SC-GC Chamber of Commerce holds awards banquet 111618

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 22 November 2018 22 November 2018

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

On Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce held its 2018 Awards Banquet to honor those chosen for honors.

Recipient of the 2018 Linda Kay Jones Humanitarian Award was Dorothy "Dotty" Pfeifer. Jeanie Mitchell, chamber board member, made the announcement. John Paul Jones, widower of Linda Kay and their daughter, Janice Worley, presented the award.

Pfeifer has been helping people for 33 years through the St. Francis Associates at St. Francis Newman Center Parish. She also serves as the chairwoman of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in Grant County, which is administered by the national United Way. She is trained to qualify those in need of utility assistance through PNM's Good Neighbor Fund and New Mexico Gas Company's Heat NM Fund. She is involved in the Grant County Food Collaborative group and coordinates the distribution of 40 to 50 Thanksgiving boxes out of St. Francis, in addition to coordinating all lists of boxes given out by other groups to avoid duplication. She also has served as secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Silver City.

"I try to help people," Pfeifer said. "Right now, we have a family here whose house was destroyed by the volcano in Hawaii. They came here for a job, but it has not worked out yet. My attitude is: 'We'll figure it out.' I always find someone to help them out."

Chamber Board member Bruce Ashburn introduced the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award—Kim Clark. Her day job is as Silver City Regional Association of Realtors executive and government affairs director. Her volunteering also serves her community.

Clark is a member of the Grant County Cowbelles and has served as president. She has been a member of the Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation since 2015, serves as the treasurer and Rodeo Media Director for the Southwest Horseman’s Association. She helps produce 4-H rodeos for the youth in Grant County, serving as the Grant County 4-H Rodeo secretary from 2011 through 2014. She also serves as the secretary of the Silver City Library’s Foundation.

She was a member of the Grant County Master Plan Steering Committee in 2011 and 2012. She was also a part of the Southwest Stakeholders Water Planning Group from 2007 to 2014. Clark served on the Freeport-McMoRan Community Investment Funds Committee from 2011 to 2017. She was elected president of the Grant County Prospectors for the year 2013-2014. She has served since 2010 as the Grant County Prospector’s Community Legislation Action Committee Chair.

Since 2015, Clark has volunteered on the Silver High School Academic Letter Committee. Some of her past service includes the Cliff FFA Alumni Association, Grant County Relay for Life, and the Grant County Habitat for Humanity.

Clark said, upon receipt of her award: "I thank my realtor family. And I've worked with a lot of you here this evening."

Board member Ruth Seawolf presented the 2018 Small Business of the Year Award to Western Bank-Silver City. The bank began in 1907 as the First National Bank of Lordsburg. It survived as the only bank in the region during the depression years. During those days, Howell Drug in Silver City, became a collection point and "transactions" were shuttled to Lordsburg for processing. Due to its services at that time and after other banks reopened their doors, Western Bank, which became its official name in 1982, solidified its reputation. In May 2003, the Silver City-Grant County branch opened with seven employees, which now number 15.

Western Bank understands the challenges and the opportunities of rural southwest New Mexico. The bank builds relationships that develop into partnerships and they work hard to support their neighbors. The bank awards annual scholarships to students from Silver High School, Cobre High School and Cliff High School. The bank’s Bootheel Foundation that is funded by directors and employees supports non-profits in the region. The bank also has a “Levi Fund” that is funded directly by employees to assist fellow employees and customers during times of need. Several members of senior management are currently serving or have served on the boards of Gila Regional Medical Center, Hidalgo Medical Services and Center for Health Innovations. Several are members of the Rotary Club of Silver City, the Silver City Kiwanis and Southwest New Mexico Homebuilders Association. The bank finds creative solution to best support their customers in Grant County.

Leslie Bush and Carlos Lucero accepted the award on behalf of the bank. "We appreciate the award and we want to continue as your community bank," Bush said.

Board member Sabrina Pack presented the 2018 Large Business of the Year Award to Mountain Ridge Ace Hardware.

Ben Sine, the owner, is a fourth-generation hardware business owner. The Sine family opened its first store in Glendale, AZ, in 1922. Ben and his father opened Mountain Ridge in Silver City on July 15, 2007. The store is committed to being "The Helpful Place" by offering knowledgeable advice, helpful service and quality products. Mountain Ridge Ace Hardware has been recognized as one of the top producing Ace Hardware stores in the southwestern United States, with the highest customer service rating.

