OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AWARD - David & Carol Senn
Outstanding Citizens have been recognized by the Chamber for more than ten years. This award has been presented to those who have volunteered hundreds of hours to benefit their community and their fellowman. These hours have generally involved interests and dedication in many areas rather than being focused in one area in particular. Winners Carol and David Senn were honored their involvement in numerous community organizations, including helping fund the Heart of Danville, Kiwanis Club, the McDowell House museum for nearly 23 years, and heading up the Christmas Parade for over 20 years.
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD - Dale & Shan KihlmanThis award is presented to an individual for dedicated community service to an organization or organizations in our non-profit community. Winners Shan and Dale Kihlman have served the Salvation Army, Ephraim McDowell Foundation, the CASA board and are active in the Presbyterian Church. They are also mainstays at the Wes T. Hill Community Theatre. They were praised for their passion in staying involved with the visual arts community to honor the memory of their late daughter Brenna, who was artist as well.
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR - The Business Person of the Year award is presented to an individual for community service, civic leadership, personal character, peer respect and Chamber involvement.
Jim Jacobus of Inter-County Energy has been campaign chair and president of the United Way, Danville Kiwanis Club, Woodlawn Elementary PTA, Boyle Middle School PTA, and Centenary United Methodist Church Council. Jacobus currently serves on the boards of the Boyle County Industrial Foundation, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Regional Advisory Committee for BCTC and is active as a University of Kentucky alumni and with the National FFA Alumni Association.
Jacobus is a graduate of Danville High School, the University of Kentucky, the Management Internship Program at the University of Nebraska, and the CEO Leadership Lab at the University of Wisconsin.
OUTSTANDING LARGE BUSINESS - The Large Business award is presented to a business with 50 or more employees for growth, business appearance, community service and Chamber participation.
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems, which came to Danville in 2006, expanded in their facility on Corporate Drive in 2008 with a $39 million capital investment and 40 new jobs. In 2009, the 31,000 square foot addition to the facility was completed. The new distribution center opened in late 2011.
When complete, in the next month or so, they will have brought 63 new jobs and a $7.3 million capital investment to this facility, also located on Corporate Drive in the industrial park.
OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS - The Small Business award is presented to a business with fewer than 50 employees for growth, business appearance, community service and Chamber participation.
The Danville branch of Community Trust Bank was praised for its proud support of the Danville and Boyle County communities - particularly businesses, non-profit organizations, and schools - via donations, participation, sponsorships and volunteer work.
BRUCE MONTGOMERY LEADERSHIP AWARD - The Bruce Montgomery Leadership Boyle County Award is presented to a leadership Boyle County Graduate who has exhibited outstanding leadership within the community.
Kathy McBee was praised for taking leadership roles in Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kiwanis Club, Heart of Kentucky United Way, and the Great American Brass Band Festival, and being a "pivotal cog" for the Chamber. McBee has served the Leadership Boyle County program as day chair, on the ambassador's committee and is currently chairwoman of the Membership Services Retention committee.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD – This Community Impact award is given to individuals or organizations for responding to an identified need and who initiate actions or programs that affect people in the community in significant or profound ways.
The first recipient, The Kentucky State Barbecue Festival Committee, was credited for having an idea that grew beyond anyone's wildest expectations and capitalizing on the large following of competitive barbecue. The festival brought over 25,000 people to Boyle County, far exceeding the expected attendance of 5-7,000. The event resulted in an economic impact of more than $2 million. Members of the committee included Brad Simmons, Cindy Simmons, Bob Stovall, Myrna Miller, Maureen Loar, Pat Morley, Tim LeDonne, Carol Webb, Linda Klosowski, Christy Atkins, Chris Wilson, Rob Wilson, David Leibundguth, Jayne Morris and Ken Pflug
The second recipient, the Danville Committee for Expanded Sales, was praised for taking action to seize an economic opportunity that had long driven out of Boyle County. The successful vote to allow alcohol sales supported by the committee, and chairman Jerry Boyd and treasurer Greg Barnard, was credited for resulting in $657,000 in tax revenue, 50 new jobs, and an economic impact equivalent to more than 21 million consumer dollars. Members of the committee included Mike Perros, Les Letton, Jeff Baird, Joe Morley, Jeff Cooper, JP & Jane Brantley Mary Robin Spoonamore, Patrick McClure, Clay Albright, Susie Allen, Daniel Morgan, and John Caywood.
LEGACY AWARD - The Legacy award is given posthumously to honor the life and recognize the impact an individual had on this community through their years of dedicated service.
Raymond Miller, who died October 21 at 98, was praised for fighting relentlessly to keep the character of our downtown. An entrepreneur, he and his wife of 75 years operated the Cinderella downtown, and he was instrumental in keeping Ephraim McDowell downtown. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Danville Country Club and was a board member at Ephraim McDowell Memorial Hospital.
DIRECTOR’S AWARD - The Director's Award was established in 2006 and is occasionally given to recognize businesses or people who go "above and beyond" to offer help in the Chambers' many endeavors.
Boyle and Danville Schools superintendents Mike LaFavers and Carmen Coleman, and Steve Rinehart from Denyo Manufacturing, who serves as chairman of the Workforce Development Committee, were given the award for their collaboration, innovation, cooperation and dedication to our students.
The Chamber's Workforce Development Committee began four years ago. Programs like the Business Education Exchange and Teacher Academy were supported by the Danville and Boyle School Systems through Career Days, Reality Worlds and business speakers. Integrating students into business projects and other collaborations have evolved from these initial gatherings. This past year a new initiative resulted in the creation of a database for local job/career information as a resource to middle and high school students.
RISING STAR - Chamber of Commerce Young Professional's Rising Star Award recognizes the valuable contributions of our young professionals under the age of 40. Danville native Martha Kerbaugh King is a Rotary Club Board member, Great American Brass Band Festival board member, Bourbon Chase volunteer, and has participated in the United Way Community Investment Process. She is active in Young Professionals, a member of First Christian Church, and is active in the Kentucky Society of CPAs.
AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR - The Ambassador of the Year award is presented to an individual who best exemplifies the important work of the Ambassador's Club. Deb Jones was praised as a steady, behind-the-scenes worker at Chamber Ambassador events and a dependable ambassador for a number of years.
SCHOOL BELL AWARDS - The School Bell Awards are given to outstanding volunteers in the local public school systems.
Boyle County's School Bell award winner was Perryville Elementary School PTO President Tonya Sutton. She was presented the award by Boyle County Schools Superintendent Mike LaFavers and was praised for sacrificing countless hours through volunteer work.
Danville's School Bell award winner was Jenny Fieberg, who has three children in the Danville Independent Schools. Fieberg, who is currently serving as president of the Danville Schools Education Foundation, was credited with helping raise over $144,500 for the school system and making a tremendous difference in the lives of hundreds of students. Superintendent Carmen Coleman presented Fieberg with the award.
Thanks to our existing sponsors:
Farmers National Bank - Platinum
Community Trust - Gold
ATMOS Energy - Gold
Centre College - Gold
Ephraim McDowell Health - Gold
RR Donnelley - Silver
Stuart Powell Ford Lincoln Mazda - Silver
National College - Silver
Deham-Blythe Company - Silver
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union - Silver
FB & CT - Bronze
The Bottle Shoppe -Bronze
Inter-County Energy - Bronze
Liquor Barn - Bronze
Caldwell Stone - Bronze
Central Kentucky Federal Savings and Load - Bronze
Kentucky Utilities - Bronze
