Thursday night's annual Callaway Chamber of Commerce banquet brought local business leaders together for an evening of food and fun.
Callawegians braved snowy roads to attend the event at 54 Country, which featured a Reinhart Circle-catered dinner of roast beef, chicken, sides and dessert; and an award program. The annual event celebrates the accomplishments of the chamber and its members.
This year's theme, "Rock Around the Clock," reflected Callaway County's 200 years of history, as did the memorabilia from previous banquets scattered around the tables.
Awards
Doc Kritzer was named this year's Ambassador of the Year. Chamber Ambassadors are tasked with attending chamber events and making new members feel welcomed.
"It's a good opportunity to serve the community," Kritzer said. "It's so neat to see all the businesses coming into town."
He encouraged attendees to support local businesses, including the local hospital.
Gracia Backer nominated the New Bloomfield FFA for the Youth Award. The New Bloomfield FFA boasts 53 active members, whose good deeds include picking up trash along roads, collecting and properly disposing of worn flags and holding an auction to support the Chapter President Kalyn Davis after a bad car crash this year.
"Our biggest goal is to help everyone we can and do everything we can to better our community," Davis said.
The Loyal Subject Award went to Gary Tateosian. Award presenter and incoming chamber board President Beth Snyder described him as someone whose "efforts are never in the spotlight, but are a constant force to keep the chamber running." Tateosian is the husband of chamber Executive Director Tamara Tateosian and often aids maintenance around the building.
Marty Martin-Forman, chamber board president, received the Chamber Leadership award. With 10 years at the chamber and experience in businesses large and small, Snyder called her a "force to be reckoned with." She's lived in Callaway County for 39 years.
"This is such a surprise - and I'm surprised you could surprise me," Martin-Forman said. "I'm so proud to be a part of this community."
Small Business of the Year went to Remade for a Purpose, a resale boutique in the Brick District that employs adults with disabilities.
"Their warm smiles meet you at the door," chamber board Vice President Jamie Oestreich said.
Remade co-founders Phyllis Swiney and Barbara Reid thanked their loyal customers but pointed credit toward their employees and God.
"Our employees are the face, heart and soul of Remade," Reid said.
Callaway Energy Center was named the Large Business of the Year for their role in employing so many locals and helping fund schools through their taxes and nonprofits through charitable giving.
Former judge, attorney and state Rep. Joe Holt received the J.H. Atkinson award, which recognizes a resident who's made a unique contribution to the community going above and beyond their day-to-day job. Holt serves and has served with innumerable boards and charitable efforts around town - from SERVE to the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society to the Kingdom Supper and more.
"The county has been extremely good to me," Holt said. "I ought not to receive any more awards, but I'm happy to continue serving the county."
Finally, South Callaway Elementary fourth-grade teacher Crystal McCaulley received the 2020 Callaway Chamber of Commerce Grant for Innovative Teaching.
McCaulley is in her third year of teaching fourth grade at South Callaway Elementary School. She graduated from William Woods University with her bachelor's degree in December 2016 and immediately started the William Woods master's program, focusing on curriculum and instruction. She received her master's degree in May 2018.
McCaulley said she loves the warm, supportive environment of South Callaway Elementary.
"Her highest priority is making sure every student leaves her classroom at the end of the year knowing that she loved and cared about them, which she sees as vital to creating a strong learning environment," Westminster College Senior Vice President Carolyn Perry said while presenting the award.
The Callaway County grant will help teach South Callaway fourth-graders about engineering design. The Solar S'mores project, originally started by Kathy Zimmerman, will allow every fourth-grader to design, test, and perfect a prototype for transforming sunlight into thermal energy. (For more about that project, check out this Fulton Sun article: bit.ly/3aBMRqu.) Funds will go to purchase much-needed supplies to enhance the students' learning.
For the second year, Westminster and William Woods have partnered with the chamber in offering this grant, which was created to demonstrate the county's great appreciation for our teachers and to enhance innovation in teaching.