ANNUAL AWARDS RECIPIENT HISTORY
“YOU MADE IT HAPPEN” AWARD
- Dave Engel for the FAA Flight Service Station
Susan Bensinger for the United Way fundraising
Pat Duffy for the Special Olympics fundraising
Harriet Burns for doing vacation shows for the Chamber
Jim Grisso for creating the Burgermeister Award
- Carol DeGroot for the Chamber’s Council program
Don Morgridge for the street sweeping contest
- Otsego Memorial Hospital
Dianne McNamara for the Women’s Rotary tree lighting project
- Mary O’Neill for the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts
Ann & Theresa Jaruzel for the Mt. Carmel Center
Tom Arthurs for the North Central Michigan Home Builders Association
- Gaylord Convention & Tourism Bureau
- Edelweiss Garden Club for the city landscaping and flower planting
- Gaylord Rotary Club
Otsego County Ambulance Service
Otsego County Fair Board
- Glen A. Catt for sponsorship of the Gus Macker Tourney
- Debbie Collins for organizing the GHS Graduation Party
- Alpine Snowmobile Trails, Inc for their trail grooming efforts
Bob McNamara for his volunteerism for the Gus Macker
WMJZ for their support of community activities
- Howard Cheney for the Kiwanis Club Christmas Basket Program
Chuck Klee for his volunteerism for the Gus Macker Tourney
- Sharon Grendel for the Otsego County Hockey Association
Rick Miller for the Alpine Youth Soccer
Jan Cotant for the Freebies Hut
Dick Weber for the Sportsplex Committee
- Gaylord Downtown Development Authority
- Sheila Fruehauf for the Energy Outlet playground
- Ken Mudget for Otsego Lake State Park’s Handicap Ramp
- Keith Lester for the TIC for the Otsego County Fire Department
- Jack Thompson for his advocacy for the University Center and M-TEC
- Forcier Family for their generosity to the community
- Jerry Coger for the Food Pantry
- Sandy Gartelman for the Kids in Theater Program
- OWLS and the Rotary Club for the Environmental Learning Center
- Otsego Memorial Hospital “Family” for leadership in capital campaign
Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council
- Volunteer Center’s Road To Recovery Program
- Otsego County Economic Alliance
- Edelweiss Garden Club
- Glen Catt for Big Ticket Festival
- I-75 Crossing Task Force
- “Wings Over Gaylord” & Catt Family for the Fourth Grader Swimming Program
- Dave Baragrey Sr. for Bear Basketball Program
2012. Groen Nature Reserve
2013. Alpenfrost
2014. Ken Mattei, Special Olympics Michigan/Wertz Warriors
2015. Al Blackburn, Meijer
2016. Jennifer Akans of ComForCare, for the Veteran’s Luncheon held in November
2017. Laura Hansmann for the new Tennis Courts on behalf of the Alpine Regional Tennis Association
2018. Shari Rivest & Matt Barresi for the Vet’s Coffee Program
BELL TOWER AWARD
- Gaylord Ford
- Wade-Trim
- Otsego Club
- Saks Wellness Center & JoJo’s Market
- Catt Development
- DDA’s Pavilion on Court
- North Central Construction Inc., Northwestern Bank and Edelweiss Properties, LLC
- Alpine Chiropractic Clinic
- Independent Bank, Spicy Bob’s Italian Express
- Alpine Oven, Ace Hardware
- City Hall & Otsego County Airport
- Alpine Chocolat Haus, Hogan’s Jewelers,
Otsego County Abstract & Title, Sugar Bowl Restaurant
- Diana’s Delights and Hobby Lobby
- Seams Like New
- Otsego County Animal Shelter
- Alpine Tavern & Eatery
- Awakon Federal Credit Union
- Jay’s Sporting Goods
- Dr. Kristine Bobish, Alpine Cardiology
- Scott & Janice Lampert
- The Pine Squirrel
GOLDEN PINEAPPLE AWARD
- Mr. Coots
- Sue’s Shop and the Spud Warehouse
- Saturn Booksellers
- Alphorn Shop
- LaSenorita Restaurant
- Extreme Power Sports
- Glenda’s Gifts
- Hogan’s Jewelers
- Hall Veterinary Clinic
- Dunn’s Business Solutions, Jan’s Northside Deli
- Telephone Support Systems and Bradley J. Butcher & Associates
- Nelson Funeral Home
- Arrow Sanitation
- New Century Signs
- Thrifty Print & North Western Bank
- Janie Rhein, Winn Telecom
- Isabella’s Copper Pot
- Joe Messenger, Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service
- Bennethum’s Northern Inn
- Otsego Grand Event Center
- Bill Marsh Ford of Gaylord
“DAUNE WEISS MEMORIAL” BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
- Daune Weiss
- John Kluck
- Bruce Brown
- Scott Lampert
- Pastor Jim Mathis
- Rosemary Smith
- Betty Moore
- Larry Edwards
- Kevin Drummond
- Stanley Dombrowski
- In Memory of Gene Sanders
- Kevin McKinley
- Jack Thompson
- Patt Dobrzelweski
- Todd Chawtun, Michaywe
- Bobby McNamara, McNamara Insurance
- Theresa McNamara of DBS (Dunn’s Business Solutions).
- Marcia Taylor, Marsh-Mellow Entertainment
- Angielena Muellenberg, Snowbelt Brewing Company
Otsego County's oldest business, the Gaylord Herald Times is Michigan's 2017 Newspaper of the Year.2058 S. Otsego AvenueGaylord, MI 49735