Dr. William F. Streck, president and CEO of Bassett Healthcare, is the recipient of the Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award.

Arnan Development Corp., which includes Otsego Ready Mix, the Oneonta Block Co. and Pickett Building Materials, is this year’s winner of the NBT Bank Distinguished Business Award.

Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber, said the awards are given to "acknowledge and reward" people for their actions in the community.

"They do it out of their hearts and not out of seeking recognition," Robinson said Monday. "We are proud to recognize the strong community impact of Dr. Streck in the region. By his many actions and other commitments, Bill has made a clear, positive statement about the quality of our community."

Streck and the company will receive the awards at the chamber’s annual dinner March 31. NBT Bank sponsors the business award, and the citizen award is named for Bettiol, who died in January 2003.

"We are blessed to have such community-oriented honorees to celebrate the commitment of business that makes our region the great place it is and the better place it will become," said Tom Armao, chairman of the chamber Board of Directors.

Bob Harlem is president and owner of Oneonta Block Co. Arnan and Arnie Pickett bought the company in 1982 and started building it up, Harlem said. He said the company has more than 70 employees.

Streck, 60, has been president and CEO of Bassett for more than 20 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, School of Medicine in 1973 and came to Bassett in 1978. He was appointed CEO in March 1985, according to a biography from Bassett.

"I was a little surprised," Streck said. "I really don’t see this as an individual effort."

He served on Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s transition team and served on the same team for former Gov. George Pataki. Streck is the chairman of the state’s Public Health Council, according to the state Department of Health.

Streck said he thought the award gave more attention and recognition to the "individual" than he thought was necessary.

"I really see the Bassett success as a collective effort," he said Monday night.

Bassett received the chamber’s Distinguished Business Award in 2003.

Streck described the citizen award as being "recognized as an individual as a surrogate."

Tickets for the annual dinner cost $70 each; reservations are required and may be made by calling 432-4500.