May
2019
Business Connection
Volume 11, Issue 5
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber's Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards drew 275 for dinner and the ceremony.
Connection to Community Pulls at Heartstrings
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock Project Manager Pam Fierst Office Manager Joelle Wilson Social Media Services
Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or email bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
I
t would be an exaggeration to say there wasn’t a dry eye in the Cowlitz County Event Center during the Kelso Longview Chamber’s Pillars of Strength and Crystal Apple Awards May 1, but it was close. The annual event to honor the community’s business and education leaders proved emotional. “The theme last night when people were giving their speeches was about people and community and I think that is why so many got emotional,” said Amy Hallock, the Chamber’s project manager and ceremony organizer. “We live in a community with so many amazing people and when you take about 275 of them put them in the same room it’s kind of emotional thing.” In the business categories, J Squared Barrel House was named Small Business of the Year while Red Leaf Coffee earned Large Business of the Year honors. The award for Small Nonprofit of the Year went to Children’s Discovery Museum. United Way of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties took home the Large For more Awards, see page 3
Lifetime Achievement winner Gail Wells, who is retiring from Longview Schools, and Community Leader of the Year Chris Bailey of Lower Columbia College.