Chamber names awards finalists

The year 2020 was a challenge for everyone.

In Jay County, there were still plenty of efforts worthy of praise, even as the coronavirus pandemic brought so much change.

Jay County Chamber of Commerce on Friday recognized some of those efforts Friday as it announced the finalists for the Jay County Community Awards.

“In a year, as challenging and arduous as 2020 was, it gives us great pleasure to celebrate the best of Jay County,” the chamber said in a press release. “Each finalist is deserving of this recognition; and in their own way, contributed to our Jay County communities. They make Jay County proud, strong and resourceful.”

The finalists will be honored and the winners announced at an awards ceremony and banquet May 15 at Jay County Event Center.

Leading the nominations were three finalists for The Spirit of Vicki, previously known as the Lifetime Achievement Award and now named in honor of former chamber executive director Vicki Tague. In contention for that honor are Randy Fisher of Fisher Real Estate & Auction who has also been an advocate for murals in the county; Ron Freeman, former president of Jay Petroleum who has been active in the arts, his church and other community activities; and Jack Ronald, president of The Graphic Printing Company and former president of the chamber and The Portland Foundation.

Finalists for Citizen of the Year are Cindy Denney, who has been involved with United Way of Jay County and Jay County Special Olympics; Tracey VanSkyock, owner of Grounds on the Fly; Mike Weitzel, Portland’s fire chief; and Mindy Weaver, chair of the Arts Place capital campaign and president of Jay County Humane Society.

Finalists for other awards are as follows:

Business of the Year — Bizy Dips, Glass Capital Grill and Pizza King of Portland

Industry of the Year — Advanced Seal Technology, TLS by Design and Tyson Foods

Not-for-profit of the Year — Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, Pregnancy Care Center and United Way of Jay County

Young Professional of the Year — Erin Davis, Adam Homan and Hannah Long

Innovator of the Year — Dilcia Ruiz, First Bank of Berne, and Chartwells and the Jay School Corporation food service program

Dunkirk Community Commitment Award — Ryan and Kelly Johnson, Aaron and Stephanie Walter, and West Jay Optimist Club

Small Community Commitment — Brooks Fugiett, Debbie James and Kelly Smeltzer

The list includes multiple previous community award winners, as Denney was Citizen of the Year in 2016, and her family received the award in 2010. Ronald was honored as Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Each of the three Industry of the Year finalists — TLS (2014), Advanced Seal Technology (2003) and Tyson (2001) — is a previous winner.