The Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce has selected its annual man, woman and small business of the year for 2009, respectively honoring a restauranteur, volunteer and printing services company.
“It changes from year to year,” Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Coreen Haydock Johnson said. “Sometimes we have well-known people, but there are other times when we honor someone who has worked behind the scenes for a variety of different causes.”
In this respect, Moondogs Too owner and newly anointed Man of the Year Darryl Baldwin qualifies as “well known” due to his high visibility with the downtown merchants. And Woman of the Year Lavelle Allen is more behind the scenes, due to her consistent support of schools, scouting and charities.
The small business award goes to Printing Services and its owner Brad Potter. The 23-year-old business has earned Potter a reputation as a “printing super hero” for his ability to handle complicated jobs and his involvement in many local organizations. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for almost the entire time he has been in business, serving on the Chamber Board and as its president.
Nominations were solicited from the community, and the winners selected by a committee of past recipients. The awards will coincide with the installation banquet, held at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the McCormick Woods clubhouse.
Baldwin said that he was “flabbergasted to get this honor, especially with some of the other wonderful people around here.
“My community service efforts are not for the recognition,” Baldwin said. “I participate because it is the right thing to do. I grew up in a small town, so Port Orchard seems like a large city to me.”
Allen voices a similar sentiment, saying that she was “almost embarrassed” by the attention, saying that “volunteering is something that I have always done, and I don’t need recognition.”
Allen will not attend the event, as her granddaughter is getting married that day. She will be represented by 1982 Woman of the Year Harriet Norwood, who submitted Allen’s nomination.
The chamber event costs $60 per person and $110 per couple, and features entertainment from the dueling pianos of Jeff and Rhiannon. Tickets may be purchased online at www.portorchard.com or by calling (360) 876-3505.
