2017 Chamber Annual Awards Banquet
April 04, 2017
Tuesday, March 14th the 2017 Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet was held at The Club at Indian Creek. The annual event had a great turnout to honor businesses and citizens in Western Douglas County.
The award winners are selected on exceptional leadership both inside and outside of their business, inspiration and resourcefulness in business development and participation in the community. The citizen and lifetime achievement award are given to a person in the chamber area that contributes to the quality of life and development of the community.
The 2017 Ambassador of the Year is Meg Tentinger a Residential Lender with Great Southern Bank. Ambassador of the Year is awarded based on points Ambassadors receive for attending and helping at Chamber Events. We offer bonus points for weekend or last minute add on events. The Ambassadors are the individuals that help greet at Chamber Events and attend Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Openings. Meg went above and beyond this year and attended 67 events and ended the year with 82% attendance at Chamber events. Meg enjoys being an active member of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce and community.
The 2017 Business of the Year is Sam & Louie’s located just off 204th Street 2 blocks south of Maple. In 2001 Sam & Louie’s was officially a pizza franchise. Since then, the passion for growth and success of the communities the business is in has become just as strong as the passion for pizza. Franchises are located in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Elkhorn store was opened in 2008 and the Nolan family works in the store along with manager Scott and a great staff of high schoolers that love to support the Elkhorn local schools. From baseball teams and churches to schools and catering businesses Sam & Louie’s is honored to support the Western Douglas community. Sam & Louie’s has been in business over 24 years now and this year has been re-branded as an Italian Restaurant where we all “Gather Around the Table” to make memories, hold business meetings and cater parties. Since opening in Elkhorn, Sam & Louies has met the community’s need for catering at many events. They have catered weddings, business meetings and events of all sorts including Chamber Events. Sam & Louies is a great asset to the community.
The 2017 Business Person of the Year is Dan DeSive COO of eSpark Media. Dan has grown his business over the past few years and has volunteered time in making the WDCCC a growing, fun and valued chamber. He takes pride in the community and is a strong supporter of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. Dan serves as a Chamber Ambassador and is also a Board Member. He not only attends nearly all Chamber events but when sponsorships are needed, his business supports the Chamber. Dan also leads a Chamber TIPS referral group on Tuesdays. He strongly promotes and recruits new members to the Chamber. This commitment to the Chamber made Dan a perfect candidate for this year’s Business Person of the Year.
The 2017 Citizen of the Year is Jim Tomanek the Executive Director of COPE, The COPE office is located in the basement of Community of Grace Church one block south of 204th & Maple. COPE provides one food pantry to a family every 90 days, but because of community generosity and increased food donations the days between pantries has been reduced from every 90 days to 60 days. For a family of four, this may last only one week. The most exciting event to happen at COPE in 2016 was a private donor providing a $3,000 gift to purchase a commercial size refrigerator. Now COPE can partner with Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue to receive 2 deliveries per week of fresh produce and dairy products. This helps to provide some healthy food to struggling families between grocery store visits. This year COPE will also provide 3 healthy cooking classes to help suggest a healthier lifestyle. Participants will receive a box of fresh produce to take home after the class.
The 2017 Chamber Member of the Year is Michelle Bourque the Director of Sales at Residence Inn Omaha West. Michelle has been selected the Chamber Member of the Year because of her endless hours of volunteered time in making the WDCCC a growing, fun and valued chamber. She takes pride in the community and is a strong supporter of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. Michelle serves as a Chamber Ambassador and is also a Board Member. She not only attends nearly all Chamber events but when sponsorships are needed, her business supports the Chamber. Michelle also leads a Chamber TIPS referral group on Wednesday mornings. She strongly promotes and recruits new members to the Chamber. Michelle is truly deserving of this award. She is at almost every Chamber event and jumps in to help wherever she can. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.
The 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient is Steve Baker. Steve is the Superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools. Steve joined the Elkhorn Public Schools district in 1975 as the one and only band director. He served as the band director, dance team sponsor and National Honors Sponsor from 1975-1987 for 12 years. During his final 2 years as band director he also assumed the duties of EHS Assistant Principal. Steve is quick to note that while doing 2 jobs for 2 years he was only paid for one. He continued as High School Assistant Principal for 4 more years 1987-91 before moving to the District Office as the Assistant Superintendent. He served in this role for 18 years until he assumed the duties of Superintendent in March of 2009. During his tenure as Superintendent the district grew from 9 to 16 schools and approximately 4800 to 8400 K-12 students. Over the years, Steve has held numerous offices in organizations, served on countless committees and won several awards. Steve actually served on the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Board.
As assistant Superintendent and Superintendent Steve has been involved in many bond issues and construction projects over $275 million. He joined the district when there were only two elementary schools and one Junior/Senior High School. In 1975 there were just over 1000 students. Today the district has more than 1250 staff and 8600 PreK-12 students served in 16 schools with the 17th under construction. On average the district is adding over 1000 students every 2 years. Steve will quickly state that the Elkhorn Public Schools is the highest performing and one of the lowest spending districts in Nebraska.
Steve says, “It’s been a labor of love for 42 years” and the greatness of the District is rooted in a supportive community, a talented and dedicated staff that consistently rises to the challenge and fabulous students. Congratulations to our Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and guest speaker Steve Baker!
