Evening will celebrate business community
It’s a ritual almost as old as the broken New Year’s resolution.
With a new year comes a new reason to give each other a pat on the back in the form of awards.
The People’s Choice Awards lead to the Golden Globes, which hand off to Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony. In Hollywood, of course, pigs can talk, men can fly and the awards take on an identity of their own
In the greater Spokane Valley, the award may not have a name, but the sentiment is universal – a hearty sense of thanks for a job well done.
The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Awards Gala – perhaps we can talk them into calling them “The Valleys” to give them a sense of style – will be held next Saturday in the ballroom of the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road.
The joy of community is in the sharing. In good times, you get dressed up – at least semiformally – and throw a party.
This year’s party will once again include a silent auction and social hour that begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30, and the awards program gets underway an hour later with KXLY News 4 anchor Richard Brown serving as master of ceremonies.
Tickets for the affair are $40 each and are available through Friday from the Chamber of Commerce, 9507 E. Sprague Ave.
The night’s primary honoree, the Harry E. Nelson Citizen of the Year award winner, is Joseph Custer, who retired from Vera Water and Power after 38 years. Custer is a past president of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a leader in the creation of the Centennial Trail.
The small, medium and large Business of the Year will be recognized that evening.
Nominees for Small Business of the Year are: the Brickhouse Massage and Coffee Bar, MOJO Reprographics, A Step in Time, A.S.K. Clothing and Brighton Court Assisted Living.
Medium Business of the Year nominees are: Intermountain Community Bank, Outback Steakhouse and Holiday Inn Express Spokane Valley.
Large Business of the Year nominees are: Sterling Savings Bank, Journal of Business, Itron and Staples.
Criteria for business of the year awards include a demonstration of exceptional leadership, initiative and success in day-to-day operation.
Other awards to be handed out include the Chamber Volunteer of the Year, the Community Caring Award and the Nonprofit of the Year Award.
And what better way to celebrate than to get down and dance?
Nu Jack City will provide music for just that end following the awards ceremony.