Ken Bicha and Christine Stansberry were honored Oct. 25 as the “2014 Man and Woman of the Year” during the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce’s annual Dinner and Auction at the Port Orchard Eagles Hall.

More than 100 people attended the event, which also included the installation of new Chamber board members and officers.

Bicha was introduced by Brian Sauer, the Man of the Year in 2013.

Bicha moved to Port Orchard in 2002 and retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2004.

“I want to thank you for choosing me as Man of the Year,” said Bicha, who was nominated by Darcy Davies, a fellow Eagle. “I want to thank my brother and sister Eagles for the support they give me. I’ve become the face of the Eagles, but there are probably a half of dozen guys that belong to the Eagles and could be standing right here given the opportunities the Eagles have given me.”

After moving to Port Orchard, he and Joyce Moreau danced as social members of the Eagles. After retirement, Bicha became more involved in the Eagles and his first venture was “Eagles Helping Eagles,” by mowing lawns and helping older members stay in their homes.

Bicha later became a trustee and chairman for several years.

In 2008, Bicha and Eagle Tom Ridel reviewed the Eagles’ donations and they agreed that charity “begins at home.”

“We developed a motto, ‘Why not us?’ ” he said.

That same year, the Eagles started assisting South Kitsap Helpline with the “Thanksgiving Baskets” and the “Christmas Giving Tree” programs.

“In 2009, we added the ‘Change for Charity’ and one year collected $99 in pennies,” he said.

Later, they started the annual car show in 2011, which has become the Eagles’ largest community event.

“This is a fantastic community event and brings a lot of the community together,” Bicha said.

During the summer, Bicha and the Eagles started “Christmas in August” food drive and change for SK Helpline. This year, he also helped start the Eagles’ “cash mob,” where between 15-25 Eagles gather at local businesses and spend money or bring fruit baskets.

“We are reaching out to the community and that’s why I’m here,” he said. “We are here to help people in the community. We are people helping people and that’s what we do.”

He also started the Eagles’ “Wall of Honor” to pay tribute to Blue and Gold Star families and the annual “Military Appreciation Dinner.” Bicha also is co-chair of “Barstool Bingo” and the “First Responder Dinner,” which was started 15 years ago.

The Eagles also support community events, such as the Fathoms O’Fun Easter Egg Hunt, Breakfast with Santa, Jingle Bell Run.

Bicha was born Aug. 13, 1942, in Pocatello, Idaho, and was raised in Montana. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1964 with a commission in the U.S. Army. He served four years, including a tour in Vietnam.

Stansberry was introduced by Kathleen Wilson, last year’s Woman of the Year.

“Chris has become a very active member of the Port Orchard Bay Street Association and has also volunteered her time with Soroptimists, Kiwanis and a multitude of volunteering in our community and currently is heading the Explore Port Orchard coalition,” Wilson said. “I am so happing that Chris and her late husband, Tom, decided about 25 years ago to pack up their car and move west from Virginia to Port Orchard. Our community is much better for it.”

“I am greatly honored by this award and how unexpected it was,” Stansberry said. “If you’re me, you think of all the other women who deserve this award.”

Stansberry said she had many examples of people giving back to the community in her life — starting with her mother and other Chamber members who became “women of the year.” She said her mother was part of a group of women at church who were working in the back at various functions and events.

“We helped out at spaghetti feeds and bazaars, and she was always adopting people who didn’t have a place to go for meals, especially during the holidays,” she said. “That was always the message at our house. You help where help is needed.”

Stansberry said she lived in large cities where the opportunity for volunteering was limited after she left home, but once she moved to Port Orchard she found “opportunity for service seeks you out.” While working and commuting to Seattle, Stansberry said Kay Morrison approached her.

“Kay was the chair of the library board and thought there needed to be a connection between the board and the city,” she said. “Who better than the wife of a city councilman.”

Through Morrison, Stansberry became involved in the local Soroptimist chapter until 2013. She was a former treasurer for the Soroptimist Foundation and served on the “Fantasy in February” dinner and auction committee for several years.

“I had the pleasure of working with Sharron King, another person you can’t say ‘no’ to,” she said.

Stansberry said there are so many examples of strength and dedication in Port Orchard.

“Jesse Turner is another person you can’t look in the eye and say ‘no’ to,” she said. “When she asked me to fill in as treasurer at the Sidney Museum and Arts Association, what could I say. How hard could it be.”

Stansberry said with her association with the Sidney Museum and Arts Association, she learned about the history of Port Orchard.

“Being part of the SMAA board and organization has given me the opportunity to learn more about how non-profits operate and to work with more fantastic and dedicated people,” she said.

In 2010, Stansberry said she started working from home for her job. She said when Pam Heinrich became president of the Sidney Museum and Arts Association, Heinrich’s focus was to make the organization more present in the community. During that time, Stansberry started to attend the Port Orchard Bay Street Association meetings each month.

“Because I am not good at saying ‘no’ — but I have been practicing — I volunteering for the Art Walk and worked with Bek Ashby on the POBSA website and later was asked to be on the board,” she said.

She also chairs the Art Committee and Marketing Committee for the Sidney Museum and Arts Association.

Stansberry was born in Providence, R.I., but grew up between the East Coast and California.

She worked as a legal secretary and paralegal in Connecticut and Colorado, and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Regis University in Denver.

She and her husband moved from Denver to Port Orchard in 1990.

Stansberry also worked for several Seattle companies before her current position as vice president of compliance for Forward Management, LLC, a California-based investment company advisory firm.

Annette Crawford installed the new officers and new board members. Barry Doll will serve as president, Kristin Cowan, vice president; Elena Lightbrown, secretary; Dawn Jake, treasurer and Lance Fond, past-president. New board members are Cline, Robert McKee, Michelle Reid, Mandy Pieze and Billi Jean Gurnsey.

Fong presented McKee, of Whiskey Gulch Coffee Co., and Desiree Steffens, interim executive director, with the President’s Award.