Leon Horn and Becky Walls honored with top Chamber awards
This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce enjoyed another memorable year with record-setting membership and put the spotlight on local businesses and leaders with another soldout annual dinner Thursday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake.
The chamber honored Leon Horn as the Man of the Year and Becky Walls as the Woman of the Year.
Among the many other awards, Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach was honored with the government excellence award and Parkview Health received the Business of the Year Award.
See the full list of award winners below.
Chamber president Rob Parker highlighted top community issues in a short address and urged people to remain engaged in the US 30 project
“Because when we fix US 30 — we take out the stoplights and it becomes a freeway — we can get from here to Fort Wayne in under 30 minutes which means Fort Wayne would be a suburb of Warsaw,” Parker said, drawing laughs.
Parker also announced Scott Wiley, the chamber’s member relations manager, who has been a big part of hundreds of Chamber social media videos, is stepping down from his position.
Parker thanked Wiley for his role and impact and Wiley was then greeted with a sustained round of applause in appreciation of his work.
Below is a full list of awards based on a news release from the Chamber.
Parker recognized Lake City Bank as the recipient of the Chamber’s second annual Legacy Impact award. The award honors a business that has been a part of the Kosciusko County business community for at least 75 years.
The LaunchPad Impact award, which recognizes a business that provides innovative and creative solutions to childcare needs in the community was presented to the Kosciusko Community YMCA. Stillwater Hospice was this year’s award sponsor, and it was presented by Leslie Freidel.
The Main Street Impact Award, sponsored by PNC Bank and presented by Catherine Hill, was awarded to Atelier. Honorable Mention for the Main Street Impact Award was given to Glam Boutique and Generous Coffee.
The Making a Difference Award was sponsored by K21 Health Foundation and presented by Rich Haddad. The award was given to Cardinal Services. Honorable Mention for the Making a Difference award was given to Big Brothers Big Sisters and Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema.
The Rising Star Award is given to Kosciusko County’s highest-performing new company. This year, the award, sponsored by Horizon Bank and presented by Sonja Hesser, was awarded to The River Coffeehouse. Honorable Mention for the Rising Star Award was given to CS Portables and Envision Design.
The Community Development Award, honoring a business that has shown an outstanding contribution to community development in Kosciusko County, was sponsored by Old National Bank and presented by Sandra Parra. This year’s recipient was The Barn 1880. Honorable Mention for the Community Development Award was given to D.R. Horton and Milestone Construction.
This year’s Business of the Year Award was sponsored by Lake City Bank. Chris Wiggins presented the award to Parkview Health. Honorable Mention for the Business of the Year Award was given to Grace Village and Warsaw Chemical.
Lauren Twombly, the Chamber’s Director of Marketing and Communications presented the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award to Stacey Leek from Stillwater Hospice.
The Kosciusko Young Adult Professional of the Year Award was sponsored by Crossroads Bank and presented by John Warren. YAP is a group of business professionals under the age of 40 who are active in the community. This year’s recipient was Leo Patino with Warsaw Community Schools.
Tabitha McDonalds presented the Government Excellence Award, sponsored by Zimmer Biomet, to Winona Lake Town Manager, Craig Allebach.
The final awards presented for the evening were the highly anticipated Man and Woman of the Year Awards. These awards were co-sponsored by 1st Source Bank and Times-Union.
Doug Hanes of 1st Source Bank then presented the Man of the Year Award. Hanes stated that, “our man of the year has quietly shaped the fabric of Kosciusko County, using his wisdom, integrity, and generosity to make our community a better place. For anyone who has spent time walking around Kosciusko County with him, it’s immediately apparent how deeply he’s embedded in the community. The number of people he knows and the conversations he shares with them are a testament to his far-reaching influence. Yet, despite all his accomplishments, he remains remarkably humble, never seeking recognition or accolades for his efforts.” The 2024 Man of the Year is Leon Horn.
David Slone of Times Union presented the Woman of the Year Award saying that, “our Woman of the Year is a truly exceptional individual whose dedication, compassion, and leadership have transformed countless lives in Kosciusko County. If one had even half the passion and dedication that she has for the Special Olympics, they would still be an extraordinary force for change. Her unwavering commitment is truly unmatched, and she sets a standard for leadership, compassion, and perseverance that inspires everyone around her.” The 2024 Woman of the Year is Becky Walls.
Dinner was prepared by The LakeSide in Syracuse.
The major sponsors for the event included Lake City Bank, 1st Source Bank, 1Eighty Digital, Blue River Digital, Bowen Health, Core Mechanical Services, DreamOn Studios, Grace College & Seminary, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, Maple Leaf Farms, Robinson Construction, Silveus Insurance Group, Warsaw GMC, Winona IT, and Wildman.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Vanessa Green Sinders, President & CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Green Sinders was interviewed by Lake City Bank President & Chief Executive Officer, David Findlay.
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