The Jenks Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2023 Banquet on Jan. 26 at the River Spirit Casino Resort. The Chamber celebrated the best in business and community with its 2022 awards and also inaugurated and swore in the 2023 board of directors.
Outgoing board chair Kent Clark, Woodland West Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, delivered remarks, reflecting on 2022 accomplishments. Incoming board chair Kenny Hargrove, Hargrove-Marker Funeral Cremation Service, also addressed the community, looking ahead toward 2023.
Josh Beiler received the George Tedford Memorial Scholarship.
The George Tedford Memorial Scholarship Fund is a program designed to award a $1,500 scholarship to a talented, highly motivated Jenks High School Senior Student-Athlete who has demonstrated leadership potential and desires to pursue a career in business and a full-time undergraduate degree.
Regina LeBlanc, Sales Specialist for Servpro of South Tulsa County, received the Ambassador of the Year Award, given to the volunteer with the most involvement throughout the year.
Carissa Kellerby, Tulsa City-County Library / Jenks Branch, received the Emerge Young Professional of the Year award, which recognizes an individual between the ages of 21 and 40 who has made significant contributions to their company and the community at large in the previous year.
HOTWORX Tulsa-Jenks received the New Business of the Year award, which recognizes a new business, open no more than three years, that has shown significant growth and made outstanding contributions to the local economy and community during the previous year.
Catrina Fresh Mex received the Restaurant/Bar of the Year award, which recognizes an establishment that has shown significant growth, features excellent products and service and has made outstanding contributions to the local economy and community during the previous year.
Roark Acres Honey Farm received the Retailer of the Year award, which recognizes the best in retailers and retail innovation in the Jenks community.
Happy Hands Education Center received the Community Impact Award, given to an individual or organization that has gone above and beyond in pursuit of progress in the Jenks community.
Andy B’s Bowl Social received the Business of the Year award, which recognizes an organization that has shown significant growth and made outstanding contributions to the local economy and community during the previous year.
Lonnie Sims, Oklahoma State Representative, received the Ed Gerchman Jenks Leadership award.
The Ed Gerchman Leadership Award was created in honor of Ed Gerchman, a long-time citizen of Jenks, who passed away in 1995. Mr. Gerchman contributed many volunteer hours to the Jenks community as Past President of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce, many years as chairman of the Leadership Jenks program, Past President of the Jenks America Kiwanis Club, member of the City of Jenks Bond Oversight committee and the Jenks Planning Commission and a member of the Board of Directors of the Jenks Community Food Bank.
Prior to his death, the Jenks City Council and the Jenks Chamber of Commerce established an award in his honor to routinely recognize the example of service through leadership. Each year since 1995, a committee is formed to select a candidate who exemplifies the following characteristics of leadership: service, integrity, determination, courage, cooperation, and humbleness.
To see more photos, view the Facebook photo album.
