Upstate New York Chaplain Elise Bissell was named the 2010 Marketplace Chaplain of the Year, the highest award given by Marketplace Chaplains USA, a Dallas-based Employee Assistance Program Provider.

She was presented the honor by President and COO Richard De Witt in Dallas at the November Marketplace Board of Directors meeting she attended with her husband, Tim.

The 16th annual award is given to the chaplain who has gone “above and beyond” the call of duty and exhibited exceptional compassion to others. Bissell has served with Marketplace Chaplains USA since 2005. She was nominated for her exceptional service as a corporate Chaplain to a number of New York-area client companies, which employ the unique employee benefit services.

“Thank you so much, but I don’t deserve this. God has put me in the right place at the right time,” she said during the awards ceremony. “There are so many stories of what God has totally done.”

The Chaplain of the Year commendation capped a showcase of honors for the 33 Marketplace Chaplains who were nominated for the award. Chaplain Bissell graduated from the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, served as an international missionary in Europe, as well as other places. Tim Bissell also works with Marketplace Chaplains USA.

The 16th annual award is given to the chaplain who has gone “above and beyond” the call of duty and exhibited exceptional compassion to others. Bissell has served with Marketplace Chaplains USA since 2005. She was nominated for her exceptional service as a corporate Chaplain to a number of New York-area client companies, which employ the unique employee benefit services.

“Thank you so much, but I don’t deserve this. God has put me in the right place at the right time,” she said during the awards ceremony. “There are so many stories of what God has totally done.”

The Chaplain of the Year commendation capped a showcase of honors for the 33 Marketplace Chaplains who were nominated for the award. Chaplain Bissell graduated from the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, served as an international missionary in Europe, as well as other places. Tim Bissell also works with Marketplace Chaplains USA.

“We are always thrilled to recognize the very best of our chaplain work. This special recognition is a perfect reflection of providing real help and hope every day,” De Witt said. “This gives me special pleasure to honor someone who I was pleased to initially discover and see her used so mightily for our chaplain service. She is a special blessing to me personally and our entire organization.”

Among the nominations describing Chaplain Bissell statements included, “God is all over her when she comes into the plant,” “she is the real deal,” “The biggest accomplishment in our company is to have someone like her who listens and remembers every request.”

“Her passion to deliver real care around the clock is replicated and extended throughout her Chaplain team as well as Marketplace Chaplain Teams across the country and in every company we serve,” De Witt added.

There are 2,469 Marketplace Ministries Chaplains now in 43 states and 842 cities along with 4 countries outside the U.S.