After two consecutive years of virtual recognition, Madison Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner Saturday in-person with Marci Jones named recipient of the Jeff Garrett Citizen of the Year Award.
“I am so happy to be able to get together in person this year,” said Cari Morrison-Bear, the Chamber’s 2022 president, who noted 2022 was a year in which the Chamber welcomed Richard Ice as its executive director. “We’ve all learned to grow together as a group,” calling it a successful year for the Chamber.
This year’s event was the 99th annual dinner with Elaine Bedel, chief executive officer of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC), as the keynote speaker.
Rhonda Pennington, the incoming 2023 president, presented the evening’s awards.
In presenting Jones with the Jeff Garrett Citizen of the Year award, Pennington said Jones has “spent years giving to our community.” For 16 years, she was coordinator of the Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes, and for the last 11 years organized the Cookie Caper held in conjunction with that event. Over the years, the Cookie Caper has raised more than $40,000 to benefit numerous charitable organizations in Jefferson County. Jones also worked for Visit Madison Inc. from 2004 to 2020 and has volunteered with the Fair Play Fire Company Auxiliary, Tri Kappa Tour of Homes, Salvation Army and Ohio Theatre.
The Community Service Award is named in memory of Jeff Garrett to recognize his lifetime of community contributions following his death Oct. 30, 2005. Garrett, a former executive director of the Chamber, is credited with establishing the annual Ribberfest BBQ & Blues and Soup Stew Chili Brew festivals along other community activities. “It’s my opinion that he almost single handed led Madison out of the doldrums” in the early 2000s following a couple of decades of economic stagnation, said Ice, adding that the award truly is special because of Garrett’s accomplishments.
Eagle Cotton Mill Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites was named Business of the Year. Pennington said the hotel, which opened in July of 2021, “has made a big splash on Madison’s riverfront. They took a long-abandoned building and turned it into a jewel on the riverfront. It has become a destination for business and leisure guests while sharing a sense of Madison’s rich heritage.”
Brad Wood was recipient of the Emerging Leader Award. “He has demonstrated strong leadership skills,” said Pennington, noting that Wood joined River Valley Resources in March of 2022 as director of operations and strategic initiatives, and was recently promoted to RVR chief operating officer. He has served as president of Ulster Project, Recovery Café board of directors and Healthy Communities Resilient Jefferson County committee. “This is a leader that will guide Jefferson County into the next decade,” said Pennington.
Bedel is the first-ever CEO of IDDC, which was formed by the state legislature in 2019 as a quasi-government agency for promoting, branding and telling Indiana’s story to both attract and retain business, talent, students and visitors to Indiana.
As is a 1974 graduate of Hanover College who now serves as president of the college’s board of directors, Bedel knows Jefferson County well. “Madison is just a beautiful city, it’s a rising star in the state of Indiana. You are our gateway from the south so we want to make sure that you continue to grow,” she said.
Bedel said Indiana has much to offer, but there’s a perception “that there’s really nothing here” even though she said that is not true. “We know if we get people to Indiana on any level to visit or to work, it totally changes their perspective. So, right now Indiana’s perception is not really very high” and the IDDC is working to change that. “We want to raise the perception in order to get people to come” to Indiana.
Madison Mayor Bob Courtney also spoke at the event, focusing on what was accomplished during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the city used that time to plan, execute and develop. “We’ve learned that by continually investing and focusing on innovation when the opportunity to presents itself, even in challenging times like we had, we’re going to come out of it even stronger. Madison is strong today. It will be stronger in the future.”
Ice recognized the Chamber’s officers and board of directors, commending them for their dedication and commitment in “how much they do” for the community.
In addition to Pennington assuming the role of Chamber president in 2023, Kelsey Shaw will be vice president, Mindy Cloud-Thevenow will be treasurer and Jim Leveille will serve as secretary. The remaining board of directors include Morrison-Bear, Keith Acree, Hope Fox, J.R. Harrell, Amanda Harsin, Jenny Moss, Monica Nolan, Michaela Owens, RaeAne Pryor and Angela Record.
Morrison-Bear also recognized out-going board members Doug Ungru, the 2022 vice president, and Paula Clark, the 2021 president.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.