnon was a managing partner at Gagnon and Associates and served as past Chairman of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. His military career spanned 35 years in the New York Army National Guard and included a combat deployment to Iraq and training missions in Israel, South Africa, Brazil and Peru. David also devoted more than three decades to the Cottekill Fire Department, serving as Chief and Assistant Chief. He tragically died in the line of duty on July 3, 2026.
- Chamber Champion, John Naccarato, the President and CEO of Naccarato Insurance has been a longtime supporter of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Naccarato Insurance has also been the Presenting Sponsor of the Chamber’s Annual Expo at Diamond Mills in Saugerties for 15 years.
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Contact:
Ward Todd, President
ward@ulsterchamber.org, (845) 338-5100
