Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce awards individuals, businesses who have made mark on community

Published 8:49 pm Friday, March 8, 2019

STAFF REPORT

advocate@amnews.com

The Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards ceremony Friday night at Chowan Hall. This year’s theme was “Historically Bold — 100 Year Bash,” in celebration of the Chamber turning 100. The event offered entertainment by the Heritage Area Strings Program, as well as singer/songwriter Travis Kern.

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The awards program, emceed by Charlie Perry, included a brand new category this year: the Historically Bold Award, presented to both Main Street Perryville and Ambrabev. The award was created to recognize those who work to preserve the community’s history, and to “celebrate our history as a community of civic leaders and true pioneers as well as the people that move us forward with their imagination and creativity.”

Historically Bold Award presented to Main Street Perryville, Vicki Goode, executive director, sponsored by Wilderness Trail Distillery

MSP was chosen due to the organization’s primary goals being historic preservation, economic vitality, design and organization for Perryville’s historic district. Some of its accomplishments include restoration of the Johnson Britton House, which now serves as the city’s visitor center and MSP’s office; and restoration of Parks Store, Green’s Drug Store, Kerrick Parks House and Dr. Polk’s House.

Historically Bold Award presented to Ambravev, Zach Baeker and Tom Baeker, presented by Wilderness Trail Distillery

Ambrabev was chosen due to the company’s national footprint, which it has created in less than a year, through its blending, proofing, bottling, warehousing and shipping of spirits, made of Brazilian sugarcane. It opened The Still at its distillery home in Danville, a restaurant and bar, which also serves to showcase its products with the public.

The company is also creating a new line of cane-based gins to be released later this year, as well as an expansion of restaurant services.

Community Impact Award presented to Ben Kleppinger, editor of The Advocate-Messenger, sponsored by Farmers National Bank by Greg Caudill.

The Advocate-Messenger’s Editor Ben Kleppinger won the Community Impact Award, given to individuals or organizations “who respond to an identified need and initiate actions that affect people in the community in significant or profound ways. Those responsible for such efforts do not seek personal gain or notoriety.”

Kleppinger has received more than 15 first-place awards for journalism from the Kentucky Press Association, including most recently first-place for editorial writing. He also received a second-place award for investigative reporting from KPA, and in 2018, the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers gave him the Media Award for stories he’s done about jail overcrowding and financial bonds.

“By giving his voice to the social justice issues created by the use of financial bonds in particular, Ben and The Advocate-Messenger have not only informed our community but have created the necessary environment for positive change in our justice system and brighter prospects for many in our community,” the Chamber wrote in its program.

Other awards/winners

• Board of Directors Award — Joey Harris and Hugh Hines, III; outgoing directors.

Board of Directors Award was presented to Joey Harris, and Hugh Hines (no photo available)

Harris has finished his second six-year term as a director. During his tenure, he was a valuable asset, serving on the workforce development and executive committees, as well as serving four years as vice chairman of the chamber, and as chairman of the chamber’s Challenge Foundation.

Hines capped off two three-year terms as director of the board, from ‘12-’18. He worked on the membership committee and on creating successful golf fundraisers as the chairman of the golf committee.

• Directors Award — David Phelps, Carol Webb-Marshall and Impressions: The Salon and Spa. The award is given “for going ‘above and beyond’ to offer help to support the Chamber’s many endeavors.”

Director’s Award presented to David Phelps, sponsored by Johnson Pohlmann Insurance by John Funkhouser

Phelps is system planning engineer for Inter-County Energy, as well as VP of engineering and operations, has completed the Leadership Boyle County program and has served on the chamber board for multiple terms.

Director’s Award presented to Carol Webb-Marshall, sponsored by Johnson Pohlmann Insurance by John Funkhouser

Webb-Marshall dedicates her time to the Danville Rotary Club, where she is a Paul Harris Fellow. She’s a current member of of the chamber’s board and serves on multiple committees throughout the year.

Director’s Award presented to Impressions the Salon and Spa, to Jeanna Hutchinson and Vanessa Mackey, by Johnson Pohlmann Insurance, by John Funkhouser

Impressions is a family-owned business, with the whole team taking “great pleasure” in volunteering for community events, from working the Ky. State BBQ Festival to the annual Christmas parade.

Outstanding Ambassador presented to Denise Henderson by Servpro

• Outstanding Ambassador — Denise Henderson. The award is given “for best exemplifying the work of the Ambassador’s Club, a core group of Chamber volunteers.”