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated and attended this year’s award banquet, we hope to see you all next year. You are all valued members of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce
Article by Jenni Soukup
Photos by C.J. Wilson – Son Light Expressions.com
The award winners are selected on exceptional leadership both inside and outside of their business, inspiration and resourcefulness in business development and participation in the community. The citizen and lifetime achievement award are given to a person in the chamber area that contributes to the quality of life and development of the community.
The 2017 Ambassador of the Year is Meg Tentinger a Residential Lender with Great Southern Bank. Ambassador of the Year is awarded based on points Ambassadors receive for attending and helping at Chamber Events. We offer bonus points for weekend or last minute add on events. The Ambassadors are the individuals that help greet at Chamber Events and attend Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Openings. Meg went above and beyond this year and attended 67 events and ended the year with 82% attendance at Chamber events. Meg enjoys being an active member of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce and community.
The 2017 Business of the Year is Sam & Louie’s located just off 204th Street 2 blocks south of Maple. In 2001 Sam & Louie’s was officially a pizza franchise. Since then, the passion for growth and success of the communities the business is in has become just as strong as the passion for pizza. Franchises are located in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Elkhorn store was opened in 2008 and the Nolan family works in the store along with manager Scott and a great staff of high schoolers that love to support the Elkhorn local schools. From baseball teams and churches to schools and catering businesses Sam & Louie’s is honored to support the Western Douglas community. Sam & Louie’s has been in business over 24 years now and this year has been re-branded as an Italian Restaurant where we all “Gather Around the Table” to make memories, hold business meetings and cater parties. Since opening in Elkhorn, Sam & Louies has met the community’s need for catering at many events. They have catered weddings, business meetings and events of all sorts including Chamber Events. Sam & Louies is a great asset to the community.
The 2017 Business Person of the Year is Dan DeSive COO of eSpark Media. Dan has grown his business over the past few years and has volunteered time in making the WDCCC a growing, fun and valued chamber. He takes pride in the community and is a strong supporter of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. Dan serves as a Chamber Ambassador and is also a Board Member. He not only attends nearly all Chamber events but when sponsorships are needed, his business supports the Chamber. Dan also leads a Chamber TIPS referral group on Tuesdays. He strongly promotes and recruits new members to the Chamber. This commitment to the Chamber made Dan a perfect candidate for this year’s Business Person of the Year.
The 2017 Citizen of the Year is Jim Tomanek the Executive Director of COPE, The COPE office is located in the basement of Community of Grace Church one block south of 204th & Maple. COPE provides one food pantry to a family every 90 days, but because of community generosity and increased food donations the days between pantries has been reduced from every 90 days to 60 days. For a family of four, this may last only one week. The most exciting event to happen at COPE in 2016 was a private donor providing a $3,000 gift to purchase a commercial size refrigerator. Now COPE can partner with Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue to receive 2 deliveries per week of fresh produce and dairy products. This helps to provide some healthy food to struggling families between grocery store visits. This year COPE will also provide 3 healthy cooking classes to help suggest a healthier lifestyle. Participants will receive a box of fresh produce to take home after the class.
The 2017 Chamber Member of the Year is Michelle Bourque the Director of Sales at Residence Inn Omaha West. Michelle has been selected the Chamber Member of the Year because of her endless hours of volunteered time in making the WDCCC a growing, fun and valued chamber. She takes pride in the community and is a strong supporter of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. Michelle serves as a Chamber Ambassador and is also a Board Member. She not only attends nearly all Chamber events but when sponsorships are needed, her business supports the Chamber. Michelle also leads a Chamber TIPS referral group on Wednesday mornings. She strongly promotes and recruits new members to the Chamber. Michelle is truly deserving of this award. She is at almost every Chamber event and jumps in to help wherever she can. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.
The 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient is Steve Baker. Steve is the Superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools. Steve joined the Elkhorn Public Schools district in 1975 as the one and only band director. He served as the band director, dance team sponsor and National Honors Sponsor from 1975-1987 for 12 years. During his final 2 years as band director he also assumed the duties of EHS Assistant Principal. Steve is quick to note that while doing 2 jobs for 2 years he was only paid for one. He continued as High School Assistant Principal for 4 more years 1987-91 before moving to the District Office as the Assistant Superintendent. He served in this role for 18 years until he assumed the duties of Superintendent in March of 2009. During his tenure as Superintendent the district grew from 9 to 16 schools and approximately 4800 to 8400 K-12 students. Over the years, Steve has held numerous offices in organizations, served on countless committees and won several awards. Steve actually served on the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Board.
As assistant Superintendent and Superintendent Steve has been involved in many bond issues and construction projects over $275 million. He joined the district when there were only two elementary schools and one Junior/Senior High School. In 1975 there were just over 1000 students. Today the district has more than 1250 staff and 8600 PreK-12 students served in 16 schools with the 17th under construction. On average the district is adding over 1000 students every 2 years. Steve will quickly state that the Elkhorn Public Schools is the highest performing and one of the lowest spending districts in Nebraska.
Steve says, “It’s been a labor of love for 42 years” and the greatness of the District is rooted in a supportive community, a talented and dedicated staff that consistently rises to the challenge and fabulous students. Congratulations to our Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and guest speaker Steve Baker!
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated and attended this year’s award banquet, we hope to see you all next year. You are all valued members of the Western Douglas County Chamber of Commerce
Article by Jenni Soukup
Photos by C.J. Wilson – Son Light Expressions.com
Contact:
WDCCC
wdccc@wdccc.org, (402) 289-9560
