It was very much a “family affair” Saturday night as Dexter’s Chamber of Commerce recognized several entities during its annual Award Banquet held at the Elks Lodge on Two Mile Rd. The Chamber honored individuals in local industry, business, charity and education for their achievements over the years, particularly during the 2011 year. Serving as master of ceremonies for the event was Bill Hampton, director of the local Three Rivers College campus. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director is Janet Coleman.
The emphasis of the banquet focused on the theme, “Buy Local—It’s a Guaranteed Return,” a theme that seemed to ring true as one award after another went to local family owned and operated businesses and organizations.
Chamber President for the past year, Kenny Pope, first addressed the crowd, citing continued growth within the local Chamber, which currently stands at over 300 members.
First on the agenda was the presentation of the Organization of the Year for 2011. Taking that honor was the Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life Foundation, headed up by Scott and Kerri Kruse. The group, established in 1999, grants love offerings in $1,000 increments to individuals battling a cancer diagnosis.
“This local organization,” said Pope in making the presentation, “has granted over $600,000 to cancer patients in the area since its inception, with $100,000 of that having been presented in 2011.”
The organization works under the motto, “Celebrate, Give, Remember, and Never Give Up.”
Scott Kruse, accepting the honor with his wife, credited a giving community with the success of the foundation over the past 12 years.
Taking honors for Small Business of the Year was LeGrand’s Communications. Chamber Secretary/
Treasurer Kevin Bishop presented the award to owners, Ronnie and Sheila LeGrand. LeGrand’s Communica-tions opened for business in 1989, initially operating out of the couple’s home on the north edge of Dexter. Eventually locating on Business 60 near the downtown area of the city, LeGrand’s has grown into a company specializing in full service, one-stop shop for all communication needs.
Named as Business of the Year was Allen Christian Buick GMC, another long-standing family-owned local business that has managed to thrive despite many economic turns over its 53-year history in Dexter. The local dealership was established in 1958 by Allen Christian, who, along with sons Terry, Denny, and Bruce, were present to accept the honors Saturday night. The business has remained in the Christian family throughout its history with the three Christian sons, and now a third generation taking an active role in its operation.
The dealership offers both new and used vehicles from which to choose and offers GM Certified service work, GM parts and a full service body shop.
Perhaps one of Dexter’s best kept secrets, U.S. Poly Enterprises, Inc., was named the 2011 Industry of the Year. The business operates on the north edge of Dexter on the Outer Road North, where it has thrived since opening in 1985. Chamber Director Scott Chesser presented the award to two of the company’s heads, Brent Cooper, whose father, Jerry Cooper, established the business, and to Jason Mattison.
US Poly is a leading manufacturer of beverage insulators and has provided retailers, businesses and organizations with can coolers, sport bottles and wetsuit (neoprene) drink insulators. The company provides custom imprint and company logos that often serve as promotional items for national and international business. Their products are widely utilized for company endorsements, fundraisers, and incentive awards.
The third annual Educator of the Year Award went to a veteran Dexter instructor whose teaching career came after completing college as a non-traditional student with two young children. Jeannie Cato has taught in the local school system since 2000, having earned her undergraduate degree in 1999, graduating Summa Cum Laude, some 21 years after her high school graduation. In July 2003, she received her Masters in Education from Southwest Baptist University. She has taught at both the elementary and middle school levels in the Dexter School system, and currently teaches reading at the seventh grade level at T.S. Hill Middle School.
Cato is credited with her involvement over the years in both the Boy and Girl Scout arena, Altrusa Club, activities at Second General Baptist Church (now Risen Church) of Dexter, and for her leadership roles in the Southeast Region Missouri State Teachers Association and Beta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators for which she currently serves as president.
Accepting the award, Cato paid tribute to her colleagues, the local Board of Education and the administrative staff of Dexter Schools.
Entertainment at the banquet was provided by local accomplished jazz musician and vocalist Pete Parysek, who teamed up with his longtime piano student, Dexter High school junior Jospeh Greer, to provide “Dueling Pianos – The Teacher vs. The Student.”