2.23.10
Honorees greeted with kudos during chamber banquet
By: Cliff Wiltshire - www.snponline.com
The 10th annual "Celebrate Clintonville" banquet was filled with community spirit Friday night, Feb. 19.

The event serves as a special awards ceremony organized by the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by a number of local businesses and agencies.

The dinner -- plus a popular silent auction with nearly 70 donated items -- raised funds for the chamber. It returned this year to the nearby University Plaza Hotel after several years at the Blackwell Inn at Ohio State University.

Award-winners, announced previously, are:

* Business Person of the Year -- Dr. Brian Kvitko;

* Business of the Year -- Beechwold Hardware; and

* Booster Community Volunteer of the Year -- John Umpleby.

The chamber has been honoring a Business Person of the Year for 10 years, while the Business and Volunteer awards were started in 2004.

Each winner was honored before the dinner by several local politicians: Columbus City Councilman Andrew Ginther, state Sen. Jim Hughes (R-Columbus), and a representative from the office of John Carney (D-Columbus), who could not attend.

Once the meal was served, this year's award-winners were applauded by the 120 or so attendees. After brief introductions by past-Chamber Board Chairman Joe Patchen and last year's winners, the 2010 honorees got their turn at the microphone.

Umpleby, whose roots run deeply in the community through his involvement with Our Lady of Peace, Charity Newsies, the Columbus Marathon and more, asked attendees to continue giving of themselves in order to make the community a better place.

"I would like to urge more people to volunteer more. There's a need out there, especially in this economy," he said.

"Everyone should try to find some way to give back to their community."

Kvitko was complimented for his efforts to improve the northeast corner of the East Cooke Road-North High Street intersection.

He shared his personal history, then explained how his business philosophy is something that can be imitated by people in all walks of life.

"A complaint is another way to spell compliment," he told the crowd. "When people care enough to complain," that means they like what you're doing but are making an extra effort to help you improve.

The Beechwold Hardware award was accepted by owner Malcolm Moore, who credited his wife Kathy for her strong support in the store as well as at home.

Nearly everyone had a story about how they needed a special part or repair for their older Clintonville home and Beechwold Hardware either was able to help or to point the person in the right direction.

"This is really very humbling," Moore said as he commented on the many smiles he saw in the audience.

"I hope to help you all out in the future."

Chamber Director Jenny Smith said she was happy with how the evening turned out.

"I thought things went exceptionally well," she said.

"There were a lot of happy people there, and the award-winners seemed thrilled. ... It was a nice evening."

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