PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County’s business diversity and volunteer spirit was celebrated Sunday as the Chamber of Commerce honored its winners and nominees for the Citizen, Business Leader and Young Professional awards for 2014.
“We have forests and trails and mountains and all kinds of amazing things that attract people who want to call this place home,” said Chamber President Amanda Funaro.
“People who have an attraction to what is so rich and so beautiful live passionately, and when I look around this community, I see people with inspiration and passion for what they are doing.”
More than 125 people attended the brunch at Fort Worden Commons to celebrate the awards, which represent an annual tradition.
The first Citizen of the Year award took place in 1949, with Business Leader of the Year added in 1998 and the Young Professional in 2012.
The Young Professional Award recognizes young people who have made a difference and who could become Business Leader of the Year and Citizen of the Year in the future, according to Funaro.
“The Young Professionals have become a catalyst and an inspiration for a county wide movement that supports the retention and attention of our young professionals and their families,” she said.
“There is an incredible amount of YPNs in leadership positions.”
This year’s winner was Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear, executive director of the ReCyclery, a local source for bicycles that highlights their contribution to fitness.
“The bicycle is one of the simplest, most elegant and most affordable solutions to some of our nation’s biggest problems: childhood obesity, poverty pollution, energy use, climate change and the happiness index,” Tudhope-Locklear said.
Also nominated for Young Professional of the Year was Damian Wright, whose Wright-Away Delivery serves to-go food from local restaurants to local residents, and Wren Farris, the owner of Soak on the Sound, the Olympic Peninsula’s first saltwater bathhouse.
Co-Lab collaborative working center founder Heather Dudley Nollette was honored as Business Leader of the Year, relating her trip the day before to several Seattle area attractions.
“I took my kids to the Southcenter Mall and there was so much energy and commerce and so much access to businesses and so much other stuff,” she said.
“I could appreciate this on some level, but with all due respect to Federal Way-ians and De Moines-ians, this is so much better.”
Also honored was Malcolm Dorn, who helped to establish the Chimacum Corner Farmstand, and Sport Townsend owner Susan Jacob-Humiston.
Gee Heckscher, who serves on the Port Townsend Planning Commission and the Fort Worden Public Development Authority board, was recognized as Citizen of the Year for his volunteerism.
One of those nominating him for the honor wrote of Heckscher: “He works unselfishly, is very humble and a true collaborator. He is a true civic leader, an engaged citizen and an admired member of our community.”
“I was warned about this town, that the first time you raise your hand [to volunteer] they’ve got your number,” Hecksher said.
“But I’ve had a lot of great experiences that I never would have gotten to do anywhere else.”
Other Citizen of the Year nominees were Wearable Art Show creator Debbi Steele and Ian Keith, who has donated his building skills to several community projects.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
