Man, Woman Of The Year
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Individuals and businesses were honored Wednesday at the annual banquet of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce.
Judy Reneker, owner of Reneker's Sports Shop, was named Woman of the Year, and Bob Sanders, owner of Bodkin Abstract Co. Inc., was recognized as Man of the Year.
Reneker was cited as the first woman leadership chairman of United Way in 38 years, raising $950,000. She also volunteers at the Boys' and Girls' Club, with the Mothers of Preschoolers Program at First Presbyterian Church, on the Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission and on the boards of Mason Health Care and Home Health Care/Hospice.
"This is the most wonderful county, the most caring county that a person could live in," Reneker said when she accepted her award.
Sanders was recognized for his work on the boards of Kosciusko Development Inc., the Warsaw Community Development Corp., the chamber and the Home Builders' Association. He also is a member of breakfast Optimists and Rotary.
"I look out there and I see so many others more deserving of this than I am," Sander said.
Steve and Bruce Shaffner, owners of the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Entertainment Complex, received the chamber's Dimensions of Excellence Award for general business.
Called by chamber president Mike Gavin "two of the most successful businessmen in northern Indiana," the Shaffners have received state and national attention for their work with the complex, which comprises the Ramada Plaza, ViewPoint Restaurant, Brewski's Pub, Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre, 2517 Restaurant and Ramada White Hill Manor.
"It's been quite a year for us," Bruce Shaffner said in accepting the award. He also expressed appreciation to the community for support and recognized the management and staff of the complex for their help.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Christopher Sanchez, owner and operator of Video and Sound Productions in Warsaw.
Sanchez's company, said presenter Clint Pletcher, operates the "only privately leased cable channel in Indiana." VSP, Pletcher said, is "one of the largest video production companies in Indiana today."
Don and Sally Strouse, owners of Colbin Tool Co. Inc., Syracuse, received the Dimensions of Excellence Award for small business. They purchased the company in 1985, and sales last year exceeded $3 million.
Sofamor Danek Mfg., Winona Lake, won the Dimensions of Excellence Award for large industry. Established more than 30 years ago to manufacture bone screws for orthopedic companies, the company now manufactures "highly precise implant devices," said presenter Yolanda Garza Hedington, and will have a combined revenue of more than $1 billion in the next fiscal year.
The two recipients of the Government Excellence Award were not present Wednesday to receive their awards.
"They're in Indianapolis, doing what they're paid to do," said Jean Northenor of state Sen. Kent Adams and state Rep. David Wolkins. Adams and Wolkins were honored for their "demonstrated commitment in the support of business," she said. "I would bet everything I know that if you've talked to them, they've made every effort to help your business."
The Athena Award, which celebrates the potential of women in business and those who support them, went to Biomet president Dane Miller, who, said presenter Barbara Dombkowski, "truly exemplifies what the award is all about - he demonstrates his beliefs in the equality of all women."
Miller, in accepting the Athena Award, said, "We truly believe that the future of any company is its people and that all people, women and men, can step up to a challenge." [[In-content Ad]]
Individuals and businesses were honored Wednesday at the annual banquet of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce.
Judy Reneker, owner of Reneker's Sports Shop, was named Woman of the Year, and Bob Sanders, owner of Bodkin Abstract Co. Inc., was recognized as Man of the Year.
Reneker was cited as the first woman leadership chairman of United Way in 38 years, raising $950,000. She also volunteers at the Boys' and Girls' Club, with the Mothers of Preschoolers Program at First Presbyterian Church, on the Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission and on the boards of Mason Health Care and Home Health Care/Hospice.
"This is the most wonderful county, the most caring county that a person could live in," Reneker said when she accepted her award.
Sanders was recognized for his work on the boards of Kosciusko Development Inc., the Warsaw Community Development Corp., the chamber and the Home Builders' Association. He also is a member of breakfast Optimists and Rotary.
"I look out there and I see so many others more deserving of this than I am," Sander said.
Steve and Bruce Shaffner, owners of the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Entertainment Complex, received the chamber's Dimensions of Excellence Award for general business.
Called by chamber president Mike Gavin "two of the most successful businessmen in northern Indiana," the Shaffners have received state and national attention for their work with the complex, which comprises the Ramada Plaza, ViewPoint Restaurant, Brewski's Pub, Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre, 2517 Restaurant and Ramada White Hill Manor.
"It's been quite a year for us," Bruce Shaffner said in accepting the award. He also expressed appreciation to the community for support and recognized the management and staff of the complex for their help.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Christopher Sanchez, owner and operator of Video and Sound Productions in Warsaw.
Sanchez's company, said presenter Clint Pletcher, operates the "only privately leased cable channel in Indiana." VSP, Pletcher said, is "one of the largest video production companies in Indiana today."
Don and Sally Strouse, owners of Colbin Tool Co. Inc., Syracuse, received the Dimensions of Excellence Award for small business. They purchased the company in 1985, and sales last year exceeded $3 million.
Sofamor Danek Mfg., Winona Lake, won the Dimensions of Excellence Award for large industry. Established more than 30 years ago to manufacture bone screws for orthopedic companies, the company now manufactures "highly precise implant devices," said presenter Yolanda Garza Hedington, and will have a combined revenue of more than $1 billion in the next fiscal year.
The two recipients of the Government Excellence Award were not present Wednesday to receive their awards.
"They're in Indianapolis, doing what they're paid to do," said Jean Northenor of state Sen. Kent Adams and state Rep. David Wolkins. Adams and Wolkins were honored for their "demonstrated commitment in the support of business," she said. "I would bet everything I know that if you've talked to them, they've made every effort to help your business."
The Athena Award, which celebrates the potential of women in business and those who support them, went to Biomet president Dane Miller, who, said presenter Barbara Dombkowski, "truly exemplifies what the award is all about - he demonstrates his beliefs in the equality of all women."
Miller, in accepting the Athena Award, said, "We truly believe that the future of any company is its people and that all people, women and men, can step up to a challenge." [[In-content Ad]]