Chamber Celebrates on Saturday
The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce has seen some changes over the past year, but new leadership didn’t stop members of the chamber from gathering for a night of celebration last week.
On Saturday evening, at the St. Paul Civic Center, a large crowd of businessowners, community stakeholders, and St. Paul residents gathered for the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet. The event, which featured the theme “Honoring the Past, Welcoming the Future,” stretched into the evening, and featured multiple opportunities to celebrate both the chamber’s and local businesses’ success over the past year.
“I would like to start off by thanking everybody who helped prepare for this banquet in any way,” said St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Tara Kosmicki, with Ivory Brick and Company. “The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce is a great organization that takes pride in St. Paul.” During her welcoming remarks, Kosmicki lauded the many individuals that had helped organize this year’s banquet. Among those that were recognized were Meg’s Catering for catering the meal, Bootlegger, Inc. for tending the bar, and Ivory Brick and Company for their assistance with the decorations.
Kosmicki also thanked those who had donated the many silent auction and raffle items.
The chamber president also thanked the many members of the chamber of commerce’s board of directors, including Haley Poss, Citizens Bank; Cindy Peters, Peters Funeral Home; Dylan Woodgate, D-D Gym/ Bryan Jensen Clothing; Tracey Dietz, Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home; Jason Dibbert, Runza Restaurant; Jordan Robinson, Advanced Climate Control; Tyler Eberle, Archer Credit Union; and Jake Lawver, Capital Business Systems.
Kosmicki concluded her remarks by noting that, as of Saturday, the chamber of commerce had ninety-five paid members and that they were “still growing.
“It is great to see so many great businesses in the community,” the president concluded.
St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katie Mathews then took to the podium to deliver the invocation. Before offering the prayer, Mathews, who has only been on the job for several weeks, thanked members of the chamber, Kosmicki in particular, for their help in organizing this year’s banquet.
“Tara has had to work exceptionally hard to make sure that this banquet took place,” Mathews said. “I have been on board for less than a month, and she has been working on this chamber banquet for a lot longer than that.”
After the invocation, Meg’s Catering served the meal, which included a leafy salad, chicken, pork, mashed potatoes, and bread. A variety of cakes were served as dessert.
Prior to the start of the banquet, and during the meal, Tim Mohanna of Mohanna with Red Shoes provided some musical entertainment.
Following the meal, eight awards were presented. This year’s awards included: Distinguished Agri-Business/Person, Distinguished Volunteer, Community Service Project, Health Care Hero, Outstanding Educator, Future Leader, Outstanding Employee, and Outstanding Business.
The first award, which was presented by Chamber of Commerce Vice President Poss, was for Distinguished Agri- Business/ Person. Nominees for that award were Brandon Nowak with Linked-N-Ag and Glen Killion with River Junction Livestock Nutrition.
Killion was honored with the award.
“Glen is involved with several different seed and feed companies, which helps [River Junction] become a well-rounded business to help with anything from improving your pastures to getting the most yield from your crops and hay fields,” Poss said while reading the nomination. “He lays out your options and helps you decide your most costeffective plan for your operation.
“Glen has helped so many farmers and ranchers in our community and in many surrounding communities.”
The second award presented was for Distinguished Volunteer. Nominees in that category included Jordan Meyer, Connie Becker, Robin Williams, and Velda Peters. Becker was honored with the award.
“Connie is very active in many different aspects of our community,” noted Poss while reading Becker’s nomination. “She is a perfect example of a distinguished community member and a model of what citizenship and leadership are.”
Among the organizations which Becker volunteers with are TeamMates, the GCA Days Committee, the St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, the St. Paul Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Central Nebraska Antique Tractor and Equipment Club. It was also noted that Becker is “an avid supporter” of all things St. Paul Wildcats.
“We all enjoy her smile and bubbly personality,” concluded Poss.
This year, the St. Paul Early Childhood Foundation was honored for the Outstanding Community Service Project. The other nominee for that award was the St. Paul Rotary Club for their community garden.
The St. Paul Early Childhood Foundation was honored for their work with Little Sprouts Preschool.
“The St. Paul Early Childhood Foundation is a vital part of the future of St. Paul,” said Kosmicki. “This team is providing an essential service to this community.
“They started a preschool from scratch, found the funding, bought the supplies, hired staff, and continue to oversee the preschool operation. The youth of this community are benefiting from this amazing foundation.”
The next award presented was for Health Care Hero. Those nominated for the award this year included Jeff Platek, Sarah Goettsche, the Howard County Hospital Foundation, and the volunteer EMS team.
The volunteer EMS team won the award.
“The volunteer EMS team drops anything at any given time and gives people the medical care that they need,” Kosmicki said. “They volunteer their time to continue training and help with other community events.”
Kosmicki, reading from the nomination form, noted that, in 2022, the EMS volunteers responded to 300 calls in the community and the surrounding area. There are currently seventeen EMS volunteers with the fire department.
“Thank you for everything that you guys do,” concluded the chamber president.
The next award was for Outstanding Educator. Those nominated for the award included Alex Egger, Jen Meinecke, Sarah Hill, and Lacey Bowder. Egger, the elementary principal at St. Paul Public Schools, won the award.
“As the new elementary principal at St. Paul Public Schools, he is making changes not only to the elementary, but to the whole school,” said a noticeably moved Kosmicki. “The energy he brings excites others around him, and going to the principal’s office isn’t a bad thing.
“He is, all-around, a great leader, and we are so happy to have him in this community.”
Egger’s award was followed by the Future Leaders Award, for which John Placke, Lauren Sladek, Maya Becker, and the St. Paul Interact Club Seniors were all nominated.
The Interact Club Seniors — including Becker, Placke, Kale Smydra, Jonah Paulsen, Jenna Jakubowski, Rowynn Hansel, Faith Murithi, Aidan Anderson, and Kayleigh Poss –— were honored with the Future Leaders Award.
Among the activities tackled by the seniors had been fundraising for the free-will donation gift-wrapping event in December, organizing and decorating the Winter Ball for students at St. Paul High School, and donating $750.00 to the school backpack program.
The Chamber then presented its award for Outstanding Educator. Among this year’s nominees for that award this year were Tamie Tomlinson, Taylor Howell, and Andrea Keough Eacker.
Eacker, who works at St. Paul Public Schools and Bed Head Coffee, was honored with the award.
“Andrea is incredibly passionate about everything she does,” read Kosmicki. “Andrea is extremely loyal, supportive, kind-hearted, and has the most amazing positive attitude. She is very good at making everyone feel like they are the most important person in the world when you talk to her.”
The final award of the night was the Outstanding Business Award.
Nominees for that award included Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home, Advanced Climate Control, Kid Academy, Matelyn Retirement Community, Bed Head Coffee, and Runza.
Matelyn Retirement Community was the recipient of Outstanding Business Award this year.
“This facility has contributed to the City of St. Paul and the surrounding areas by offering a successfully maintained and locallyoperated assisted and independent, like-home living environment,” Kosmicki said.
It was noted that, while employing over twenty staff members, the staff at Matelyn continues to remain educated and aware of the ever-changing needs of the residents, staff, and facility.
“The residents become more like family to the staff,” read Kosmicki. “Their motto reads: ‘Life is What You Make It, Make it Great at Matelyn.’” Following the awards, the silent auction winners were announced, and the raffle prizes were given away.