POULSBO — The Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce’s annual President’s Gala and Community Awards Banquet is Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m., at Kiana Lodge. Call 360-779-4999.
The chamber will install its leadership for 2015. Awards will be presented in the following categories:
— Young Leader of the Year. Nominees: Maria Lynn Ortiz Monson, Jessie Nino, Dan Barry.
— Emerging Business of the Year. Nominees: Salmonberry Community Birth Center, Beautifully Polished, Bon Cheveux.
— Organization of the Year. Nominees: Miss Poulsbo Miss Kitsap Miss Silverdale Scholarship Organization, Gateway Fellowship (Operation Day of Hope), Fishline.
— Volunteer of the Year. Nominees: Hal Hoover, Tom Nordly, Tony Smallbeck.
— Business of the Year. Nominees: Dahlquist Jewelry, Kitsap Bank, Windermere Real Estate.
— Person of the Year. Nominees: Ardis Morrow, Mike Hill, Mary Nader.
In addition, the chamber will honor the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department, Poulsbo Police Department, Poulsbo Fire Department, and North Kitsap Fire & Rescue.
The annual awards program is administered by the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce. Nominations are submitted in October and November by residents and businesses in the Greater Poulsbo/North Kitsap region. A selection committee chooses the top three nominees in each of six categories to be honored as finalists.
“The number of nominations has been increasing every year,” said Marc Abshire, the chamber’s director of operations. “For 2014, the more than 40 nominations received was more than anyone can recall in recent memory. We are very encouraged by the number of nominations the selection committee received this year and hope the North Kitsap community continues to increase participation in this program next year.”
He added, “It’s gratifying to be able to recognize the best of the best in our community, and we are thankful to the sponsors who have stepped forward to help us be able to honor the award finalists in a quality fashion. We anticipate nearly 300 people to attend this year’s [event] and are expecting it to be a fun and meaningful evening.”
Community awards sponsors are Peninsula Credit Union, Edward Jones – Todd Tidball, Dahlquist Fine Jewelers, Liberty Bay Bank, Mike & Sandi Nelson Real Estate, and First Federal Savings and Loan.
Gala sponsors are Liberty Bay Auto, Speidel Neuropathic Clinic, Kitsap Bank, Safeway, Olympic Property Group, Clearwater Casino Hotel Resort, Hill Worldwide Moving Services, American West Bank, The Point Casino, Timberland Bank, Bayside Engravers, and Peninsula Paint.
