Klamath County Chamber celebrates 100-years
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Cardinal Flooring was announced as the winner of Commitment to Community (Business) at the 100th Annual Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala held on Saturday, January 29, 2022. (Image: Vallejos Photography)
The following is a press release from the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On Saturday night, over 500 guests enjoyed a fun night in a very large private airplane hangar celebrating the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce’s 100th Anniversary and 100th Annual Awards Gala. The event was a celebration of the accomplishments of the Chamber over the past century and a celebration of businesses and individuals who help make the Klamath Basin a wonderful community today.
The event was sponsored by US Bank, Scanlan Financial Group, Coldwell Banker – Randy Shaw, and Kla-Mo-Ya Casino/Sleep Inn.
“Since its creation, the Chamber has been a positive force in the community and that success is a result of men and women seeing a need and then stepping up to serve on our board or on a committee. The success is a result of business owners joining the Chamber, sharing their struggles, working collaboratively, and supporting the work of the Chamber,” said Heather Harter, Executive Director, “I was honored to take a moment to highlight the good work the Chamber has done for over a century and pay respects to the people who made it happen and continue to make it happen.”
While the event did highlight the Chamber’s success, it was a celebration of current businesses and individuals who contribute to the Klamath Basin’s success. For the 100th time, the Chamber recognized traits and characteristics that make great businesses and thereby creates a great place to live. For the past six months, the public has been asked to nominate the businesses, organizations, or individuals that they felt best represented the spirit of the Gala.
Sixteen categories were awarded at the ceremony.
Best Place to Work (15 or less): Shasta Family Dental
Best Place to Work (16 or more): Coastal
Big IDEA Innovation: Pourhorse
Commitment to Community (Business): Cardinal Flooring
Commitment to Community (Individual): Kryssi Heitman
Youth Leadership: Kennedy Lease (Mazama) and Abby Cook (Klamath Union)
Champion of Youth: Glen Szymoniak
Lifetime Achievement: Stan Gilbert
Pathfinder: Tayo Akins, Cascade Health Alliance
Spirit of Entrepreneurism (for profit business): Rigoberto Cisneros, Girasol’s Mexican Restaurant
Spirit of Entrepreneurism (nonprofit): The Staff at the Ross Ragland Theater
Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Brienne Humphrey, Christina Hess, Stacy Ellingson, Vonda Pierce, and Tamera O’Dell
2020 President’s Award: Joe Spendolini and Heather Harter
2021 President’s Award: Bob Kingzett
Excellence in Public Service: Greg Walden
Excellence in Leadership: Dick Wendt
The Best Place to Work category encompasses both businesses with fewer than 15 employees and businesses with more than 16 employees. These awards are granted to businesses that provide employees with an outstanding positive, healthy, and productive workplace. The winner of the 15 or less category was Shasta Family Dental. The nominators noted that the company puts family first, and one nominator shared a heartfelt story of support when she lost her mother. The winner of the 16 or more category was Coastal; the nominators were enthusiastic in their endorsement of Coastal’s passion for the work they do and the happiness of their employees.
The concept behind the Big IDEA Innovation Award is to recognize an organization in any industry that employs new ideas or approaches to doing business. The winner in this category was Pourhorse, recognized for re-inventing his event-focused business during the pandemic.
The Commitment to Community Award is awarded to an organization in any industry that demonstrates a successful approach to corporate social responsibility and can show a positive impact on the community. This year, Cardinal Flooring was recognized for their contributions to the Bootleg Fire victims. This year, the Chamber also recognized an individual, Kryssi Heitman, for the countless volunteer hours she devotes to many different organizations and causes including the Chamber, the Freedom Celebration, and more.
This year, the Chamber recognized two students with the first ever Youth Leadership
Award. Kennedy Lease from Mazama High School was recognized for her dedication to her school and team as well as her ability to get fellow students engaged and involved. Abby Cook from Klamath Union was recognized for her out of the box thinking that has helped the DECA program grow and thrive. The Chamber also recognized Glen Szymoniak with the Champion for Youth award for working tirelessly as an advocate and champion for our youth.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is just that: recognition of an individual who has demonstrated exceptional business achievement and outstanding commitment to Klamath’s business community over their lifetime. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Stan Gilbert, whose nominators praised him for his advancements within Klamath’s mental health programs.
The nominators for winner of the Pathfinder Award noted, “His commitment to Klamath never wavered during the pandemic, in fact, he doubled down.” In this case, the winner forges his own path with humble leadership, vision, and drive to do the right thing. Tayo Akins with Cascade Health was awarded the Pathfinder award.
The Spirit of Entrepreneurism award was given to Rigoberto Cisneros, owner of Girasol’s Mexican Restaurant. His dream of becoming an entrepreneur, working hard to raise money and achieve his dreams and then bring that dream to fruition was noted in his nomination. This year, the Chamber wanted to recognize a non-profit business that showed an entrepreneurial spirit. The nomination for the staff at the Ross Ragland Theater noted that they found creative ways to keep the theater staff employed despite having to completely shutter its doors for months.
The Chamber recognized five Ambassadors with the Ambassador of the Year award, recognizing them for bringing people together and supporting business during the pandemic. Brienne Humphrey, Christine Hess, Tamera O’Dell, Stacy Ellingson, and Vonda Pierce were recognized for the tenacity and creativity, finding ways to spread goodwill, offer virtual networking, and bring cheer over the past two years.
For its Centennial Celebration, the Chamber added two special awards – Excellence in Public Service and Excellence in Leadership. The Excellence in Public Service was awarded to retired Congressman Greg Walden for his commitment to the Klamath Basin over the years. The Excellence in Leadership award was given to Dick Wendt and received by Wendt’s wife, Nancy.
The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination for these awards and congratulate all the recipients. Part of what makes these awards so special is that they come from our entire community.
The Chamber also thanks the award sponsors: Klamath Basin Home Builders Association, Rachael Spoon State Farm, Chris Stone – Edward Jones, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls Downtown Association, Klamath IDEA, and KCC Small Business Development Center.
For more information on this event or the Chamber, call (541) 884-5193 or visit www.klamath.org.
