The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce gathered at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort on Wednesday to recognize a few of its own for outstanding achievement during its first awards banquet.
The event, sponsored by Global Water Resources, nearly filled the resort’s ballroom with many of the chamber’s active members, which now number at 256 up from 88 at about this time last year.
Pulling double duty at the podium making acceptance speeches was Pastor Rusty Akers, whose Community of Hope Church took home the award for non-profit of the year. The Chamber also honored Akers with its award for the Sonny Dunn citizen of the year.
Other nominees for non-profit of the year and citizen of the year categories respectively included the Optimist Club of Maricopa and the M.A.S.H. Coalition, and Patrick Melvin, chief of the Maricopa Police Department and Marty McDonald, director of Maricopa Parks, Recreation and Libraries.
Joyce Hollis earned recognition as the Renate Chamberlin volunteer of the year. Other nominees were Peggy Opal and Kim Calderone.
Business of the year recognition went to Home is Where the Hound is, owned and operated by Kimberly Diedrich. Other nominees included DVD Game Depot and Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort.
Photo by RuthAnn Hogue
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