Citizens, businesses honored at chamber awards

Sheila McGuire, Herald Reporter
Posted 5/18/18

Chamber holds annual awards ceremony

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Citizens, businesses honored at chamber awards

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EVANSTON — Local residents were honored at the annual Evanston Chamber of Commerce Award Luncheon on Thursday, May 10, held at the Legal Tender. Award categories included Citizens of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Business of the Year, Service Organization of the Year, Outstanding Business Person of the Year, Outstanding Customer Service Award and Lifetime Business Achievement Award. 

The Citizen of the Year award was to recognize individuals who demonstrated creativity, vision and leadership, and those who have been involved with multiple community events and projects. Nominees for this year included Dr. Carol Kavanaugh of Evanston Regional Hospital, Gina Sims of Hayden Peak Academy, Amy Kelly of the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center and Wendy Schuler of the Evanston City Council. 

The award went to Amy Kelly for her work with both the senior center and the local Make-A-Wish program. Kelly’s nomination spoke of her dedication to the senior center and credited her with saving the center through a period of significant challenges and hardships. 

Nominees for Volunteer of the Year included the members of VFW Post 4280, Eric Pasenelli for his work with both Sagebrush Theatre and Arts, Inc., Glenna Richins for her work with the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center, and Brenda Richins for her work with multiple organizations and the local school district. Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Glenna Richins for her many years of work with the senior senter. 

Business of the Year honored those with “exemplary business practices,” and who also promote community and charitable efforts. The two nominees this year were Uinta County Senior Citizens Center and Ivory & Iron, with Ivory & Iron receiving the award. 

Nominees for Service Organization of the Year were the Evanston Youth Club for Boys and Girls and the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center. The Senior Center also claimed this distinction and luncheon presenter Wendy Schuler said, “At the senior center, seniors always come first.” 

Uinta County Public Health Nurse Manager Kim Proffit was awarded the Outstanding Business Person of the Year Award for her work with public health and specifically with the Healthy Evanston Coalition initiative that she has spearheaded over the past year. Other nominees were Howard Woody with Union Wireless, Amber Lamb of Ivory & Iron and Amy Kelly of the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center. 

Being a key part of a successful team was one of the criteria for the Outstanding Customer Service award. Nominees were Denise Christensen, lead teller at Uinta Bank; Tammy Mathson Halliday of the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center, and the staff at Aaron’s Sales and Lease. Christensen was honored with the award for her consistently helpful, knowledgeable and friendly service. 

Finally, the two nominees for the Lifetime Business Achievement award were Dave Newsome of Dave’s Custom Meats and the Uinta County Senior Citizens Center. The award was to honor those businesses that have consistently and repeatedly gone above and beyond in both business practices and community service and enhanced the quality of life in Evanston. “Community icon” Dave Newsome was presented with the award for his nearly three decades of work with his business, Dave’s Custom Meats. 

To close the event, the 44 new chamber members from the past year were recognized, with Schuler giving kudos to chamber director Marian McLean for her work in both organizing the luncheon and encouraging new and well-established businesses alike to join the chamber.