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Teamwork the theme of chamber dinner

Pat South received the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year award at its annual dinner Thursday, May 28.

Justin McClelland/Staff Reporter Pat South received the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year award at its annual dinner Thursday, May 28.

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Justin McClelland/Staff Reporter Steve Mullinger receives a Lebanon Chamber of Commerce award for the Retail Business of the year.

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 11:29 AM Friday, May 29, 2009

Even though it was individuals who received the awards, teamwork was the focus for the 2008-2009 Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce dinner, Thursday, May 28.

Each of the seven recipients of the Chamber awards, which honor local businesses and individuals who make a positive impact on Lebanon, emphasized that they had not achieved their successes alone and it was in fact the work of the numerous individuals – and in some cases the whole community – that led them to this moment.

“We are a team, this is a team award and we are all about teamwork,” said Bill Dunning who received the award for professional business of the year with his wife, Jane. Dunning discussed the many “teams” in his life, including his supportive office staff, loving family members and his association with the Warren County Historical Society.

Mari Lee Schwarzwalder, founder of the Warren County Humane Society, received the President’s Award for her 36 years of service. Schwarzwalder thanked her husband, who “put up with a lot of calls 24/7 when I needed to find another cat a home.”

Schwarzwalder said the award “continued to inspire her quest to find news homes for every animal and creative ways to gets pets adopted.”

Schwarzwalder was also given a proclamation from the Ohio legislature by State Representative Shannon Jones.

Warren County Commissioner Pat South was given the Citizen of the Year Award.

“You can take the girl out of the chamber, but you can’t take the chamber out of the girl,” South joked, referencing her six years running the chamber of commerce.

Even as MC Bucky Fullan and presenter Joe Wilson praised South for her involvement in numerous organizations, charities and boards, South eschewed the praise, turning the focus on the community as a whole.

“Our community isn’t great by accident,” South said. “It’s the efforts of everyone here that raises the bar so high. No project was about me. It took a lot of people to make anything I’m credited with happen.”

Other award recipients included E-Beam Services (City of Lebanon Manufacturer of the Year); Black Stone Healthcare (Service Business of the Year); New Housing Ohio (Community Service Award); and the Golden Lamb (Retail Business of the Year).

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

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