Chamber Presents 2012 Year-End Awards
Contact:
Jessica M.L. Thompson, IOM, MTPC
270-781-3200;
jessica@bgchamber.comBOWLING GREEN, KY (January 8, 2013)-The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce held a special news conference today to honor the 2012 Year-End Awards winners. 2013 Chamber Board of Directors Brad Howard announced three award winners during the news conference:
2012 Ambassador of the Year -
- Skip Wirth, First Choice Home Medical
- 2012 Board Volunteer of the Year - Joy Rogers, BB&T
- 2012 Volunteer of the Year - Cathy Palmer, General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant
"Our volunteers are exceptional, and they help make this Chamber a successful, nationally recognized organization," said Howard. "The Year-End Awards are a chance for us to honor volunteers for their outstanding contributions during the previous year, and it's with great pride that we recognize Skip, Joy, and Cathy with these awards today."
"I continue to be amazed at how many hours our volunteers dedicate to recruitment, retention, leadership and program activities," said Ron Bunch, CEcD, Chamber president and CEO. "They go above and beyond for the Chamber, and we're deeply appreciative of their loyalty and contributions."
The Chamber Ambassadors selected Skip Wirth as the Ambassador of the Year. Wirth is the director of sales and marketing for First Choice Home Medical, and he dedicates many hours to the Chamber outside of his job responsibilities. In addition to being a registered nurse and having more than 35 years of healthcare experience, he is an adjunct faculty member in Western Kentucky University's Communications Department and has conducted more than 1,500 workshops regionally and nationally on stress management, fitness, team building, and leadership.
Vice President, Operations Tonya Matthews, ACE, IOM, CCE said, "Skip attends every Chamber event that he can, and he is always there to offer a helping hand and a positive encouragement. He is an excellent member of the Chamber Ambassadors Club, and we're proud to count him as one of our most dedicated volunteers."
Joy Rogers, BB&T senior vice president, joined the Chamber's Board of Directors in 2009 and was named a vice president of the Executive Committee for 2013. In addition to being a Board member, Joy has been deeply involved in the capital campaign for The Leader in Me as co-chair of the Advance Division to procure investments for the implementation of The Leader in Me in Bowling Green Independent Schools and Warren County Public Schools. Joy is the 2009 recipient of the ATHENA Award and is involved in a variety of civic, non-profit, and for-profit organizations.
"Joy is a great supporter of The Leader in Me Capital Campaign and has secured thousands of dollars for the campaign. When she talks about the campaign, you can hear the excitement and enthusiasm for helping our schools develop leaders," said D. Gaines Penn, 2012 chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.
Cathy Palmer is a senior financial analyst for the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant and served as the chair of the Chamber's 2012 Small Business Appreciation Committee. Her leadership was integral to the success of Small Business Appreciation Week. She has been involved in multiple other Chamber committees, the Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association, and other philanthropic pursuits.
"Cathy's leadership helped the committee succeed in hosting a successful Chamber Golf Challenge and Small Business Person of the Year Luncheon. In fact, with her guidance, both 2012 events were the most profitable of their kind in this Chamber's history!" said Program Director Gail Henderson.
In addition to being presented their awards today, the winners will be recognized at the 2013 Annual Dinner, scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, at Sloan Convention Center. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at
www.bgchamber.com.
- Individual tickets: $65
- Tables of 10: $650
- President's Club Gold, Platinum and Diamond Level Partner Tables of 10: $585
Tickets will be available until noon on Friday, January 25. For more information regarding Annual Dinner, please call 270-781-3200 or e-mail
info@bgchamber.com.
About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce:
Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,300 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.