Dear Chamber Supporters:

This has been a busy week in the Chamber office…and what a big night we had last night!! Hats off to Sherri and Ryland both for all their work and planning to make our Annual Banquet run so smoothly and be such an awesome event…also, couldn’t do it without the work of the Ambassador Committee either. And…Dr. Reggies Wenyika is a rock star…he emceed the event last night with a little assistance from Derek Chappell. Here are a few pictures…we had more than 230 reservations, 13 table sponsors, 90 items were donated for the auction, and we honored 5 local citizens for their achievements in making our community better. I’ll have the dollar totals raised next week…by the way – the auction is still going on…you can still bid to help your local organization (click here).

Award Winners:

The Favorite Smile Award honors a person who always has a bright smile and makes others want to smile too…additionally someone who is on the frontlines greeting the public and makes the people with whom they come into contact with feel better about their day and our community. This year’s winner is Brenda Calloway, a manager at Walmart Supercenter…her nominator said of Brenda, she is always welcoming customers, always smiling and asking how she can help. In addition, she makes everyone in Ottawa smile with her creativity in landscaping the downtown northwest corner at 4th and Main Street which she volunteers and cares for.

The Horizon Award recognizes young and new leaders who are just beginning to stretch their leadership legs. This year’s honoree is Megan Reed who is the assistant manager at OakStar Bank. She is currently a participant in Franklin County Leadership and on the Chamber’s Events and Promotion Committee.

Lyndsi Oestmann with Loma Vista Nursery is this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year. She joined the family business in 2004, to run the landscape distribution division. Today she is the president of the Ottawa-based nursery, Loma Vista. She plans on leading the nursery for many years to come but is already thinking about succession to ensure continued growth for the company and success.

The Community Builder Award recognizes Chamber members who play an active role in the community, always presenting a positive image of Ottawa. Donald Anderson who is the Dean of Student Life at Ottawa University is a great choice for this year’s community builder…Donald is greatly immersed in the life of Ottawa. He is on the Chamber’s Executive Committee…in addition to this he is involved in the United Way of Franklin County, Hope House, the Blessing Box Foundation, ECKAN, Willow Domestic Violence Center and LifeCare Center.

And our community's most prestigious award, the Russel Crites Award is Josh Walker. This award honors a person within the community who has made extraordinary commitments to improving the quality of life in our community…and does so without seeking the spotlight, but instead commits their time to help the community prosper, grow and improve. I can’t think of a better winner than Josh…he and his company have literally built much of the public infrastructure on which our community relies. From AdventHealth Hospital expansions, to new grade schools like Sunflower Elementary, to the Ottawa Police Department. Other notable projects include work on the Historic Post Office, Ottawa High School renovation, PrimeTime Grille and Fusion Alley and work at Ottawa University, Kalmar, American Eagle, and Wal-Mart Distribution Centers. Our community and our community’s businesses are literally built by Loyd Builders.

City Manager Candidates:

Tuesday and Wednesday this week were potentially very important days in the life of our community and for its future. Four candidates (all men) spent 2 full days learning about Ottawa and interviewing for the position of City Manager…to step in when Richard Nienstedt retires at the end of the month. On the first day, each applicant was tasked to make a presentation to City Commissioners and staff regarding their vision for Ottawa for the next year…said differently, they were to describe what would they apply themselves to in the first year. On day two, each candidate spent all day going through three separate, hour-long interviews and then another hour touring Ottawa and learning about the community by seeing some of our successes and challenges. The first interview panel was a team of community leaders, team two was a panel of City Department Heads and of course third team was the City Commissioners. Dr. Ryan Cobbs, USD 290 Superintendent, and I were responsible for giving the hour-long community tour. Having an hour of windshield time gave us a chance to ask questions of the city manager interviewee participants in a more informal setting. At the end of the day the City Commission was scheduled to meet and make decisions on a way forward. Haven’t heard what has happened yet…could be several days before we learn how it all shakes out. In many ways, the hiring of the next City Manager is the biggest job with which commissioners are tasked. I’ll tell you from my perspective…all four were strong candidates, have experience in City management, and would fit well in Ottawa. Good luck to the Commission…anxious to hear what has been decided.

Ottawa Main Street Association (OMSA):

OMSA hosted Chamber members this morning to greet Olivia Kloster, who has been the Main Street Director for the last 7 months, and also to meet their reorganized board…Sara Stauffer is currently the president of the board. Olivia is an Ottawa University student who will graduate in May…after graduation she has taken a job with KOFO so will remain in the community. She said this morning it was the University that brought her here from Colorado…but it’s the community which makes her want to stay. Also announced this morning, OMSA volunteers will be coming out in force on April 22, coincidently Earth Day, to landscape the Main Street corners. Hearing this announcement gives me spring fever. Now that Ottawa University has a greenhouse, which parenthetically is managed by Olivia, they are growing many of the plants and flowers for the landscaping…great partnership!! Thanks to all the volunteers with the Main Street organization which every year helps beautify our downtown.

Banquet Sidenotes:

Trying to find the words to describe how I felt at the banquet last evening is difficult…I guess bittersweet is the best word. I have felt so supported in this position…in this town – by all of you, the Chamber staff and by my family. Ottawa University and the Chamber staff surprised both Richard Nienstedt and me with a video production…I was very moved – and I’m sure Richard was too. If you want to see the video for me, click here. And click here if you would like to view Richard’s video.

Final congratulation to all our award winners…each one makes this a better community in which to live – thanks for all you have done and are doing.

Last night was my 10th Annual Banquet and last as President/CEO…I reminded attenders last evening of my first banquet – Cherry, my son Todd and I had been in a head-on car crash just 5 days previously when someone crossed the center line near Chanute, Kansas. I received broken ribs and a broken sternum. On that evening 10 years ago, I was on strong pain killers and don’t remember much from the event. I will remember last evening forever…thank everyone of you for all the memories.

This isn’t me signing off yet, by the way…still have another 4 Fridays – so…talk to you next week!

Onward ~ John

President/CEO

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce

john@ottawakansas.org

785-242-1000