Trails in the News - Press Clipping Files

12/05/2007

Wheelway Committee, TOMTC Win Community Award

Breakfast for Champions recognizes community leaders


By Ryan Bentley News-Review Staff Writer
Story updated: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 10:30 AM EST

The winners are ...

President's Award: Petoskey Youth Soccer Association

Athena Award: Chris Etienne

Chamber Mission Awards: Fletch's of Petoskey, Craig Stutzky, Blissfest Music Organization

Service Excellence Award: Bill's Farm Market

Leadership Little Traverse Mentor Award: Doriene Cone

Ambassador of the Year Award: Tom Erhart

Architectural Awards: In the beautification category, first place went to the Little Traverse Wheelway Committee and honorable mention to Coffee and Connect. In the design category, Then & Now Antiques and Consignment House received first place and the Odawa Casino Resort took honorable mention.

President's Award

PETOSKEY - From athletic programming to superior customer service, a variety of community contributions won recognition today, Tuesday, at the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce's Breakfast for Champions.

The chamber bestowed its prestigious President's Award on the Petoskey Youth Soccer Association. Another top honor, the Athena Award, went to Chris Etienne, who is sales director at Bay Harbor Properties and active in a variety of community programming.

Several hundred businesspeople turned out for the annual chamber awards program at its new site, the Odawa Casino Resort's Ovation Hall. The event, which had a theme of "Partners for Progress" this year, featured a keynote address by Lansing-area entrepreneur, media personality, business owner and teacher Chris Holman (see related sidebar). North Central Michigan College instructor Chet Jessick served as master of ceremonies.

With the President's Award, the chamber recognizes a person, business or organization that has a significant impact on the area. In presenting PYSA with the award, chamber president Liz Ahrens noted that the soccer association's primary focus is on youth and helping them to learn and appreciate one particular sport.

"It's safe to say that a majority of people in this room have been involved with, or impacted by the Petoskey Youth Soccer Association," she said. "Perhaps you're one of the hundreds of coaches, officials or volunteers who give of their time to the organization, or perhaps you're the parent of a child who has been on one of the soccer teams, or as a businessperson, it's likely you've benefited in some way by the economic impact the soccer association provides with their two tournaments."

Athena Award

The Athena Award, sponsored by Dave Kring Chevrolet-Cadillac, commemorates people who've made significant contributions to the community and supported women in their personal and professional development.

Etienne, this year's Athena winner, has served on numerous boards, including those of the Petoskey chamber and Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, and as an administrator for the Northwest Michigan Industrial Association. She currently serves as a district governor for Rotary International and was the first female president of the Rotary Club of Petoskey. She also serves as a Women's Resource Center Safe Home volunteer and as a mentor for young female students through the STRIVE program, and has been involved with philanthropic efforts such as the Bay Harbor Foundation.

"Those who know our recipient describe her as energetic, tireless, compassionate, politically astute and financially savvy," past Athena winner Jane Bailey said before presenting this year's award to Etienne.

Mission Awards

The chamber also presented Mission Awards to a business, an organization and an individual that have played significant roles in helping businesses succeed.

One Mission Award went to the Fletch's of Petoskey auto dealership. Chamber president-elect Marty VanDeCar noted that Fletch's personnel have been active in chamber of commerce networking activities and as volunteers at the summer Festival on the Bay, and that the siblings who are second-generation owners of Fletch's have served organizations such as the YMCA, Rotary and the Petoskey City Council. He added that the company played a leadership in forming an association of local auto dealers to help promote local vehicle purchases.

"But tipping the scales for them this year was their leadership and support to help fund our chamber's new programs and services. The chamber needed to raise around $10,000 this year to help fund our new Web site, which is under construction, and our new many new programs that we rolled out this year. To get to $10,000, we decided to ask 100 businesses to give $100. This company said they would be our first contributor, and they said they would do the work of 10 businesses by launching the campaign with a $1,000 contribution."

Craig Stutzky, coordinator of the Petoskey Film Theater and its local movie screenings, received another Mission Award.

"This gentleman has turned a personal passion into a series of well loved, and well attended events in downtown Petoskey. These events not only provide cultural enrichment to our community, but they provide residents and guests with a night out which helps area restaurants and shops," VanDeCar said.

The chamber also presented a Mission Award to the Blissfest Music Organization.

"Their first event was held in the northern part of the county, on a farm, more than 25 years ago," VanDeCar said. "They've grown to now offer a year-round schedule of performances and events, all designed to promote the folk arts. This organization sticks true to its mission of promoting diverse cultures and fostering an appreciation for a variety of art forms, especially music. Their major summer event has become a destination event for people from throughout the Midwest helping to promote Petoskey and Emmet County not only as a scenic destination, but a fun and cultural destination as well."

Sponsors for the Mission honors included Clark Construction, First Community Bank, Harbor/Brenn Agencies, Northern Michigan Regional Hospital and Petoskey News-Review.

Service Excellence Award

The Service Excellence Award, given to an individual, business or organization that strives to offer guests the highest level of service, went to Bill's Farm Market.

Dudley Marvin, president of award sponsor Stafford's Hospitality, noted that the farm market has provided produce with fair prices, a generous spirit and friendly service, and played host to school and youth groups for field trips.

"(Market owner Bill McMaster's) service is indeed legendary," Marvin said. "It's Up North hospitality."

Leadership Little Traverse Mentor Award

The Leadership Little Traverse Mentor Award, sponsored by The Bank of Northern Michigan, was presented to Doriene Cone of Harbor Brenn Agencies. It recognizes a mentor in the Leadership Little Traverse leadership training program who has helped nurture others in their personal and professional lives.

Jenny Brower nominated Cone for the honor, noting that the recipient helped develop her career by teaching, offering encouragement and showing her the opportunities available in the insurance industry.

Ambassador of the Year Award

The Ambassador of the Year Award, sponsored by National City Bank, went to Tom Erhart of Prudential Properties Network. In presenting the award, chamber executive director Carlin Smith noted Erhart's dedication as a chamber ambassador -- helping to maintain and expand membership --and his efforts to develop and promote the new Million Dollar Shuffle economic development initiative spearheaded by the chamber.

Architectural awards

Architectural awards, sponsored by Preston Feather Building Centers, were presented in two categories.

For beautification, first place went to the Little Traverse Wheelway Committee. The committee arranged a mural at the rear of Glen's Market North which was painted by Terry Dickinson depicting the Wheelway trail's history. Downtown Petoskey Internet cafe Coffee and Connect received honorable mention in beautification for its creation of an outdoor seating area.

In the design category, Then & Now Antiques and Consignment House received first-place honors for cleaning up and renovating a onetime Charlevoix Avenue industrial site to serve as its new quarters. Honorable mention went to the Odawa Casino Resort for its new casino complex off Cemetery Road which incorporates some American Indian exterior design cues and is among the region's largest employers.

Because of a lack of nominees, no architectural awards were presented this year in the heritage category.

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