Six Members of the I-94 West Chamber of Commerce were honored Thursday, April 7 at the annual Business & Community Excellence Awards for outstanding performance in their community.
The Business and Community Excellence Awards recognize and honor area businesses, organizations, and community leaders that have had a positive impact on the I-94 West Region in the last year. Nominations were submitted by Chamber Members and other local business leaders.
The Awards were presented during a breakfast April 3 at the Crown Room at the Wellstead of Rogers, which featured a keynote address by Dr. Mark Bezek, Superintendent of Independent School District 728. Bezek spoke about changes necessary to best connect with students of the digital age and highlighted the district’s strategic plan.
Dr. Leah Colby (right), founder of Eye West Vision Clinic in Rogers and St. Michael, was presented with an I-94 West Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Excellence Award for Small Business last week in Rogers.
Albertville’s Gordy Midas accepted the Large Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd., on behalf of Coborn’s, Inc. Midas has worked for the employee-owned grocery retailer since 1968 and has managed the Coborn’s Superstore in Albertville since it opened in 2002. St. Cloud-based Coborn’s, Inc. employees 7,400 employees across its 125 retail locations and strives to “Be the Best Place to Work and Shop.”
EyeWest Vision Clinic & Optical, recipient of the Small/Medium Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Gries Lenhardt Michenfelder Allen, PLLP, opened the doors of its Rogers location in July of 2002. Now, with a second location in St. Michael (opened in 2011), EyeWest employs four doctors and twenty support staff. Dr. Leah Colby accepted the Award for EyeWest Vision Clinic and spoke of the importance of providing legendary customer service and of giving back to the community that supports them.
Excellence in Local Government, sponsored by North Hennepin Community College Professional Training & Development, was presented to Steve Bot. Bot is the City Administrator of the City of St. Michael and chair of the I-94 West Corridor Coalition. Steve has been with the City of St. Michael since 2002 and currently serves as City Administrator, Public Works Director, and City Engineer. Steve is also the President of the City Engineers Association of Minnesota and serves on numerous transportation boards statewide.
Steve Bot, right, City Administrator for St. Michael, was awarded the Excellence in Government Award last week during the Business and Community Awards hosted by the I-94 West Chamber of Commerce.
Bot was credited for his efforts to bring the Interstate 94 expansion to three lanes between Rogers and St. Michael to fruition. The state announced late last year the project, at a cost of $30 million, would be part of the “Corridors of Commerce” package and fast-tracked to this construction season. It should start in June, weather permitting.
In other awards:
The Manufacturing Excellence Award, sponsored by 21st Century Bank, was presented to Chris Kauffman, President of K-Manufacturing. Located in Dayton, K-Manufacturing is a machining job shop providing a multitude of machining services to a wide variety of customers. The end of April will mark their 30th anniversary in business.
The Non-Profit Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd, was presented to the Rogers Area Lions Club. Accepting the Award on behalf of the Lions was President Brian Busch.
The Lifetime Excellence Award, sponsored by Cabela’s, was awarded posthumously to lifelong Rogers resident and community leader Charles (Chuck) Christian, who passed away unexpectedly in November of 2013. Chuck, who founded Christian Builders and Christian Realty in the early 1970s, was the first fire chief of Dayton, a charter member of the Rogers Lions Club, a member of the Rogers Toastmasters, and the president of the Rogers Rotary Club at the time of his death.
The I-94 West Chamber of Commerce serves 10 cities in the far northwestern suburbs of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area as well as surrounding cities. Its mission is to promote partnerships between business, government, and community, while providing information and resources, therefore creating a positive environment for the I-94 West communities.