The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce has named Cynthia Urban, President/Owner of Klapec Trucking Co., as the 2009 Woman in Business Award Recipient.

Each year, the Venango Chamber bestows the honor upon a woman who has achieved success in the Venango Area business community.

Klapec Trucking Co. has been and still proves to be an absolute leader in the trucking industry. It has grown considerably since it’s inception in 1949.  Bert Klapec, at age 18, started the company with one small dump truck and quickly expanded to what it is today, a fleet of over 75 trucks and 150 trailers, while employing over 90 people across surrounding communities.  Cindy started helping Bert in the office in the basement of the house during her grade school years and has worked at the business ever since.

Urban comments, “Working together as a team has been our philosophy of delivering exceptional customer service for 60 years.”

Her philosophy also includes service to the community including serving on the board of directors for the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, founding member of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the St. Stephen Rosary Society, a Lector of St. Stephen Church, and assisting in the Oil Heritage Festival activities including the St. Stephen’s Parish Festival.  Klapec Trucking Company also sponsors a boys Little League team and a girls’ softball team.

In her free time she enjoys gardening, going on motorcycle rides with her husband Chris, and sewing heirlooms for her grandchildren.

Urban is a graduate of the Erie Business Center with an Associate Degree in Executive Secretarial. She continued her education at Clarion University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing as an RN, BSN. She comments, “I am often surprised at how much my nursing education relates to the trucking business.”

She has four children: Greg Lander and wife, Tracy of Oil City; Stephanie Baker and husband, Charlie of Pittsburgh; Marc Lander of Rockland; and Bridget Lander of Kent State University; and two grand children Luke and James of Pittsburgh.

She is married to Chris Urban, owner of Urban Insurance Agency in Seneca.

Susan Williams, Director of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce comments, “Cindy is an example of a woman who has achieved a balance in managing her business, family life and community outreach. She stands uniquely in her field as a woman business owner in a male dominated industry.”

The award was presented at the Chamber’s Annual Working Woman’s Luncheon, which Cindy was unable to attend due to a trip to Mexico to pursue additional business opportunities.