The Kent Chamber of Commerce has announced the nominees for the 2009 President’s banquet and Business Leadership Excellence Awards, set for March 14 at the ShoWare Center.
Nominees for the Innovative award are Cafe Pacific Catering and Mikron Industries. John and Amy Hatcher, co-owners of the Cafe Pacific Catering restaurant created the “catering crate,” a simple, insulated container that keeps food at temperature for three hours. At Mikron, a manufacturer of vinyl and composite window and door systems, 91 percent of scrap material from the manufacturing process is recycled.
Nominees in the Company Citizenship award are the Kent Afternoon Rotary Club, Classic Accessories, Catalyst Travel and Best Western Plaza by the Green.
The Rotary Club is nominated for projects such as the Dictionary Program and Scholarship Programs. Classic Accessories earned its nomination for its sponsorship of Neely-O’Brien Elementary School. Catalyst Travel was selected due to the continuing community work of its owner, Sally Goodgion, while Best Western supports local companies through the donation of items and preferred corporate rates.
There are five nominees for the Employee of the Year award, all with the City of Kent: Economic Development Director Ben Wolters, nominated for his work in bringing the ShoWare Center to Kent; Economic Development Manager Kurt Hanson, for his work with the Kent Chamber Permit Coalition; Pam Clark, who was a driving force behind the Kent 4 Health Coalition; Debra LeRoy, a police officer credited with bringing in more than $4 million in grants and programs; and Finance Director Bob Nachlinger, also nominated for his work in bringing the ShoWare Center to town.
Nominees for the Robert E. Lee Membership Development award are Rob Cannon from New York Life Insurance Company and Gwen Allen Carston of Heartland Payment Systems. Cannon was nominated for his work and because he was instrumental in keeping the chamber going during last year’s search for a director. Carston is part of the Business Services and Events Committee and an ambassador with the chamber.
There are four nominees for the Best Practices Award: Deborah Nelons at State Farm, Valley Medical center, Two Men & A Truck movers and McLendon Hardware. Nelons is nominated for consistently going the extra mile for policy holders. Valley Medical received its nomination for its Intensive Outpatient Care program. Two Men & A Truck received its nomination for adherence to the “Grandma Rule,” which teaches staff to treat customers like they would treat their grandmother. McLendon was nominated for the time and monetary investment it makes in the community.
There also are two nominees for the Educator of the Year Award: Israel Vela of the Kent School District and Kirk Davis of Green River Community College. Vela is the Student Services Director in Kent and was a leading voice behind the creation of the Kent Refugee Center. Davis works with the chamber as part of the Marketing Tool Box Seminar, a monthly educational seminar for businesses.
What: Kent Chamber of Commerce President’s Banquet and Business Leadership Excellence Awards.
Where: ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent.
Details: Reception and silent auction begins at 5 p.m., with dinner and program following at 6 p.m.
Cost: $65 per person.
Tickets: 253-854-1770.
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