Chamber recognizes citizens, businesses community work

The Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Breakfast and Awards Ceremony at Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township on Tuesday, June 19.

“This event is when the chamber and the lakes area residents come together to recognize, celebrate and say thank you to the people who work so hard all year long to enhance the community that we live and do business in,” said Chamber Executive Director Jo Alley.

Awards were doled out to both individuals, groups and businesses, while another 45 businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries were also acknowledged.

The Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Andrew Berry of Commerce Township. The award recognizes “someone who has made in-depth, long-term volunteer contributions to the lakes area community over the years. The winner is or has been active, involved, interested, and enthusiastic about making the lakes area a nice place to live and work. This individual excels in any area of unpaid endeavor of education, social services, youth work, and community improvement.”

The Outstanding Citizen Award, which was presented to the Commerce Township Breakfast Committee, honors a person or persons who dedicated time and energy to a specific cause in the lakes area. According to the chamber, “this person (or group) gives willingly, energetically and consistently. This person (or group) might be well known or might be a ‘quiet’ volunteer, unrecognized until now, but always gives ‘from the heart.’”

The Lakes Area Rotary Club was recognized at this year’s Outstanding Non-Profit, which is an award to honor the non-profit organization that has best used its resources to help the community.

The Outstanding Student Volunteer award honors the young people who are active in volunteer efforts in the lakes area and deserve acknowledgement for their “contributions of dedication, energy, and community spirit.” This year two students from the Walled Lake Consolidated School District were honored: Hope Drogmiller from Sarah Banks Middle School and Adriana Walker from Walled Lake Western High School.

Edgewood Country Club was named as the Outstanding Chamber Business of the Year, an award which recognizes a business that has made “in-depth contributions to the lakes area community through their business.” Those honored with this award are active, involved, interested, and enthusiastic about making the lakes area a destination of choice for local businesses.

Jim Szegi of LegalShield was named the Chamber’s Outstanding Ambassador this year. This recognition is given each year to the ambassador “who put forth extraordinary efforts in visible support of member recognition and appreciation, on behalf of the chamber.”

This award is not based on the nomination process, but instead is based on a point system. 

The Multi-Lakes Conservation Association was named as the Lakes Area Chamber Member of the Year. The mission of the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association is to “further the understanding and enjoyment of the outdoors through programs and activities geared to (the) hunter and fisherman.”