Chamber Honors Business Leaders at Annual Dinner
(October 28, 2011-Muncie, IN) The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards dinner on October 27, 2011 with nearly 400 business and community leaders in attendance.
The Chamber awarded the Spirit of Small Business Award to Midas Auto Services. Midas is locally owned and operated and has been doing business at the same location for fifty years. Jack Surface, owner of Midas, says he believes it is important to give back to the community that has supported their business. Midas works closely with A Better Way of Muncie-Delaware County to help victims of domestic violence.
Jennifer P. Bott, PhD was awarded the Chamber’s Outstanding Contributions to Education award. Bott is the Assistant Provost of Learning Initiatives and a tenured professor of management in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. Bott recently led an immersive learning project to help with the epidemic of childhood obesity. Under Botts’ direction, students at Ball State worked with Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent’s to craft components of Project 18.
Delaware County GIS Director, Kyle Johnson, was the winner of the Chamber’s Excellence in Public Service Award. Johnson has substantially improved and added functionality for Delaware County’s GIS services. The Beacon website for property retrieval information has become an impressive resource for economic development, government and the general public. Johnson also provided custom maps and data for businesses and contractors working with government.
The Chamber’s Community Impact award was presented to Mursix Corporation. Mursix has carved out a niche in highly competitive markets by capitalizing on its core competencies in precision stamping of precious metals, robotic welding and environmentally safe plating, CNC machining and electrical/electronic assembly. Mursix has grown over the past several years and recently relocated all of its operations to a new facility in the Park One Industrial Park. The company has a strong culture of giving back to the community by supporting Ball State Athletics, the YMCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Muncie Schools, United Way, Little League and numerous other local and regional organizations. Todd Murray, President of Mursix, accepted the award.
The Ball Brother’s Foundation, in cooperation with the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, announced the first ever recipient for the John W. & Janice Fisher Governance Award. This award will annually recognize the outstanding service of a board member of a Delaware County nonprofit organization. Eligibility is limited to board members of groups that provide direct services to the citizens of Delaware County. The 2011 recipient was Teresa Willman. Willman joined the Cardinal Greenway Board in 2002 and has a diverse background. She has worked side-by-side with the staff and board of Cardinal Greenway to introduce “Learning on the Trail,” a new program that encourages classrooms, youth clubs, after school organizations and individual families to participate in healthy activities along the greenway. Willman was presented a handcrafted glass award crafted at the Glick School of Glass at Ball State University. The Ball Brothers Foundation also made a financial contribution to Cardinal Greenway in Willman’s honor.
Chamber President, Jay Julian, recognized outgoing Board Chairman, Jim Riggle, Indiana Michigan Power, for his service. Other outgoing Chamber Board members were also recognized, which included Tara Smalstig, Dennis Wenger and Abrell; Steve Kern, CS Kern; Mark Burkhart, Muncie Community Schools and Gary Chenault, United Way of Delaware County.
The Muncie Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has been serving the community since 1894.