PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer as the keynote speaker at its annual awards brunch in March.
“This is a first for us,” said Laura Brackenridge, events director.
“We always used to host it ourselves but thought we’d change it up a bit.”
The event recognizes the Citizen of the Year, Business Leader of the Year and Young Professional of the Year.
It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6 at Fort Worden Commons. Tickets are $42.39 each, which includes a service charge.
Forms on website
Nominations for all awards close at 5 p.m. Monday. Forms are available on the chamber’s website.
Brackenridge said Thursday that several nominations already had arrived but that a few more business leader nominations would be welcome.
“We never get enough nominations until the last day,” she said.
Brackenridge said Kilmer was “a good speaker, a good draw for business and well-liked.”
Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
It took the chamber about three months to get a commitment, which was finalized Tuesday.
Brackenridge said Kilmer would probably speak along the lines of the event’s theme: that people and businesses are always stronger when they collaborate.
The first Citizen of the Year award was given 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.
Only those younger than 45 are eligible for this award.
A panel that includes chamber board members and past winners selects the business and young professional award, while service clubs determine Citizen of the Year.
In 2015, those honored were Gee Heckscher as Citizen of the Year, Heather Dudley-Nollette as Business Leader of the Year and Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear as Young Professional of the Year.
For nomination forms and tickets, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-chamber.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
