Galion chamber, GABC dole out awards

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GALION — Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary, still hospitalized in a Columbus hospital after surgery last week, was still on the minds of those who attended Tuesday’s Galion Community Awards Breakfast at the Polk Township Building.

O’Leary was the recipient of the President’s Award, announed by Joe Kleinknecht, president of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce.

Kleinknecht thanked O’Leary for the hard work he does to promote the success and growth of the Galion and it’s business community. Tim and Mike O’Leary accepted the award on behalf of their father.

City Council president Carl Watt has been named interim mayor in O’Leary’s absence.

Tuesday’s annual get-together also served as the annual meeting of the chamber. Kleinknecht talked of an extremely successful 2016 in which the chamber added 33 members, performed 14 ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the community and helped save members nearly $700,000 through its Affinity Programs on electric and natural gas, workers compensation, and the chamber’s health care program.

A new board of directors to serve through 2020 was approved and include: Sherri Clevenger, First Federal of Ohio; Debbi Gifford, Crossroad Candles/Cooper’s Mill; Chanel Hipp, Covert Manufacturing, Inc.; and Erik Flick of Flick Packaging.

Chamber office-holders were also approved through 2019 aind include: Clevenger, chair; Flick, vice chair; Keith Hummel of Tramec Sloan, LLC, secretary/treasurer; and Terry Gribble, of the Galion Community Center YMCA, immediate past chair.

Other award winners recognized by the chamber include: Retail Business of the Year: H & K Watkins; Industry of the Year, Brothers Body and Equipment; Service Business of the Year; Avita Health Systems; Professional of the Year, Jim Grubbs, Galion City Schools Superintendent.

The Galion Area Betterment Commission also passed out awards. They were presented by Paula Durbin. Those awards included: Citizen of the Year, Danita Holbrook; Organization of the Year, Galion Kiwanis; and Humanitarian of the Year, Gina Powell. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to the Sara Beegle Child Day Care center.

Galion Inquirer | Russ Kent Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce president Joe Kleinknecht presents the chamber’s President Award to Tim and Mike O’Leary, sons of Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary who is recovering from surgery.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/05/web1_O-Leary-awrd.jpgGalion Inquirer | Russ Kent Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce president Joe Kleinknecht presents the chamber’s President Award to Tim and Mike O’Leary, sons of Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary who is recovering from surgery.
Community leaders, businesses recognized at annual breakfast meeting

 

By Russ Kent

Galion Inquirer

 

 

Email Russ Kent at [email protected] with comments or story ideas.

 

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