Shelton Chamber doles out awards
The Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce annual awards gala brought glitz and glamour to Little Creek Casino Resort.
The chamber, marking its 94th anniversary, recognized the contributions of local businesses, citizens and volunteers at the Jan. 13 event, while also welcoming new board members and toasting to the chamber’s achievements in the past year.
Board president John Lester awarded longtime community volunteer Ron Pannell with the President’s Choice Award, and Lester and Chamber Executive Director Heidi McCutcheon announced the winners of the chamber’s Citizen, Volunteer and Business of the Year Awards.
Lester shared that in 1976, when the country celebrated its 200th birthday and Shelton turned 86, Pannell, known to many as Mr. Kiwanis, became Mason County’s first paramedic.
“This paramedic is the same man who has volunteered more hours to our community since he retired than while he was actually working,” Lester said. “He has helped save our Christmas decorations, worked every OysterFest (and) impacted thousands of children’s lives.”
The chamber awarded Robert Wilson-Hoss, an attorney at Hoss & Wilson-Hoss, with Citizen of the Year, Darren Eisele of Hood Canal Communications with Volunteer of the Year, and The Shopper with Business of the Year.
Wilson-Hoss was instrumental in the formation of local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity of Mason County, the Mason County Shelter, and Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services, noted Lester in his introduction of Wilson-Hoss.
“Now, after more than 25 years advocating for a YMCA, he has successfully led the project to become a reality,” he said. “His nomination read, ‘His passion is endless and his commitment to this community will live long into our future. Rob has shown he is a true visionary.’”
Eisele, an employee at Hood Canal Communications for more than 15 years, has served on the Shelton chamber’s ambassadors and Business Expo committee, and also serves on the board of the United Way of Mason County and Mason County Forest Festival.
“Darren Eisele is a familiar face to many in Mason County,” McCutcheon said. “He is an active member and volunteer for numerous community organizations … (and) is described as ‘positive, supportive, and someone who serves his organization and our community very well.’”
The Shopper owners Jeff and Tracy Neely, as well as many of their employees, accepted the award for Business of the Year. The Shopper offers printing, advertising, promotional materials, and office and spa supplies.
For more than 25 years, the Neelys have been growing their footprint and their contributions to our community, McCutcheon said.
“This year alone, their contributions supported United Way, Karen Hilburn Breast & Cervical Cancer Fund, Mason General Hospital Foundation, Relay For Life, SHS Robotics Team, Forest Festival, Phoenix Base Project, OysterFest, local schools, and many, many more,” she said.
The chamber inducted new board members Tom Beben, co-owner of Smoking Mo’s, and Eric Blegen, of Harmony Hill Retreat Center, to its Board of Trustees. Outgoing past president Jennifer Owens of Peninsula Credit Union left the board and was given a special award for her service.
Beben and Blegen join Lester, Will Johnson of Cogent Construction, Lisa Perry of Sierra Pacific Industries, Karen Schade of Edward Jones, Wes Taylor of Taylor Shellfish, Justin Baze of Black Star Printing, Marty Crow of Habitat for Humanity, Ray Frederick of Garage Sale Maniacs, Jan Morris of the Hardware Distillery, Julie Nichols of Whitehouse & Nichols, Jeff Selby of Awnaroll Painting and Mark West of Little Creek Casino Resort on the board.