EDITOR’S NOTE: The date of the awards luncheon has been corrected.
PORT TOWNSEND — Jake Beattie, executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center, will receive a special award from the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, March 6, but he doesn’t know what it is.
And Teresa Verraes, the chamber’s executive director, isn’t telling.
“It is exciting and is the first year we are doing this and it’s a secret, so you need to be there,” she said.
The yet-unknown award will be given out at the chamber’s annual award brunch which recognizes three categories: the Citizen of the Year, the Business Leader of the Year and the Young Professional of the Year.
The luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fort Worden Commons.
The $40 tickets include brunch, a mimosa and a raffle ticket and are available at the chamber’s office at 2409 Jefferson St., Port Townsend by calling 360-385-7869 or at the door.
For the first time the brunch will include a keynote speaker. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat from Gig Harbor, will speak. He represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
Verraes said that “an overwhelming number of people” put forth Beattie’s name for recognition, saying that he, as the director of a successful nonprofit organization, qualifies as both a young professional and a business leader.
“For some time I’ve been wanting to acknowledge nonprofit directors for their leadership,” she said.
The Citizen of the Year nominations are screened by a committee made up of local service club representatives while the Business Leader and Young Professionals awards are chosen by the chamber of commerce.
Citizen of Year
The Citizen of the Year, awarded to Gee Heckscher in 2015, recognizes people who have done an outstanding job through volunteer work that benefits the community.
Nominees are:
■ Educator Gabriella Ashford, who has taken a local robotics club to a national competition.
■ Karen and Rich Ciccarone, who have donated their time together and separately to the JC MASH clinic, Olympic Community Action Programs, the YMCA and the Port Townsend Rotary, among others.
■ Norm Johnson, who has managed the “Concert in the Wood” program that brings entertainment to the Coyle Peninsula.
■ Laurie Liske and Kelly Liske, who donate their time to such organizations as Toys for Tots, Kiwanis, Rotary, Jumping Mouse, Dove House and others.
■ Earll Murman, the driving force behind the Jefferson County Aquatic Coalition, which seeks to open and maintain local swimming options.
■ Steve Rafoth, the president of the United Good Neighbors board of directors, who has secured several community grants and founded the Peninsula Daily News’ Heart of Service Award along with former publisher John Brewer.
■ Shelly and Jeff Randall, who have led two recent bond measures to victory. The measures were for Mountain View Commons improvements in 2015 and a construction bond for the Port Townsend schools that was approved earlier this month.
■ Marianne Walters, who has worked on behalf of local children in projects ranging from supplying every third-grade student with a dictionary to proctoring SAT exams and raising money for educational programs.
Business Leader
The Tim Caldwell Business Leader of the Year award, won in 2015 by Heather Dudley Nollette, is given to a person who runs a business in Jefferson County and belongs to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
Nominees are:
■ Rocky Friedman, who operates the two-screen Rose Theatre along with the more intimate Starlight Room, presenting first run and vintage movies as well as special events.
He is a founder of the Port Townsend Film Festival and a founding investor of the Jefferson County Community Foundation.
■ Sherri and Pete Henke, who own and operate Puget Sound Express, providing whale watching tours, charter tours and passenger ferry service from Port Townsend to Friday Harbor.
Pete Henke is in his first term as a Port of Port Townsend commissioner, representing District 2.
■ Sue Ohlson and Bill Curtsinger, who own and operate Sunrise Coffee Company in the Boat Haven. They manufacture and distribute their own brand and operate a coffee shop that doubles as a meeting place and social center.
Young Professional
The Young Professional of the Year, won in 2015 by Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear, owns or directs a business in Jefferson County that is a member business of the Chamber of Commerce and is younger than 45.
Nominees are:
■ Amy Smith Howard, the executive director of the Boiler Room which, under her direction, has become financially stable, nominators said.
In November she was elected to the Port Townsend City Council.
■ Danny Millholland, who operates Thunderbull Productions which sponsors such events as the Rhododhendron Cake Picnic, the All-County Picnic and the Fort Worden Fourth of July Celebration.
■ Dominic Svornich, who is both the manager of Kitsap Ban’s Port Townsend branch and the co-owner of the Cellar Door, a downtown club that presents a variety of live music.
He also manages the Concerts on the Dock summer festival, which draws about 300 spectators each week in July and August.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
