Columbia Chamber of Commerce 108th Annual Awards Banquet

June 18, 2013 ~ Tonight was the Columbia Chamber of Commerce 108th Annual Awards Banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center in Columbia, MO. The chamber year runs from July 1st to June 30th and this awards banquet is to pay tribute to our chair, Randy Coil as well as present four awards to our membership.

Randy Coil is the owner of Coil Construction here in Columbia, MO and it seemed fitting to carry out a "construction" theme for the evening. It looked great.... kuddos to everyone that helped!

Before the event Randy asked many of us that have served as co-chairs and on task forces to join him for a pre-celebration. During this time he gave us each a gift... a hammer that was inscribed with "Thanks for helping to build a better chamber community" as his token of appreciation.

Aric Bremer was our MC for the evening!

I got to attend this event with my two hot dates! 

Of course I would be taking photos to document this super fun evening! 

These were some of the cute couples of the evening.....

Wilson and Jan Beckett....

Chuck and Nancy Witt....

Jay and Michelle Lindner.....

and Randy and Sandy Morrow to name a few! 

Then.... we have some fun ones! 

The ladies were having fun....

a wild and crazy bunch....

 and a slight mishap with a name tag!

Then we had the cute lovers....

 Bob and Brenda Wagner....

Tony Richards and Ann Marie Quertermous....

Dave and Nancy Griggs.....

"Michele... I love this woman!"

*smooch*

(notice her eyes.... "Your documenting this right?")

Kee and Diana Groshong!

Now it was time to recognize our award winners.....

Anne Williams (JobFinders) was last year's recipient of the Debin Benish Outstanding Business Woman Award. (I received this award in 2011 and was an honor to announce Anne as the recipient in 2012 at the Chamber's Annual Awards Banquet.... Midway ladies rock!)

Congratulations Mary Ropp (Bank of Missouri)
2013 Debin Benish Outstanding Business Woman of the Year!

Tom Trabue, 2012-2013 Chamber Ambassador Chair talking about our award recipient....

Congratulations Chief Chuck Witt (Columbia Fire Department)
2013 George & Nadine Trial Ambassador of the Year!

In true Chamber Ambassador style... we love cutting ribbons!
(seemed like the perfect celebration to cut a ribbon)

Sidney Neate-Scott, President of EPIC talking about the award....
(we had to watch a video as the recipient was on vacation)

Congratulations to Kylene Richardson...
2013 Emerging Professional of the Year!

 Randy Coil (Coil Construction) 2012-2013 Chair of the Chamber
 talking about the award...

Congratulations Mayor Robert McDavid
2013 Outstanding Citizen of the Year!

With Randy's term quickly coming to an end, Chair-Elect Bob Wagner
wanted to take a few moments to thank him for a job well done.

It was time to pass the baton!

But don't worry... Randy also had a gift for Bob!

It was a great evening full of laughter with some great people. It's an honor to be among some of the most awesome people and to have such a strong Chamber that people and businesses want to get involved in. I can't help but smile as the people that received awards this evening truly deserved them and it never gets old seeing the look on their faces when they realize they are the recipient! I had the pleasure of capturing an amazing evening and I can't wait until next year's Annual Awards Banquet!

I do have to say that these people are what makes our Chamber so special!
The dedication and passion for our community shows everyday and
we are lucky to have a Chamber staff like these guys! Thank you!

The past Debin Benish Outstanding Business Woman of the Year
recipients along with Dave Benish and Steve Powell with Delta Systems!