Henderson’s philanthropic work throughout the years has made her an inspiration to the Chamber and other community members. She oversees non-profit fundraising as a development specialist for Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center; has raised money for Camp Can Do and Kids Can Do, and aims to publicize the importance of treating special needs children properly and making programs more affordable.

Bruce Montgomery Leadership Alumni Award presented to Erin Tipton, System Director of Technical Programs with BCTC, presented by Inter-County Energy A Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

• Bruce Montgomery Leadership Boyle County Alumni Award — Erin Tipton. The award is presented to an alumni of the Leadership Boyle County program “for continued leadership qualities and involvement with the Leadership program.”

Tipton has been the campus director for Bluegrass Community and Technical College since 2009, and has had a key role in a number of local organizations. These include the chamber’s board; past-president of the Family Services Association; co-chair of the EDP’s Workforce Development Committee; steering committee member of the Boyle Industrial Foundation; and steering committee member and day chair for the Leadership Boyle County program. She has served on the Heart of Kentucky United Way investment panels. She recently accepted the position of system director of technical programs with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Outstanding Volunteer Award presented to Angela Frisby, sponsored by Central Kentucky Federal Savings Bank

• Outstanding Volunteer — Angela Frisby. The award is presented “for dedicated community service to an organization or organizations in our non-profit community.”

Frisby is an ambassador for the chamber, and is chairperson of the Boyle County Youth Leadership Program. She also mentored two teams for the chamber’s Youth Entrepreneurship Class, and routinely helps with chamber events, including Business After Hours, ribbon cuttings, quarterly luncheons and more. She is also on the board for Habitat for Humanity, president of the Boyle Education Foundation, and serves on the project committee and Day of Action committee for HKUW.

Rising Star War presented to Dalton Southerland, sponsored by Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

• Rising Star — Dalton Southerland. The award “recognizes contributions of young professionals, highlighting career achievements and community involvement of professionals under 40.”

Southerland, assistant VP for Farmers National Bank, is the newly elected vice-chair of the chamber, and chair of the Challenge Foundation. He has served as a mentor to two teams and as financial advisor to every team in the chamber’s 2018 Youth Entrepreneurship class at Boyle County High School.

Outstanding Small Business presented to Johnson Pohlmann Insurance, John Funkhouser, sponsored by Hampton Inn

• Outstanding Small Business — Johnson & Pohlmann Insurance

Founded more than 70 years ago, Johnson & Pohlmann was instrumental in helping create the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Group Health program that has had tremendous success.

Outstanding Large Business Award presented to Denyo, sponsored by Republic Services

• Outstanding Large Business — Denyo

Denyo Manufacturing Corp. is the company’s only facility in the United States. Since purchasing the building from Clark Equipment in ‘95, production began the next year with a small group of people, making three small models of diesel-powered generators.

Fast-forward to the present, the facility has grown from 84,000 square feet and 10 employees to 250,000 square feet and 254 employees.

Outstanding Business Person Award presented to Lisa Knetsche, sponsored by Stith Funeral Home

• Outstanding Business Person — Lisa Knetsche. The award is presented to an individual “for community service, civic leadership, personal character, peer respect and Chamber involvement.”

Knetsche and her husband, Robert, opened The Spine Center in 2008, which has grown to employing 15 people. Knetsche is a member of the Danville Rotary Club, and initiated the Rotary International Dinner, the club’s primary fundraiser. She served on the Rotary board for three years and was named a Paul Harris Fellow.

Knetsche has dedicated her time to the chamber’s board since 2014, and was its chair for two years. She also helped launch the Chamber Steel Shoot fundraiser, and was the acting representative on the EDP board for two years.

Outstanding Citizen Award presented to Richard Trollinger, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, Bob Miller

• Outstanding Citizen Award — Richard Trollinger. The award is presented to “those who have volunteered hundreds of hours to benefit their community and their fellow man.”

“The philanthropic work and contributions of Trollinger made in his 25 years as a member of the community are best described as transformative,” the Chamber program reads.

Trollinger was VP for college relations at Centre College before retiring in 2016, and President John Roush said his greatest contribution to Centre was the “creation of a culture of philanthropy.”

He’s been actively involved with the EDP and has previously been elected chair twice. He was involved with the Community Development Council as chair of its board.

Trollinger is a member of the Danville Rotary Club. He has served as chair of the Kentucky School for the Deaf Charitable Foundation, and as a board member for the Wilderness Trace Child Development Center and the HKUW.