A Big WIN for the "Wayneopoly" Annual Dinner & Awards

The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 32 businesses, individuals, and organizations with more than 600 members in attendance for their Annual Dinner Friday night.  In addition to awards and entertainment, the group heard from 2021 Board Chair Katie Alyea of 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union as well as incoming 2022 Board Chair Brian Ballenger of Whisenhunt Construction.
 
This year’s Wayneopoly theme took a local spin on the popular game of Monopoly.  “It was a pleasure to serve as the 2021 Chamber Board Chair and be a part of the great work that led to a ‘Community Chest’ full of achievements last year,” said Alyea. From the Chamber’s state recognition as one of the top 10 Chambers in Indiana to the first Flavor of Wayne County on top of the parking garage, the work in diversity and inclusion by the Issues & Advocacy Committee, and the first Chamber Business Summit in the fall, Alyea was elated by the overall success of the year. “We zoomed right ‘past go’ and banked 37 ribbon cuttings and 80 new Chamber members!” she added, keeping with the theme of the night.
 
Ballenger focused on 2022 in his speech.  Already achieving success with the Chamber Career Fair that hosted nearly 1,000 high school juniors and seniors, he says the Business & Education Committee will turn their attention to boosting internships in Wayne County. “This gives us an excellent chance to attract and retain our young talent,” he said.
 
Another area of focus will be supporting small businesses with their surprise “Chamber Pop-Ins” which take small groups of members to a business to spend a few dollars for food, drinks, or gift items.
“And tonight, for the very first time, we will present a new award – the Champion of Diversity,” Ballenger added.  Named later that evening was the nonprofit Amigos, The Richmond Latino Center, as the first recipient of this award.
 
“Lastly, one of the programs I am most proud of that began in 2021 and wrapped up in January is our first WC Leads cohort,” concludes Ballenger.  The program was aimed at young professionals under the age of 40 and brought 10 professional development workshops on topics like leadership, community involvement, overcoming obstacles. Each member was partnered with a mentor who met with them during the program and will likely remain a mentor afterward.  The recognized graduates were:
 
Cierra Bailey, Richmond Parks and Recreation, mentored by Lindsay Sankey from Co-Alliance and Sankey Angus Abby Clifton, Indiana University East, mentored by Robin Henry from 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union Gabby Davis, Eastern Indiana Works, mentored by Acacia St. John from Forward Wayne County Kimmie Davis, Natco Credit Union, mentored by Stasia Veramallay Roxie Deer, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, mentored by Senator Jeff Raatz Angel Groves, Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, mentored by Mary Jo Clark Heather Hall, BradyWare RKN, mentored by Cindy Duke from Natco Credit Union Andrew Hoover, Reid Health, mentored by Angela Cline from Reid Health Alex Painter, Wayne County Foundation, mentored by Jason Troutwine from Reid Health Ava Reed, 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union, mentored by Kim Tanner from Earlham College Cody Short, BradyWare RKN, mentored by Marty Van Der Burgt from Belden The Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader award went to newly retired Boys & Girls Club (BGC) executive, Bruce Daggy.  “Bruce Daggy is the epitome of executive directors around the country,” said BGC board member Richard Peterson. Daggy significantly grew the organization over his 29 years of service.  The club now serves students across the county with the newest site opening at the Western Wayne Administration Building in Pershing. 
 
Club member Mika Parks said the staff “made me the person I am today.” Garry Kleer, also a BGC board member, touted Daggy’s ability to mentor his staff, many of which went on to lead clubs around Indiana.
“It is humbling to be recognized for striving to achieve your personal mission of improving the lives of the children in our community,” said Daggy.  Daggy follows his father, Dr. James R. Daggy, who was named the Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader in 2008.  “To be recognized for the same honor that was presented to my father makes the recognition so much more meaningful.”
 
Also a big winner for the evening was SugarCreek, the 2021 Corporation of the Year.  Sugarcreek currently employs 600 and has invested $28 million in Cambridge City. Their creativity assists employees with housing, transportation, and childcare.  
 
“Cambridge City is known as a childcare desert,” says YMCA Executive Director Misty Hollis. Hollis worked together with SugarCreek to apply for a grant that helped fund necessary equipment to open a Y-Care facility in the Western Wayne Elementary School.  The program serves children of SugarCreek employees with additional openings available for area residents. 
 
“The thing that I applaud SugarCreek for is the tenacity to make sure that the needs of their employees are being met,” Hollis said.  “The challenge laid out to the leadership team will create a more empowered and engaged workforce,” said Michael Richardson, SugarCreek President.  “Any way we can be a steward to make it a better place to live, we’re all in.”
 
LifeStream Services took home the Nonprofit of the Year award. The group serves older adults and helps people with disabilities live at home. During the COVID pandemic, the organization couldn’t gather their clients together in the same ways they had previously done, so they got creative. They held their health fair as a drive thru.  Jenny Hamilton, LifeStream President/CEO said, “It may seem kind of strange for a health fair, but it worked.”
 
“We have about 1,000 volunteers, …so we started a friendly caller program,” said Hamilton. “That program paired up a volunteer with someone who just needed someone to talk to.”  The program helped with those who were socially isolated.
“If we don’t value all of the people in our society, if we start to forget about people as they age, everybody suffers,” added Ray Wagner of 101.7 The Point.  The programs offered by LifeStream help to address this critical need.
 
Other winners for the night include:
                Volunteer of the Year: Rick Duncan, G101.3 and Vox Vestra Productions
                Bob Rosa Buy Local Award: Ed DeLaPaz, CityLife FYI
                Emergency Professional of the Year: Anna Osborn Brown, Reid Health
                Partner in Education: Junior Achievement
                Outstanding Service to Agriculture: Sankey Angus
                Achievement of Excellence – Small Business: Phillips Tube Group, Inc.
                Achievement of Excellence – Large Business: First Bank Richmond
                Educators of the Year – Josh Amyx and Stephanie Baker, Richmond Community Schools
                Excellence in Higher Education – Dr. Oi Lin Cheung
                Outstanding Young Professional of the Year – Lori Current, Bethany Theological Seminary
 
Each of the Chamber’s six committees named outstanding members as well:
                Awards, Celebrations & Events Committee: Jessica Guth, Richmond State Hospital
Business & Education Committee: Sarah Mitchell, Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
Buy Local Committee: Karin Hostetter, Cope Environmental Center
HYPE Wayne County: Lyndsey Hobson, Individual HYPE member
Issues & Advocacy Committee: Tamara Brinkman, United Way of Whitewater Valley
Member Outreach Committee: Cathy Hillard, Smiley’s Pub and Beer Garden
 
The event, typically held in January, was postponed to April 1 due to the high number of COVID cases in Wayne County at the time.  However, the Chamber projects returning to its original timeframe next year on January 20, 2023.