Chamber Invites Community to Nominate Deserving Businesses, Individuals

For decades, the Chamber has recognized deserving businesses, individuals, and organizations through its annual awards program. The entire community is invited to submit nominations online at masonchamber.com/nominate and will be accepted through September 30, 2022. Award categories, guidelines, and the complete list of past winners is also published online.

There are five categories open for nominations. Business of the Year honors the business that made the most significant contribution benefiting the Mason County community over the past year; most recently, The Patty Wagon took home the title. Rookie of the Year nods to a new business and was awarded to Kealy Electric. Boss of Year recognizes an individual who empowers their employees and is an example of leadership and management excellence; last year Jamie Mell of John L. Scott Real Estate & Mell Property Management earned the accolade. Citizen of the Year credits an individual who has made outstanding contributions to enhance the business community and the community at large; the recent award went to Dawn Myers. Nonprofit of the Year celebrates an organization who strongly impacts Mason County through service, volunteerism, and donations; The Youth Connection received that title last.

“We are inspired by those who have displayed innovation, economic courage, and generosity during these trying times,” says Chamber CEO Heidi McCutcheon. “It is greatly rewarding to celebrate the extraordinary businesses and people who are making our community better.”

All nominations will be reviewed by the Chamber’s Member Services Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees a slate of three finalists per category to be placed on the ballot. As always, ballots will be sent to all members in good standing; each Chamber member receives one vote per category. The majority vote by the membership determines the award winners who will be announced live at the Awards Gala held at Little Creek Casino Resort’s Skookum Event Center on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Two other awards will also be announced at the event: President’s Choice Award and Volunteer of the Year. Last year Past Board Chair Melanie Bakala selected Julie Whitehouse for her dedication to local efforts and her activism and Chamber staff honored Jennifer Duncan of Peninsula Credit Union, respectively.

For more information contact Heidi McCutcheon at heidi@masonchamber.com or (360) 426-2021.