11-02-2025
John-John Arcaro named Conneaut's Citizen of the Year
Feb. 11—CONNEAUT — John-John Arcaro has been named the 2024 Conneaut Citizen of the Year, the Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce, it was announced through a press release.
"I'm among the elites," Arcaro said.
Arcaro said he was shocked and honored to learn he won.
He said he has been long-involved with many city festivals, including D-Day Conneaut and Perch and Pilsner.
"It's a blessing to be a part of this community," Arcaro said.
Arcaro was asked to organize the city's 2023 Christmas parade 31 days before the event took place, he said.
"I said 'we've got to have a Christmas parade,'" he said.
Each event Aracaro has worked comes with a different team who helps make it succeed, he said.
"There's a lot of stuff I do I forget about, because I do it and move on," Arcaro said.
He said one of Arcaro's best memories of helping was catering to 1,400 people at a benefit.
Recounting Arcaro's nomination, he has helped with Christmas events at Lakeview Park, the Chriskindl Market, Police Navidad and Red, White, and Boom, according to the release.
Arcaro has photographed events for Conneaut school yearbooks, and the city's fire and police departments, according to the release.
Arcaro said he is thankful to the people who voted him Citizen of the Year and all the people who have helped him with events over the years.
Arcaro loves seeing the smiles of the people at events he organizes, he said.
"Don't look for anything in return, just do it," Arcaro said.
Arcaro said he learned from his parents to always do good for the good and not for the reward.
"That stuck with me all my life," he said.
The chamber also announced chamber champion award winners in the press release.
Castaway's Pizza and Grill owner Kristina Daugherty won the Professional Achievement Award; Ashtabula Regional Medical Center the Leadership Award, and the Conneaut Water Safety Initiative the President's Award.
Winners of the Legacy Award were Joe Orlando and Joyce Shellhammer.
"Chamber champions are those individuals, organizations, businesses or industries who have demonstrated excellence in contributing to the goals and objectives of the [CACC]," the release said.
The Conneaut Citizen of the Year and chamber champion awards will be presented at the upcoming annual CACC dinner.
The dinner will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the New Leaf Event Center. According to the release, doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $40 for chamber members and $45 for non-members. Dinner reservations are due by Friday.
