The Falls Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet Friday and honored seven local business and individuals for outstanding service.
Ward Merrill was named Citizen of the Year; Good Samaritan Society received large business of the year; Domino’s Pizza was named the Small Business of the Year; Rose Garden Restaurant received Entrepreneur of the Year; Phyllis Karsnia received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Betsy Loop receives the Customer Service Award for an Individual; and City Drug was selected for the Customer Service Award to a Business.
Rob Boyd, a chamber board member and past chairman, welcomed guests and set the tone. He described the contemporary economic climate as “the best of times and the worst of times,” quoting Dickens from “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Boyd said that the businesses and individuals recognized that night represent the current cycle as the windows that are opening during a time when it appears the doors are closing.
Chamber President Betsy Jensen and Paul Nevanen, director of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, served as co-emcees and award presenters.
Jensen reflected that in her time she has come to understand the term “living in a fishbowl”, but more that she better understands what it means to collaborate.
Nevanen offered praise for the seven awardees that night for making a difference in the community and serving as an inspiration during difficult times.
The Falls Good Samaritan Society was named the Large Business of the Year. Adam Coe, administrator, said the institution personalizes care, with a mission to “share God’s love in word and deed,” and is what keeps staff focused on the people they serve and coming back day after day. He said it takes an involved community with an understanding of needs to make the GSS work effectively.
Ward Merrill, interim executive director of Citizens for Backus A/B, was named Citizen of the Year. The award recognizes contributions to community and in the lives of others during the past year. They are people who have made a difference through their service to others, their involvement in the community.
He remembered his father and the example he set to always do for others in accepting the honor. As a retired history teacher Merrill held the group captivated through a moving speech of the city’s story as it impacted his own life.
Domino’s Pizza was named the Small Business of the Year. Dwayne Carlson, owner, accepted on behalf of his spouse, Selena, and credited their children and crew as the reason they have succeeded as a franchise for the past 14-years. He also said the community has supported his restaurant and is very grateful that he chose this community to start his business and as a place to raise his family.
Carlson, noting that he is more accustomed to speaking to school groups than an esteemed room of business leaders, said that he could look out at the audience and could probably name the most ordered pizza for each guest in attendance.
The Rose Garden Restaurant was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Kim Nguyen, owner, accepted the award with her spouse Boi Phung and children present. She thanked the community for its support over the years, but more for the good education that her children have received and for the opportunities that will they have in the future. For the award, she said simply that they have worked very hard.
Phyllis Karsnia was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. She was humbled and said she had actually called the Chamber to turn down the honor when she got caught up in a conversation about the other winners and forgot to refuse the honor.
A former nurse and Boise Human Resources coordinator, Karsnia was recognized for her volunteers work on the Community Public Health Board and as coordinator of Koochiching Hospice. In that role, she identified a need to facilitate a local grief group, which led to the Hospice Caregiver Support Group, the Circles of Support and the Hospice Respite program.
Betsy Loop received the Customer Service Award for an Individual. She is a Registered Nurse at Falls Memorial Hospital, who works in the Chemo Therapy ward and was nominated by other hospital staff who state that she “exemplifies the epitome of customer service.”
City Drug was selected for the Customer Service Award to a Business. Gary Anderson, co-owner with his father, Andy, said the business has succeeded for a half century for working to take care of their customers and patients.