Sturgis Area Chamber bestows annual awards

4/24/2014

Sturgis Area Chamber bestows annual awards : Community

Sturgis Area Chamber bestows annual awards APRIL 16, 2014 3:00 AM • MEADE COUNTY TIMES-TRIBUNE STAFF

STURGIS | The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau held its Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony Friday night at the Sturgis Auditorium.

With nearly 200 in attendance, the event celebrated the chamber’s business members, as well as, the larger Sturgis community.

The 2013 award winners were Retailer of the Year: Rockingtree Floral & Gifts; Service Business of the Year: Dogwood Lodge & Pet Resort; Employer of the Year: Campbell’s Supply; Volunteer of the Year: Tim Potts; Key City (award): Paul Bisson; Community Pride Award: Bob Davis.

“A vibrant business community equates to a better quality of life for the whole community. It’s a privilege for us, as a chamber, to recognize these members,” said Heidi Kruse, Executive Director of the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. “Tonight’s award winners represent a deep pool of qualified organizations and individuals.”

Also recognized were Rockingtree Floral & Gifts for their award as South Dakota’s 2013 Retailer of the Year and Corbon Ammunition as Shot Show Business of the Year. Additionally, Sturgis was also named South Dakota’s Community of the Year in April of 2013.

“Despite Storm Atlas and a federal government shutdown, this was a good year for Sturgis.

We’re looking forward to continuing this positive momentum” said Jeremy Vliem, 2013 Board of Directors President.

Here is a breakdown on each of the winners: * Retail Business of the Year Rockingtree Floral & Gift onwers Randy and Carol Hallock were honored earlier this year as the 2014 State Retail Business of the Year. They are consistent supporters of the chamber and the community. They were chosen for the award by a committee of retailers in recognition of outstanding community service and going the extra mile for their customers.

Randy started a landscaping business in Sturgis in 1976. In 1993, he and Carol purchased a lot on Lazelle Street, which became their permanent location. Since then, the business has grown tremendously, now serving customers in a five-state area. They operate a flower and gift shop and garden center. Their services include landscaping projects ranging from small http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/sturgis/sturgis-area-chamber-bestows-annual-awards/article_d5737b9f-4935-5448-a721-0a1b1a38d31b.html…

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4/24/2014

Sturgis Area Chamber bestows annual awards : Community

residential projects to large commercial projects, installation of sprinkler systems, snow removal, and sales of Christmas trees.

In addition, Carol is the only female licensed plumbing contractor in the state of South Dakota, and owns Town-N-Country Plumbing in Sturgis. Presenting the state award, outgoing South Dakota Retailers Association Board President James Siemens of Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls noted that the list of ways in which the Hallocks serve their community is lengthy. The Hallocks employ nearly three dozen people during their peak season, and keep most of them employed throughout the year. * Service Business of the Year The winner of the Sturgis Service Business of the Year filled a void in town. Kruse said they've created a beautiful facility and many residents feel better going away knowing that their dogs and cats are comfortable. "It has also ensured that I don’t have to wrestle this 120lb monster into my bath tub," Kruse said of her dog named, Cheyenne.

Dogwood Lodge, Inc. is an upscale, luxury pet resort and dog grooming salon owned by Tiffany Smith. She said the resort caters to dogs and cats whose owners have discerning taste regarding where they vacation their pets and whose pets deserve the very best. They have created a state-of-the-art pet boarding facility staffed by what Smith calls "passionate pet professionals" to give owners peace of mind and provide pets with a safe and fun experience while they are away. "We offer the ultimate in luxury pet resort experiences for your dog or cat.

Our attentive staff is passionate about pets and will go the extra mile to ensure that your pet has a safe and enjoyable time with us," she said. * Employer of the Year When the roof collapsed in October, Campbell's Supply kept writing paychecks to its employees. It encouraged it employees to continue to serve Sturgis even as the new building was being constructed. They volunteered many hours for a number of organizations and causes – including the chamber. "We’re excited to see their new building and have them up and running again," Kruse said.

Sturgis Campbell's Supply manager Ryan Lien said the business is on target to open its new store this month. Once finished, the new building will have about 2,000 more square feet than the old facility. * Community Pride Award With now two beautiful store fronts in Sturgis’ downtown core, Bob Davis of Sturgis Photo & Gifts & B1 Bobs is one of many helping to revitalize Sturgis' downtown. Kruse said his pride in Sturgis extends beyond Main Street though, from setting course records viaSegway on the Sturgis Supermoto track to capturing the beauty of the surrounding area in photos.

Volunteer of the Year Many people nominated Tim Potts for the volunteer of the year award, Kruse said. "He’s done a lot for Sturgis. Tim, I think you should know that the common thread among those letters – was the gratitude that after you covered a basketball game or a science fair – you sent them the http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/sturgis/sturgis-area-chamber-bestows-annual-awards/article_d5737b9f-4935-5448-a721-0a1b1a38d31b.html…

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Sturgis Area Chamber bestows annual awards : Community

photos. You preserved some important moments for hundreds of Sturgis families. For that, and for all the other things you do for this town – we’re happy to award you with Volunteer of the Year," she said. * Key City Award Paul Bisson, the winner of the 2013 Key City award, has volunteered countless hours to the chamber and SEDC. Kruse said he has collaborated on dozens of projects that directly impact the Sturgis community. "He’s professional, kind and a constant advocate for this town," she said.

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