PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College President Luke Robins and Todd Gubler, manager of Lake Crescent Lodge, received awards for their contributions to the community Monday at the annual Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce awards luncheon.
The two business leaders were honored in front of more than 100 chamber members at the Red Lion Hotel.
Robins was presented with the 2013 President’s Award by outgoing Chamber President Brian Kuh, for his contributions to the community in 2013.
Despite being a newcomer to Port Angeles, Robins immediately stepped in to become a community and business leader and has already left lasting contributions to the city, Kuh said.
Robins said he and his wife, Mary Jane Robins, are impressed with the community and region, and they are pleased to be involved in several organizations that support the city.
“We want the community’s kids to grow up, get an education — and that’s where we come in — and stay on the Peninsula,” Robins said.
The Peninsula College Board of Trustees hired Robins to replace departing President Tom Keegan, and he began his first day in July 2012.
Before arriving in Port Angeles, he was chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe, La.
Gubler was presented with the Member Extraordinaire award by Russ Veenema, executive director of the chamber.
“Working closely with 450 members, there is always someone who sticks out,” Veenema said.
Gubler worked tirelessly to keep Lake Crescent Lodge open during the fall and early winter off-season, he said.
The Lodge, a popular getaway in the Olympic National Park, which traditionally closes at the end of October, remained open through the end of December for a New Year celebration.
“It was extremely successful,” Gubler announced.
Successful enough that the Lodge will be open through the end of December again next year, he said.
“They say, ‘If you build it they will come.’ We built this season, and people came,” he said.
Gubler said the Lodge employed 40 people over the extended season.
The chamber also bid farewell to a departing board and executive committee and welcomed their replacements.
Todd Ortloff, station manager for KONP radio, was introduced as the incoming chamber president, replacing outgoing president Brian Kuh, a small business lender for Craft3.
Kuh was president for two years and said he would remain as an alternate member for some meetings.
Sharon Stevenson of Olympic Medical Center was introduced as vice president and Shenna Straling of Union Bank was introduced as treasurer.
Four new board members were welcomed: Brian Albright of Albright Networks; Steve Burke of WIlliam Shore Memorial Pool District; Rob Tulloch of Greenaway, Gay and Tulloch Law Firm; and Todd Gubler of Lake Crescent Lodge.
Departing board members Jim Wahlsten, George Bergner, Ed Bedford and Dave Neupert each received a plaque thanking them
for their service.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsula
dailynews.com.
