BY LIZ HATCHER, TUALATIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Each spring, communities across America celebrate the volunteers – individuals, businesses, and organizations – who give their time, talents and resources to help those in need. Tualatin is one of those lucky communities with a wealth of good Samaritans who seem to have an insatiable spirit for giving back. These are the people that help make our fine city a great place to live, work and play.
On March 14th, The Tualatin Chamber of Commerce honored a few of these fine citizens at the Annual Celebrate Tualatin Awards Luncheon. Sponsored by Comcast and held at the Tualatin Country Club, the program recognized twenty-seven individuals and businesses who were nominated in nine categories by members of the Chamber and the community. Collectively, these nominees represent countless hours of volunteerism, charitable contributions, community activism, and donations that have had an impact on the community through scholarships and youth programs, special events and tourism, parks and recreation, business development and growth, and so much more!
While we know that there are many more unsung heroes in our community, here are the 2017 Celebrate Tualatin nominees and award recipients:
Business Leader of the Year Award Jason Jordan, Republic Services
Also nominated – Fred Bruning, CenterCal
Rookie of the Year
Michael Antonelli, Tualatin Life
Also nominated – Carrie Finnigan, ProForma; Joel Saxe, Get Healthy with Joel; Willow Kessell Oelke, Riverview Community Bank
New Business of the Year
Izumi Japanese Steak House and
Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill
Also nominated – Lugano Café & Catering
Chamber Volunteer of the Year
Kate Johnson, LegalShield
Also nominated – Doyle Dillon, LoanStar Home Lending; Jane Larsen, Jane, Ink; Tim Garrett, Matchlight Video; Valia Eskandari, Edge Graphics Co.
Spirit of Tualatin – Outstanding Community Service by an Individual
Jordan Berrier, Integrity Staffing
Also nominated – Arthur Breur, FireSpike LLC / Arthur Breur Composer; Marcia Solberg, SendOutCards
Spirit of Tualatin – Outstanding Community Service by a Small/Medium Business
Tualatin Auto Body, Alex & Dave Carney
Also nominated – Rachelle M. Rustic; House of Fashion—Rachelle Wilde; Express Employment Professionals—Robert Knight
Spirit of Tualatin – Outstanding Community Service by a Large Company
Marquis Tualatin
Also nominated – Columbia Bank
Findlay Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Lifetime Achievement Award
Harvey Clark, True Value Hardware and Loyce Martinazzi, Tualatin Historical Society / Winona Grange
Also nominated – Dave & Janet Dalton, Dalton’s NW Catering; Harvey Clark, Clark Lumber & True Value Hardware
Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award
Mike Niebur, Solutions Yes
Congratulations and thank you for all that you do! Complete profiles are posted on the Tualatin Chamber website at: chamber. tualatinchamber.com/events/details/2017- celebrate-business-excellence-awards-6964.