Davis earns award

Pastor Randy Davis, who has raised $125,000 for free meal cards for veterans and is spearheading a new effort to help those struggling with addiction, received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from Jay County Chamber of Commerce Thursday.
“You have given me so many opportunities,” said Davis, pastor of Redkey United Methodist Church and Dunkirk’s Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, adding that it’s reward enough to be remembered for helping people.
Others honored at the chamber’s expanded Jay Community Awards program following a banquet at Jay County High School were:
•Citizen of the Year, Ami Huffman.
•Dunkirk Community Commitment Award, Chuck Rife.
•Industry of the Year, TLS By Design.
•Business of the Year, The Ritz Theatre.
•Non-Profit of the Year, Jay County Special Olympics.
•Innovator of the Year, Ramon Loucks of IOM Grain.
•Young Professional of the Year, Matt Glentzer.
The chamber took nominations for the awards through mid-January, and finalists were selected by the chamber’s board of directors. Then a vote on the part of chamber members determined the winners.
“The voting couldn’t have been closer,” chamber executive director Dean Sanders said Thursday.
Davis, who has participated in mission trips to Haiti in addition to his local service, has been instrumental in founding and leading “A Better Life — Brianna’s Hope” in the wake of the loss of Brianna DiBattiste in 2014.

Regular meetings are held to assist those dealing with addictions and their families.
He was named Citizen of the Year by the Dunkirk Elks Lodge in 2012 and in 2014 was a finalist for The Star Press Person of the Year.
The other finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award were Portland businessman Neil Medler, who served 20 years on the Portland City Council and about 40 years on the Portland Park Board, and Gloria Green, who taught pre-school children in Jay County for nearly 60 years.
Huffman, community developer for Jay County Development Corporation, was recognized for her effectiveness as a grant writer for local communities. Her work on sewer separation projects in Redkey and Portland, the preservation of the railroad depot in Dunkirk and the Lafayette Street extension project in Portland were cited as the award was presented.
“This is a huge honor,” said Huffman. “I can’t think of a better place to have my family.”
Other finalists for Citizen of the Year were Janet Bantz, civic leader and president of CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union for more than 25 years, and John G. Young, who has been at the forefront of the effort to raise funds for the Portland Water Park project over the past year.
Rife, whose involvement in Dunkirk civic life includes service on the board for the city’s library and Glass Museum, two terms on the Dunkirk City Council and leadership of the Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce, received the Dunkirk Community Commitment Award humbly, thanking fellow nominee Jack Robbins for all his work on behalf of their city.
Robbins, a member of the Dunkirk City Council, has been at the heart of efforts to eliminate blighted properties in the community.
“Dunkirk was a good place to grow up, and that’s why I turned out so well,” quipped Rife.
TLS By Design, a manufacturer of furniture for hotels and institutions such as college campuses, was credited with its work restoring the former north plant of Sheller-Globe Corporation in Portland.
“We feel very blessed to be here,” said Jeff Day of TLS By Design. “If it weren’t for your mayor (Randy Geesaman), we wouldn’t be here today.”
Other finalists for Industry of the Year were Coca-Cola Refreshments of Portland, which has been ranked as the number-one Coca-Cola plant in the nation in term’s of safety, environmental policies and profitability, and the Fort Recovery Industries Portland Casting Plant, which has seen tremendous growth since it started production in 2011.
The Ritz Theatre and the Hall family were honored as Business of the Year for their commitment to the community. The theatre recently marked its 25th anniversary, and the Halls have made a significant investment in digital projection equipment to assure that it will be in service for many years to come.
Other finalists for Business of the Year were The Commercial Review, which was founded in 1871, and Valentine Feed and Supply, which opened its doors in 2014 and has filled a need in the local market for agricultural and pet supplies.
Jay County Special Olympics participants enthusiastically accepted the award for Non-Profit of the Year. Other finalists were Jay-Randolph Developmental Services and United Way of Jay County.
Accepting the Innovator of the Year Award, Loucks, owner of IOM Grain, said innovation at the company is a team effort.
“IOM is a strong team,” said Loucks. “We work as one.”
Opening a new plant in Portland’s industrial park in 2014, IOM expects to ship 40,000 metric tons of food grade soybeans this year to markets all over the world, resulting in a premium to farmers of $3.6 million.
Other finalists for Innovator of the Year were FCC (Indiana), which has been a leader in 9-speed clutch development and manufacturing for the automotive market, and Jeremy Gulley, director of teacher effectiveness for Jay Schools, who has been instrumental in establishing Jay County Manufacturing Academy.
Young Professional of the Year Matt Glentzer expressed appreciation for the award.
“We’re very thankful we came back here to put down roots,” said Glentzer, new owner of Portland Motor Parts/NAPA.
He has also been deeply involved in the Jay County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Jay County.
Other finalists for Young Professional of the Year were Laci Smitley, auctioneer and real estate agent who also owns Patriot Sportswear, and Ray Cooney, editor of The Commercial Review.
Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann praised the chamber and its award recipients in after-dinner remarks.
“Jay County is a special place,” she said. “We will continue to be your partner.”