(MyBayCity Photos By Julie McCallum)
400 "Business Positives" Cheer at Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting 2009
"Mission Possible" Karn-Weadock Theme Resonates With Crowd at DoubleTree
March 26, 2009
By: Dave Rogers
The effervescent spirit of Bay City was mightily present at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) 126th annual meeting Wednesday night in the DoubleTree Hotel - Bay City Riverfront.
An enthusiastic crowd of about 400 mingled and networked joyously, cheered award winners vigorously, applauded speakers lustily and generally had a great time at the event.
Mission Possible? That's the chamber's promotion theme for the campaign to win support for the proposed $2.4 million clean coal plant of Consumers Energy at the Karn-Weadock facility at the mouth of the Saginaw River.
Mike Stodolak, right, winner of the Leadership Alumni Community Service Award 2009, comments after receiving his award.
Mike Debo of Chemical Bank, chair of the chamber, stressed the need to gain about 1,800 construction jobs for seven years and 80 permanent jobs at Karn-Weadock. "This is very important for our economy and our future," he commented. "We need to insure the reliability of our future electricity supplies."
The positive strokes and new ideas just kept coming:
Great Lakes Bay -- "Adopt the name and promote the area," said Mr. Debo.
Bay County Young Professionals -- a new program of BACC for 21-40 year-olds for which bimonthly meetings will begin in May.
Stu Reid, immediate past chairman, was applauded for his work last year, said by Mr. Debo to have been "one of the best for chamber finances."
"I really enjoyed representing the chamber and the positive energy of the board of directors," said Mr. Reid. "It was a lot of fun and I was proud to represent the chamber."
David Green, left, of Chemical Bank, honors Mark Delestowicz, of Independent Bank, as Ambassador of the Year, as Eric Jylha, right, chamber spokesman, looks on.
Alice Gerard, CEO of Bay Regional Medical Center, education/workforce development vice chair, pointed to the chamber's numerous programs supporting education and Sohail Qamar of the Ultra Carbon Division of Carbone International, chair of the manufacturer's council, noted the "capacity of the chamber to take action on reasonable proposals."
David Green, left, Mark Delestowicz, and the All Star Team beam as awards are presented.
Athena Award winner was Anne E. Trahan, of Anne Trahan Photography. "Anne always has a smile on her face and is always doing the right thing," said Andrea Hales, of PNC Bank (formerly National City) who chaired the selection committee. Anne "serves as a role model for other women," she added.
Other award winners included National City Bank, now part of PNC, the Family Friendly Employer Award; Michael Stodolak, Independent Bank, Leadership Alumni Community Service Award; Mark Delestowicz, also of Independent Bank, the Ambassador of the Year Award and part of the All Star Team of the Year that includes Sue Pike, Monitor Township Treasurer; Magen Trask, Bay Future, Inc.; Cathy Koebke, The Bay City Times; Sandy Loomis, Chemical Bank; and Luke Russell, Edward Jones.
Tim Boutell, right, of Boutell Enterprises/Firehouse Soft Car Wash, was inducted into the Chamber Business Hall of Fame with lavish praise from Mike Seward, chamber president/CEO, noting that Boutell joins his father, the late William H. Boutell, as an honoree in the hall of fame.
Mr. Boutell is treasurer of Bay Future, Inc., public-private economic development organization, and is on the board of the Hampton Township Downtown Development Association, among other activities.
Mr. Boutell expressed thanks to his father for mentoring him and setting an example by his civic involvement. The elder Mr. Boutell was a county commissioner and was a leader in school millage campaigns in the 1960s during crisis periods for the Bay City Public Schools.
"An awful lot of people make me look good and I'm grateful to them," said Mr. Boutell, naming a list of his staff members. He is the fifth generation of his family in business in the community.
The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, a marketing consortium of the economic development agencies of Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties, is ramping up to promote location of new alternative energy industries in the area, noted Mr. Seward in his president's peroration that was the highlight of the event.
"Even though we are facing some big challenges in our economy, we also have great opportunities," said Mr. Seward.
Mr. Seward had plaudits for Bay City Mayor Charles Brunner, who went to Washington, D.C., on a mission along with the mayors of other automotive production communities, a trip that was funded jointly by the chamber and the city.
"Business and government working together as a team can truly make a difference; that's what business development is all about," said Mr. Seward, noting that one goal of the effort is production of wind energy equipment right here in Bay County.
(MyBayCity Photos By Julie McCallum)
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