The Jenks Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2022 Banquet on Jan. 20 at the River Spirit Casino Resort. The Chamber celebrated the best in business and community with its 2021 awards and also inaugurated and swore in the 2022 board of directors.
Outgoing board chair Rob Loeber, Jenks Public Schools Director of Communications, delivered remarks, reflecting on the 2021 year. Incoming board chair Kent Clark, Woodland West Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, also addressed the community, looking ahead toward 2022.
Anna Bowler 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.
Danielle Beck, Senior Event Specialist for the Oklahoma Aquarium, received the Ambassador of the Year Award, given to the volunteer with the most involvement throughout the year.
Ashley Abel, CrossFirst Bank, received the Young Professional of the Year award, which recognizes an individual between the ages of 21 and 45 who has made significant contributions to their company and the community at large in the previous year.
Rustic Gate Creamery 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.
Cookies, Cakes, and Jews 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.
Bridges Mercantile received the Retailer of the Year award, which recognizes the best in retailers and retail innovation in the Jenks community.
BancFirst 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.
Woodland West Animal Hospital and Pet Resort 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.
Gina Lambilotte, BancFirst, 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.
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