At the local Ace Hardware, management supports team members and looks for ways to strengthen individuals, honor family and community time, while being a solid place for financial security. Their unique culture can be described as 'a joy to work with.' The store’s leadership style is that of a 'team' where everyone is recognized for their contributions. With 35 employees, Mountain Ridge Ace Hardware opens its doors each day to serve the people of this region with the best possible shopping experience possible.

Mountain Ridge Ace Hardware supports the community in many ways—the Grant County Fair, Junior Girls Softball Teams, Kiwanis activities, the local Farmers Market, numerous non-profit benefits and fundraisers; they provide free programs on the topics of planting in this region and presentations on adapting homes for energy conservation. They support the Boy Scouts, Wild Wild West Pro Rodeo, Mimbres Region Arts Council, Glenwood Community Center, the Red Cross and the Children’s Miracle Network.

Miguel Trevizo, Juan Herrera and Carlos Gonzales accepted the award for Ace.

Trevizo said the store recent received the Pinnacle Award, which puts it in the top 5 percent of Ace Hardware Stores. Herrera is the voice behind the hearty hello and welcome customers receive as they walk in the door and the thank you for shopping when you leave.

Board Chairman Derek Ratcliff presented the 2018 Grant County Citizen of the Year Award to Gary Stailey.

As a long-time resident of Grant County, Stailey served as chairman of the Grant County Community Health Council for many years. He served as director of the Juvenile Probation and Parole office in Grant County, touching the lives of many of the area's youths. He continues to work with youths through the Youth Build program. He realized long ago that a child assigned to community service was not only a reparation time but an opportunity to connect with the child and make a difference. Stailey and his kids are out every week doing something good for the community and helping the kids actually work for community service credit. These kids have learned to build planter boxes downtown, landscaping at various locations, painting a park and making it more desirable, weed-eating, clearing or building natural or brick trails. While he teaches some hard skills during the community service, he also is able to teach some basic skills like show up on time, work hard and get along with others. He has helped with the development of the Neighborhood Orchard at Central Park in Santa Clara, has helped provide labor for projects at Fort Bayard and Santa Clara events and led a team to build the greenhouse at The Commons.

Stailey is a visionary thinker that looks at all aspects of the community. When he thinks about economic development, he looks at gaps in the community. Stailey has brought ideas from collaboration, improving student outcomes with a multi-faceted approach. He has researched outdoor performance venues and visited other communities to see what may work for Grant County. Stailey takes a significant portion of his week knocking on office doors to get people to listen, collaborate and to accomplish things in a very persuasive but inclusive manner.

Currently Stailey is leading an effort with other community leaders to identify uses of the assets available in the Gila National Forest, working in conjunction with the forest supervisor and future forest plans. He is serving his second year on the Silver City Territorial Charter Day Celebration Committee. Stailey continues to be active with the Town of Silver City and the Southwest New Mexico Council of Government in furthering educational and economic opportunities for Grant County. He is always looking for ways to provide training, expanding small business, empowering youth and bringing resources to rural areas.

When he received the award, Stailey said: "This award is not recognizing me but is recognizing the youth in our community. I've seen kids from 6 years of age to 20. Building relationships of trust really does move mountains. We work together to resolve problems. We commit together."

Scott Terry, chamber president and chief executive officer, said the chamber board wants to make these awards an annual event.

"While we are up here announcing awards, several of us attended the New Mexico Tourism Top Hat awards," Terry said. "Out of 250 nominations, three out of the four finalists were SkyWest Media. They were finalists in the best social media campaign for their work for Fiesta Latina; best digital campaign for Tour of the Gila and best print campaign for the Gran Fondo. Earlier this summer, SkyWest Media received five best-in state awards by the New Mexico Broadcasters Association. The special recognitions included best social media integration with Tour of the Gila; best public service campaign with Tour of the Gila, which earned Tour of the Gila a $2,000 grant award; best 30-second commercial with a spot created for Hidalgo DWI; best station promotional announcement with spot created for Grant County Community Concert Association; and best talk show with My World by Mike Rowse."

Board member Sabrina Pack presented a plaque of appreciation to Ratcliff for his service as chamber board chairman for the past year.

Terry also called up Nick Seibel of the Silver City Daily Press for the 11 awards the newspaper received at the New Mexico Press Association recent awards ceremony.

Terry recognized Q's Bistro as the caterer for the banquet and acknowledged the PNM corporate sponsorship of the banquet.

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SC-GC Chamber of Commerce holds awards banquet 111618

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