On Wednesday, July 19, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce welcomed community leaders and local businesses to their 2017 State of the Chamber Address and Community Awards.
The annual event was held at the beautiful Spa Speakeasy and Special Event Center, where guests were welcomed with a delicious buffet an dozens of community leaders there to show their support for the business community and learn more about how the Duneland area is growing and evolving.
“The State of the Chamber gives everyone an update within our membership really where we’re at as an organization,” said Maura Durham, the President of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce. “Then the Community Awards that we give out today go along the lines of Humanitarian of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, New Construction, Putting Duneland on the Map, and so much more. We do this every year to highlight all of the people who live in the Duneland who are making a difference.”
The Duneland Chamber of Commerce brings together dozens of organizations and businesses within the Duneland community. This year, the Chamber has grown exponentially; the total number of members in the chamber is close to 500, making it the fourth largest Chamber in Northwest Indiana. The annual event is meant to honor those achievements and highlight the important work the Chamber is doing.
“Today is so important because it good for everyone to know who all is in the room,” Durham said. “Knowing who is making a difference and who is trying to make a difference is important because you surround yourself with those people. When everyone works together, it makes work a lot easier.”
Guests were greeted by the smiling faces of the Duneland Chamber, including Tara Schnadenberg, who is the Chamber’s Marketing Intern for the summer and who also was in charge of organizing the event.
“A big part of what I had to do was write all of the introductions, so that was a lot of work and a lot of time,” the Purdue Northwest student said. “But I’m really glad I got to have this experience.”
The first part of the event included lunch, mingling, and networking with other guests and Chamber board members. Community leaders and members discussed the different projects in the works, from new business expansions to new parks; anything that focuses on the growth of the community.
“Events like this bring visibility to people in the community to new things that are going on, businesses and leaders in the community that have contributed significantly to make this area a great place to live” said Kirk Futrell, Co-Chair of the Ambassador Committee for the Chamber.
When the State of the Chamber address began, Ric Federighi of AM 1420-WIMS radio station gave opening remarks and welcomed everyone to the beautiful Spa Speakeasy and Special Event Center. He then passed the microphone off to Durham who then welcomed Paul Boyter, Chamber Board Vice-Chair, to the stage to give the State of the Chamber address.
Boyter discussed a number of different projects and new partnerships within the Duneland community, including a new partnership with the Duneland School Corporation, the second annual Corkscrew and Brew Fest that welcomed over 750 breweries and wineries, and a new partnership with Vistage, a nationwide CEO peer mentoring group.
“Our vision is to be the premier influential leader for our businesses and communities elevating NWI as a destination to work, live and play,” Boyter said in his speech. “And we believe this can be achieved by our Duneland Chamber team staying relevant with our members and acting as the conduit to our businesses, towns, residents, chambers, and members.”
The Community Awards were presented next to a number of deserving community members. The award winners included Keith Davidson, who was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award, Dawn Ruge, who received the Humanitarian of the Year Award, Mike Anton, who won the Golden Achievement Award, The New Construction Awards, which were given to the Porter and Chesterton Parks and Recreation Departments, the Boys and Girls Club of Porter County- Duneland Unit and the Fireflies Fun Zone, both of which received Renovation Awards, the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival and Blake Pieroni, who both received the Putting Duneland on the Map Awards, Steve Caylor, who received the Serviceman of the Year Award, and last but certainly not least, Meg McCarel, who was surprised with the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award.
“This is so amazing,” said McCarel, a special education teacher at Liberty Elementary School. “This is the most incredible women in our whole community who get this award, so I’m flabbergasted that I’m in that group.”
That was a common sentiment throughout the annual State of the Chamber Address and Community Awards. Dozens of community leaders gathered together to celebrate the Chamber’s, and the community’s , accomplishments throughout the year, accomplishments that each and every person has a right to be proud of.
For more information about the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, go to http://www.dunelandchamber.org/.