Koch, Eaton earn Chamber’s top awards

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A local attorney and a longtime Van Wert company earned top honors during the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce’s 91st Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony held Thursday at Willow Bend Country Club.

Van Wert attorney Chuck Koch was the winner of the Ray Miller Award, the local Chamber’s top individual honor, for his volunteer work in the community.

“Those of you who know me know I don’t do it to stand in front of a podium like this and take the recognition,” Koch told the more than 200 people who attended the dinner. “It’s tough for me, but I do appreciate it.”

The local attorney also talked about his roots in the community. “I was born and raised in this community; I grew up in Convoy and Van Wert’s my home, the county’s my home, I’m proud to call it my home,” Koch said. “I’ve always worked to try to improve life here, and I’m going to continue that.”

Mark Minick, president and CEO of Van Wert County Hospital, also talked about Koch’s commitment to community in announcing Koch’s selection for the Ray Miller Award.

“What comes from a simple devotion to leave the Van Wert community a better place to work and live, is a lifetime of selfless service that has already, in so many ways, had a significant economic and cultural impact on the Van Wert area,” Minick noted in announcing the winner of the award.

Koch’s community involvement includes service with the former Associated Charities, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio (NPAC), The Van Wert County Foundation (trustee), First Presbyterian Church (trustee), Van Wert Federal Savings & Loan (director) and a past president of the YMCA Board of Trustees.

Koch has been involved in the NPAC from the beginning, when he and his wife, Karen, along with Andy Czajkowski, chaired the Legacy Committee, the organization that spearheaded the capital campaign which raised nearly  $10 million to build the performing arts center. Koch also serves on the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation, the entity that operates the NPAC, and even provides some manual labor behind the scenes, unloading equipment and performing other manual labor to ensure the “show goes on.”

Koch also provided legal counsel for the development of the Jobs Ready Site north of Van Wert and is currently spearheading a campaign to build an aquatic complex in Van Wert, although those efforts have hit a roadblock in a decision by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office to reject the center’s May ballot issue (more information on that in Saturday’s independent).

The other two finalists for the Ray Miller Award were new Chamber Board member Eric Hurless and Eric McCracken, both nominated for their exemplary service to the community.

Earning the Crystal Image Award, the Chamber’s top award for companies and organizations, was Eaton Corporation.

Chamber Board member Jacque Welch announced the winner and talked about Eaton’s community projects, as well as its economic success as the county’s largest employer.

“This year’s recipient has not only seen significant job growth and expansion, but completed a transformative community service project,” Welch said, referring to Eaton’s partnering with the YWCA to create a playground from a dilapidated tennis court located behind the YWCA. “Their economic impact to our community is essential, but their devotion to community service is what truly makes this company stand out.”

Welch also talked about Eaton’s hiring of 360 additional employees and its 14,000-square-foot expansion, as well as its recent donation of $69,000 to four local non-profit organizations, the personal contribution of $18,000 by Eaton employees to help the YWCA maintain its summer food and transitional housing programs, and its United Way campaign that raised more than $118,000 in 2012.

In addition, Eaton’s Community Action Council, made up of hourly and salary employees, donated $7,500 to various local causes in the past year.

“The Chamber of Commerce appreciates Eaton’s many contributions to make our community a better place to live, work and play,” Welch said in conclusion.

Other finalists for the Crystal Image Award were Citizens National Bank and Iberdrola Renewables.

Also honored during Thursday’s banquet were Chamber members that completed significant additions or renovations to current facilities or construction of new facilities. Those earning the Chamber’s Golden Shovel Award included Family Health Center of Northwest Ohio, which renovated new quarters on South Washington Street; the YMCA, which expanded its senior and handicap easy access area and added Americans with Disabilities Act-compatible restroom facilities; the Sears Hometown Store, which under new owner Kirk Berryman, relocated the store to 745 Fox Road, doubled its sales floor and expanded its merchandise; Eaton Corporation for its 14,000-square-foot expansion; Van Wert City Schools, for the new  Van Wert Elementary School; A&A Mechanical, which went from a garage-based company to a newly renovated building at 717 E. Crawford St. that formerly housed the Van Wert County Council on Aging; the YWCA, for its playground project with Eaton; Vantage Career Center, for its renovation and expansion project; Wallace Plumbing, for its new building on South Shannon Street; and Miller Precision Manufacturing Industries, for its purchase and renovation of the former Kongsberg/Teleflex building in the Van Wert Industrial Park.

Also receiving awards for Chamber members who hit milestones in 2012. Those honored include the NPAC (5 years), DeShia (25 years), State of the Heart Hospice (30 years), Steve Bailey State Farm Insurance Agency (30 years), Tecumseh Packaging Solutions (45 years), Braun Industries (40 years), United Way of Van Wert County (90 years), First Bank of Berne (5 years), Van Wert independent (10 years), and Signs in Time (15 years).

Chamber President/CEO Susan Munroe talked about the achievements of the Chamber in 2012, including new offices downtown, a redesigned website, and 29 new members — more than twice as many as in 2011 and three times more than in 2010. Outgoing Chamber board members Mark Schumm, Bill Straley and Shonda Vorst were honored, as was outgoing Chamber Board President Eva Yarger, while new board members Eric Hurless, Jordan Miller, Angie Gibson and Sara Zura were introduced.

The evening ended with a humorous, touching and informative presentation by keynote speaker Dr. Todd Dewett.