Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce honors business development, community improvement

ADRIAN — Efforts to help people with work and career goals, support businesses, and beautify the community were honored by the Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber members and friends of the honorees gathered May 1 at the Adrian Armory Events Center for the chamber's annual awards presentation. The awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations who have made a difference in the Lenawee County community.

Addison J. Comstock Award

Keith Chapman, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Michigan, received the Addison J. Comstock Award. It is sponsored by Citizens Gas Fuel Co. and recognizes an individual, business or organization who impacts the future of the city of Adrian with their vision, planning and efforts. It is named for the founder of Adrian.

Chapman in his acceptance speech described Goodwill as "not a charity but a chance." He described the services the nonprofit organization provides to provide education and job training, both directly at Goodwill and through partners in the community who give individuals an opportunity to learn how to work, to develop goals and attain self-sufficiency.

"We're approaching businesses to try to create those opportunities for individuals who wouldn't always get a chance to get a chance," he said.

Through a partnership with the Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority, Chapman said, Goodwill is helping people "living on the margins" improve their quality of life.

People utilizing services from Goodwill, he said, are seeking what anyone else seeks out of their work or lives: laughter, love and life with purpose.

"We're very fortunate over the past few years to have grown our business, and we've doubled the amount of people being served over the last year from 2,000 to 4,000," Chapman said.

Ann Hughes Legacy Leadership Award

Kandice Karll-Newsome received the the Ann Hughes Legacy Leadership Award. It is sponsored by Siena Heights University and honors the legacy of Hughes, a founding partner of the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce and downtown Adrian business owner. It recognizes a business, organization or professional in the city of Adrian who exemplifies Hughes' traits of a pioneering spirit, excellence, determination, a vision for betterment of the community, and a leader/mentor for women and those who are underrepresented.

The Adrian Area and Tecumseh Area chambers merged in 2022, creating the Greater Lenawee Chamber.

Karll-Newsome works at Jackson College's Adrian campus where she has been the STEM coordinator and laboratory manager and a navigator for dual-enrolled and middle college students in Lenawee County. She also owns Disaster Kraft in downtown Adrian and is on the Adrian Downtown Development Authority board.

Citing JC's mission statement to inspire and transform lives, Karll-Newsome said every interaction with someone "gives you the opportunity to just make them happier and help them find their own way."

"Owning a business in downtown Adrian has been a challenge, to say the least, and it's been a challenge I very much enjoy," she said.

Being on the DDA board is an opportunity to be involved in decisions that affect the community.

"The resurgence that we're seeing in Adrian — it's coming, and I'm excited to be a part of that," she said.

Beautification Award

Hidden Lake Gardens was presented with the Beautification Award for the development of the Reach for the Sky Canopy Walk, which opened last June. The award recognizes projects completed throughout the past year that resulted in improved community spaces, buildings and grounds areas.

Paul Pfeiffer, managing director of Hidden Lake Gardens, described conversations in 2017 with Scott Hill from award sponsor Krieghoff-Lenawee Co. about the canopy walk concept.

"We said, 'Scott, do you think we can build some wooden structure out in the middle of the woods?' He said, 'Yeah, I think we can do that for you,'" Pfeiffer said. "'Do you think folks will come out there and go on it?' "Yeah, I think they will.' And he was right."

Since the canopy walk opened, HLG's attendance has increased more than 70% over the best attendance in the same period of any prior year, he said.

Visitors are coming from out of state and outside the country to check out the canopy walk, Pfeiffer said. While HLG wants those people to return and continue to interact with nature, they also want those visitors to check out the area businesses.

Above & Beyond Excellence Award

Barrett's Showplace Gardens and Flower Shop in Adrian was recognized with the Above & Beyond Excellence Award, which is sponsored by D&P Communications. It recognizes a business, organization or professional that demonstrates strong ethical values, community commitment and engagement, and environmental stewardship.

Barrett's owner Matt Carpenter said it was important to his family to keep a local company locally owned when he bought the business just over two years ago.

He said they encourage their staff, which includes four employees that each have been there more than 45 years, to pass along their knowledge to their customers.

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When he was talking with John Barrett about buying the company, he asked to be introduced to the staff member who kept things working behind the scenes. That person was business manager Kara Harris.

"I certainly could not do my job without the wonderful staff that I have, that I work with each and every day," Harris said. "…If it weren't for spring season, I would have all of them here with me."

Outstanding Young Professional Award

Josh Tejkl of August Advisory was recognized with the Outstanding Young Professional Award, The award celebrates a young person in Lenawee County who is early in their career and has already set a high standard of excellence in the workplace and in community involvement.

"Josh embodies what it means to be an outstanding young professional," Garry Clift of award sponsor Clift Buick GMC said. "His passion for the community is displayed through his involvement in numerous nonprofit boards including the Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce. He's on the board of Goodwill Industries. Josh has already made his mark in the Lenawee community and will surely continue for years to come."

Adrian and its people "mean the world to me," Tejkl said, describing himself as a "boomerang," or someone who left and then returned. "… Show up for the ballgames, the birthdays, the weddings. Show up for all the things."

Growing Talent Award

Janis Montalvo of Living in Lenawee Realty was presented with the Growing Talent Award, sponsored by Michigan Works Southeast. The award recognizes those who have gone above and beyond to support the talent network for their own business or the community. Montalvo was selected for dedicating herself to the growth of future business professionals as a mentor, supporting many organizations and serving as a facilitator in the chamber's Lenawee Leadership program.

Montalvo said Leadership Lenawee inspires her to lead others forward. The program offers courses in topics such as public speaking, emotional intelligence, nonprofit governance, constructive criticism, diversity and inclusion, and ethical leadership. She said the best part of the program is seeing the growth in the participants.

The chamber is now accepting sponsorships to help others participate in the program, she said.

"You can make a difference in someone's life just by sponsoring them in our program for Leadership Lenawee," Montalvo said.

Making a Difference Award

The Making a Difference Award was presented to Community Learning Connections of Tecumseh. The award, sponsored by Victory Builders, recognizes a nonprofit organization that makes a significant impact and difference in Lenawee County.

Amanda Gibson, executive director of CLC, accepted the award for the organization, which supports Tecumseh students. The group provides more than 115 Friday food packs to make sure kids have access to food over the weekend; basic needs such as clothing, shoes and winter clothing; and a variety of programs. Gibson focused on the Sources of Strength, a national suicide prevention program, and Ruling Our Experiences, or ROX.

Sources of Strength focuses on hope, health and strength to help students identify their support systems when they are in times of crisis.

"Instead of focusing on the bad times and what happens when somebody around you has a bad time, we want to identify your strengths and how you can build positivity from that," Gibson said.

ROX is an all-girls group for elementary through high school students, Gibson said. It helps build confidence and leadership skills and raise awareness of their own self-worth. That helps them be more supportive of other girls.

Ambassador of the Year

The chamber's Ambassador of the Year Award, recognizes one of the chamber's ambassadors for their hard work and dedication to building lasting relationships with the chamber's membership.

Marty Schoonover, owner of air quality business Len-Air LLC, volunteers with Zonta of Lenawee, her church, the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Croswell Opera House and Adrian High School alumni reunions along with the chamber, said Wendy Pizaña of award sponsor County National Bank.

"If we need someone, Marty shows up," Pizaña said. "If we didn't need someone, Marty shows up. We can always count on her."

"I do show up, and I think we all should, and I know a lot of us do," she said. "How else are we going to know what our community does, what they stand for and what they do for others? You guys are all important, so continue to show up."

— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce presents annual awards