Attendance Shatters Record at Chamber's Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet

Prestigious First Citizen Award presented to Bill Thorndike, Jr.

Once a year, Chamber members come together to honor their fellow business leaders who help create a strong local economy and make a difference in our community. 

These local business leaders were recognized at the 88th Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet, (called the Meddy Awards, Medford's rendition of the Emmy Awards), which was held September 13th at a new and larger location, The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater and Vogel Plaza. For the first time in more than a decade, The Chamber did not turn away any members given the venue's larger seating capacity.

For many years, this premier networking event is sold out within two to three days. But this year, a historic 412 members attended, which is nearly 100 more than last year to the black-tie optional event sponsored by Umpqua Bank. 

Attendees enjoyed heavy hors d' oeuvres and dessert provided by Confident Caterers and Jacksonville Inn prior to the awards ceremony in sunny Vogel Plaza. Gold River Distributing generously provided wine and other beverages.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as Chairman of the Board. It is amazing how fast twelve months can zip by, particularly when it is a legislative year," she said. "We should all be very proud tonight. Our Chamber has a history of more than 100 years here in Jackson County. We are truly blessed to have a strong board made up of the very best of our business community, excellent professional staff, and leadership from our President and CEO, rad Hicks, as well as the largest membership in the State of Oregon presently with more than 1,570 members representing more than 40,000 employees. 

Peckham summarized some of The Chamber's achievements during the past year. First was the formation of the CHAMBERPAC - The Chamber's Political Action Committee, designed to put teeth in our business advocacy efforts. "During the past year, as promised," she said, "The CHAMBERPAC took the next step and actually endorsed local candidates for City Council and County Commissioner. We paid particular attention to those issues near and dear to the business community and to the economic vitality of our region - land use, education, transportation, public safety and healthcare."

Peckham thanked Chamber Lobbyist John Watt for his hard work and diligence during the last legislative session. Watt helped The Chamber oppose the corporate minimum tax, support the Rainy Day Fund, Connect Oregon II and other legislation that helps Oregon's ailing transportation infrastructure.

Peckham praised collaborative efforts and partnerships among various organizations including SOREDI, Oregon Economic Development Department, MURA and the City of Medford and Jackson County on issue impacting economic development. "We are moving forward with SOREDI to partner with the Business Retention and Expansion Survey, which will survey businesses in our area. Through this collaborative effort, we will be able to better assess business needs and concerns in Jackson County.

Peckham then passed the gavel to incoming Chair Tom Hall of S&B James Construction, which ushered in the awards portion of the evening.

First was the Future First Citizen AWard, presented by Steve Braden of Umpqua Bank and given to Lila Schreiber from Ashland High School. Chamber CEO Brad Hicks presented the New member of the Year Ward to Chick Parsons of Edward Jones Investments and then the Member of the Year Ward to Todd Reichenbach of Valley Web Printing. The Retailer of the Year Award , present4ed by Patsy Smullin of KOBI-TV was given to Bruce Larson of Larson's Home Furnishings.

The Business Excellence Award was presented by Randall McCord to Jackie Anderberg of United Risk Solutions (small-sized business), Tom Anderson gave Jim Brotherton of Brotherton Pipeline the Business Excellence Award for a medium-sized business and Patsy Smullin gave Tom Becker of the Rogue Valley Manor the award for a large-sized business.

The Outstanding Corporate Citizen (non-profit) was given to Len Hebert of St. Vincent de Paul Society. The same award in the for-profit category went to Don Skundrick of LTM, Inc. The first ever Chairman's Community Award was presented to Bob Wise and Christina Anderson of KOBI-TV for their work with the Southern Oregon Meth Project.

The last and most prestigious award, First Citizen, was presented by April Sevcik of Citigroup SmithBarney to Bill Thorndike, Jr. of Medford Fabrication. "Family. Service. Grace. Thee three words help me define our 2007 First Citizen. Bill exhibits grace even after all of his accomplishments and honors. He is generous, helpful, and always deflects credit. Grace is that quality that allows him to value all people and their opinions. He quite simply is one whom much ahs been given and has risen to far exceed what is expected. Grace is rare and allows Bill to wield real power in his attempt to make Oregon a better place." 

Bill Thorndike Jr. said, "It is an honor to join the ranks of The Chamber's First Citizen award winners. It is great to not only remember the previous awardees, and some of the stories that go with their names, but to remember their faces and their smiles. Those are treasured memories. The people honored are known for caring about their community and doing what they could to improve it. I am pleased to join them not as another first citizen, but like them a citizen first."

In addition to all of the generous sponsors listed below, The Chamber would like to thank The Maentz Agency for their creative and talented staff and Beyond Images Photography.

Please contact Brianne Kleiner at (541) 608-8518 for more information.

*All Photos Courtesy of Beyond Images Photography

The Chamber would like to thank the following generous sponsors:

Title Sponsor:

Recognition Sponsors:

Wine Sponsor:

Theater Row Sponsors:

Adroit Construction Company, Inc.

Beyond Images Photography

Boise

Burrill Real Estate, LLC

Harry and David

Larson's Home Furnishings

Liberty Bank

LTM, Inc.

KOBI-TV News Channel 5

Providence Medford Medical Center

Rogue Federal Credit Union

Rogue Valley Manor

Rogue Valley Medical Center

S & B James Construction