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 The highlight of the evening, the Pride and Progress Awards,
recognized businesses and individuals who achieved above and beyond
in the past year.
Emcee Benjamin Yount began by summarizing the major change to the
Lincoln and Logan County economic development organizations that
took place during the year 2014. Yount explained how the Unified
Organization Committee was formed to unify these groups for greater
efficacy and efficiency in supporting and bringing new business to
Lincoln and Logan County. He noted, the group “stood fast in the
belief that working together can only mean good things for this
community.”
Tourism Bureau highlights
Yount recounted that the Tourism Bureau had reorganized with a new
board, had worked to create a strategic plan to increase tourism,
and had created a new logo, new website, and a new tag line ‘Our
History, Your Adventure’
Chamber of Commerce
He noted that the Chamber had created a new membership structure
that would benefit the entire business community. He noted that the
Chamber worked hard with the UOC and was still working hard for
local business.
Main Street Lincoln
He offered accolades to Main Street Lincoln, which disbanded at the
end of 2014. He drew to attention the hard work that group did in
bringing events to the community including their contributions to
the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, Trick or Treat with the Mayor,
and he said, “one of the most successful Christmas parades that we
have seen in a number of years, and some of those events were pulled
off without any staff on hand. So Kudos to the board”.
New Logan County Alliance
Yount said the big win for 2014 was the coming together of the four
organizational boards. He noted, “Forty-two people in all came
together to work towards one goal; to better serve Lincoln and Logan
County. And, we can say now in 2015, that the new Logan County
Alliance can do just that.”
When finished, Yount introduced Joe Ryan, the 2014 president of the
board of the Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce.
Pride and Progress Awards
Ryan with assistance from Hake presented the Pride and Progress
Awards for the year 2014.
First up was the New Business of the Year Award, which was
given to By the Bean in Lincoln. The award was
accepted by business manager David Williams and owner David
Lanterman.
The next award was the Beautification Award, which was given to Seth
Goodman of ME Realty.
The Excellence in Service Award was given to Roger
Webster Construction. No representative was present to
accept the award.
The Distinguished Business of the Year Award was given to the
Hampton Inn in Lincoln. Accepting the award was Damon
Priddy, Jean Bruner-Jachino, and Tina Simpson.
The Mike Abbott Volunteer of the Year Award went to
Karen Deany.
 Nicole Cox of the Chamber took the stage momentarily to announce the
Chamber Ambassador of the Year. This year the honor went to
Josh Slightom of Anytime Fitness.
A new recognition was added to this year’s event; the Educator of
the Year Award. The first ever award was given to recently
appointed Lincoln Christian University, President Dr. Don
Green.
Plaques were given to departing board members from the Chamber,
Logan County Tourism, and Main Street Lincoln.
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The last order of business for the night was the passing of
the gavel and the swearing in of a new set of board members.
With the creation of the Logan County Alliance, the Chamber and
Tourism Boards are now dissolved, and a new LCA Board has taken
over. Joe Ryan passed the gavel to the LCA Board chairman for
2015, Tom O’Donohue.
The new board of directors was introduced by Yount and sworn
into service. Those board members are Tom O’Donohue, Greg
Basford, Michael Gowin, Jean Bruner-Jachino,
Frank Adubato, and Sal Pollice.
The theme for this year’s event was the Roaring 20’s.
The evening began at approximately 6 p.m. with a social hour
followed by an excellent buffet style meal provided by Hilltop
Catering.
Among the events included for the evening was a photo opportunity
for guests. Provided by Jonae Cheger Photography, guests were
encouraged to don 1920’s head gear and accessories to sit for a
portrait in commemoration of the evening.
Members of the dinner committee dressed in 1920’s costume acted as
“cigarette girls” going guest to guest selling 50-50 tickets and
raffle chances for some great prizes offered by local businesses. To
make their role more authentic, the ladies carried packs of candy
cigarettes on their displays and those who purchased tickets had the
opportunity to have a pack. Serving as emcee for the evening was
local radio personality Benjamin Yount. As guests completed their
meal, Yount was charged with offering up several “Thank yous” to
those who had contributed to the success of the Chamber and the
forward movement of Lincoln and Logan County in the past year.
He began by thanking the American Legion for the accommodations,
Hilltop Catering for the food, and the dinner planning committee
members. The committee this year was made up of Allison Pharis,
Tammy Thompson, Marsha Darlington, Jennifer Kirby and Connor Brown.
 Yount also introduced the Chamber staff; Katie Hopper, Sandry Wagy,
Nicole Cox, and Andi Hake, along with Sarah Wallick of the Logan
County Tourism Bureau.
He acknowledged city officials who were in attendance, Mayor Keith
Snyder, Aldermen Kathy Horn, Marty Neitzel, Todd Mourning, and city
manager Clay Johnson. He acknowledged Jan Schumacher, who was in
attendance representing the Logan County Board.
Next he asked for attendees from specific groups to stand and be
acknowledged. These groups included the board members from the Main
Street Lincoln Board, the Tourism Board, the Chamber board, Chamber
Ambassadors, this years’ Leadership academy graduates, and the
members of the board of the newly formed Logan County Alliance.
Finally, Yount thanked CEFCU for their sponsorship of the evening's
events and Frontier Communications for its sponsorship of the 2014
Pride and Progress Awards.
At the end of the night, Cox came back on stage to do the 50-50
drawing and with the assistance of Hake the raffle drawing. Raffles
items for this year were donated by Graue Chevrolet and Jim Xamis
Ford, MKS Jewelers, and J.K. Williams Distilling.
[Nila Smith] |
