Chamber of Commerce honors business leaders
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Don Collette, was designated the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year; Levoy Knowles received the Free Enterprise Award; and Bill Myers was named Chamber Citizen Volunteer of the Year.
Last year’s Citizen of the Year, former County Executive Carol Hamblen, presented the award to Collette, extolling his 26 years of service as general manager/CEO of McMinnville Electric System, his community service and particularly his involvement in the Chamber and his work in starting and developing the Leadership program in McMinnville, which is celebrating it’s 20th year.
Collette, who retired from MES in 1999 and opened a consulting firm, said he was gratified to be recognized for his efforts, but gave much of the credit to the support of his wife, Mary, who accompanied him to the stage.
‘I feel very surprised and very honored,’ Collette said. ‘I’m delighted to be the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen award and I thank the Chamber very much.’
Collette said he has always felt strongly about getting involved in the community, in organizations like the Chamber, and in programs such as Leadership.
‘I believe it’s very important,’ Collette said. ‘I doubt any community could survive without volunteers. The volunteers do the work, and each community needs all the volunteers it can find.
‘I think Leadership McMinnville has exposed its participants to things in government and business that you normally don’t see every day in Warren County,’ Collette added. ‘How do you get jobs done, how do you make events successful. I think Leadership lets its members know that there are other places to go in besides the front door to get the job done.’
Greg Brock, the previous Free Enterprise honoree, presented this year’s award to Levoy Knowles, current General Manager/CEO of Ben Lomand Rural Telephone and president of Ben Lomand Holdings, Inc. Brock said Knowles exemplifies the qualities required for the Free Enterprise award. He also talked about Knowles’ community involvement, as a member of the Industrial Development Board, president of Noon Rotary Club, and chairman of the board of First National Bank, among many others.
‘His success as a business person, community involvement and character are all top rated,’ Brock said.
Knowles’ wife Teresa shared the stage with her husband as well, and he also noted her contribution to his success.
‘Some say it’s a 50-50 proposition, but with me I think it’s probably more like 60-40,’ Knowles quipped. ‘I couldn’t have done it without her.’
Knowles said the accolade was definitely unexpected.
‘I was totally surprised, shocked and, well, humbled by the fact that I could be put in the same group as all the previous winners,’ Knowles said, ‘with all they have accomplished. I was very pleased to receive the award, it was a very great honor.’
Knowles has long been known for keeping the company he leads on the cutting edge of technology.
‘I think it’s extremely important that a community has access to technology,’ Knowles said. ‘We need advanced technology in order to attract new business and industry, and even homeowners. We have lots of new developments and people moving here, and they expect high speed Internet access through DSL, HD television, the top quality entertainment you can get in major cities, and we can provide that.’
Outgoing Chamber board chairman Amie Hodges presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Bill Myers, founder of Myers Communications. Hodges touted Myers’ membership in Leadership McMinnville, where he was a 2006 graduate, his involvement the Autumn Street Fair and in the revival of the Dottie West Music Fest, as well as his work with Healing Hearts.
Myers said he appreciated the kudos and encouraged everyone to join in, noting that volunteering has its own rewards.
‘It’s an honor, a big honor, to be recognized for the things that you do,’ Myers said. ‘But you know, when you get it you realize that these things take a lot of other people to accomplish, like the Dottie West Music Fest. I got the award, but Thomas Vaughn, Dottie’s family, all were such a big part of that. It was a team effort. And Healing Hearts, I got the recognition, but they have the faith. They’re the ones who go out there every day to counsel the kids. My part is small compared to what they do.’
The recorded proceedings of the Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting and awards program will air on WCPI public radio, 91.3 FM, this Friday, Feb. 1 at 9:03 a.m.