The Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce will honor the best in community excellence at its 78th Annual Awards Celebration.
The event runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 at Foothills Church.
Community members will be honored in four categories: new outstanding business, business of the year (the Chamber Award of Excellence), distinguished service/citizen of the year and future first citizen.
Here are the finalists. Recipients will be announced at the event.
New Business of the Year
Tuff Shark Records: “Music has always played a big part in our lives,” said Jeannine Campos, who runs Tuff Shark along with her husband, Jared. “Whether it was growing up or well into adulthood, there is always a music that is the soundtrack of your life. Our goal is to bring music to the masses and share what we love with those in the community. No matter what kind of music you like, who you are, etc. You fit in; you belong.”
Tuff Shark has participated in both SIP downtown events and at the Santiam SummerFest, where they have a guy in a shark costume that draws a lot of attention.
Vault Fitness: “Jerod and I both share a passion for health, fitness, and community,” said Jenn Clevenger, who works the business with husband Jerod.
“When the opportunity presented itself to take over this business, we recognized it as our chance to provide our community with the tools they need to reclaim their health and wellness, especially in the wake of the COVID challenges. My personal mission has always been to empower women and mothers, guiding them to embrace their bodies with confidence through life’s changes.
“Additionally, I am deeply committed to providing a supportive environment for teens, offering guidance and outreach through fitness.”
Vault Fitness organized weekly free 5K runs and 3K walks, partnered with Santiam CPR to host multiple CPR classes, offering free sessions to parents and teens, equipping them with life-saving skills and knowledge and also hosted the 5K Summerfest Chamber Fun Run.
West End Boutique: “We are a small-town, family-owned company that started out in a 600- square foot boutique store here in the Pacific Northwest,” said owners Jannell and John Tessier. “As we have grown, our customers have grown with us. We strive to provide our customers with the latest fashion trends at great prices, always looking for the next latest, greatest thing.
“We strive to make each day a welcome friendly experience when you shop in our store or online. We value our customers and want to thank you for shopping with us.”
Small Business of the Year
Bend Your Nutrition: “By teaching my clients the tools they need to feel their best, the goal is for them to graduate and not need me anymore,” said Megan Basl of her one-person shop. “I feel like I am making a difference for my clients not only in their present health, but their future health as well. Many take on a new lifestyle and tell their family and friends about their new way of living. I hope this creates a positive impact and brings awareness to others who may be struggling with their health also.”
Megan has volunteered at the Santiam Teen Center since 2021 and also works the center’s “Golf for Teens” event. She has donated health and wellness baskets to Stayton Rotary for auction during their Reds Whites and Brews event.
Postal Connections: “Our mission, as business owners, is to make our customers successful with unquestionable dedication to the best attainable service,” said Don and Sue Harteloo. “We work hard to adapt to the needs of the community and consistently maintain excellent customer service. Customers and employees are the highlights of our work. The opportunity to interact with our community and people with such varied backgrounds to serve their needs is very rewarding. We perform enough services that we often will get to help people in many different capacities, from printing funeral service folders for a grieving customer to shipping a life-size Hamm’s bear on a Greyhound bus to Chicago. Every day brings something new, and our employees share with us all the highlights.”
Postal Connections hosts an annual Christmas letters from Santa, which aids the Stayton Area Food Bank. Community support includes the Wildfire Relief Fund, Boy Scouts of America, the Regis & St. Mary Auction, Lourdes Charter School, Santiam Vicariate Youth Group, Knights of Columbus Christmas cheer, Foothills Church, Stayton Public Library, Santiam Historical Society, Habitat for Humanity, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and the Regis High drama department.
Large Business of the Year
DSP Connections: “DSPC’s mission is two-fold,” said Trina Hart. “Our first mission is to be there forever, for those who forever need our support. The second mission is to raise the standard and image of being a direct support professional. We never want our community to feel excluded, unsupported, or unappreciated. We want both our clients and DSPs to feel that they are valued members of the community.”
DSP Connections creates community-inclusive events for our people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Each year DSP puts together an adaptive egg hunt at the Lebanon Strawberry Festival, partners with the Marion County Fair to have exclusive space at the fair and partners with the Sublimity Harvest Festival to have a private show for clients. Each year DSP gives a turkey voucher to clients and gives a Christmas tree to each family.
Chemeketa Community College: “Chemeketa Community College has embraced excellence in multiple facets, grounded in a set of core values that prioritize student success, affordability, industry collaboration, and community inclusivity,” said Julie Deuchars, executive coordinator to the president and Board of Education.
“By maintaining small class sizes, the college ensures that learning is personalized, and students feel valued, fostering an environment where every individual can thrive. Affordability remains a key tenet, ensuring that education remains accessible to all, irrespective of financial background.”
One of the college’s core principles is to provide low-cost or no-cost access to its facilities for non-profit organizations.
Chemeketa demonstrates its commitment to supporting local businesses through collaborations with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and its Agribusiness program, which provides vital assistance to farmers and agricultural enterprises in the area. A hallmark of Chemeketa’s community engagement is its hosting of the annual health fair, where local residents receive free dental and medical care from dedicated professionals.
Focus Heating and Cooling: “Our business is about comfort,” said owner Jason Burns. “Not only the comfort of the temperature in your home or business but about how comfortable you are with us when we enter your home or business. We strive to deliver an excellent customer experience. We have the ability, experience, and connections to provide for small to large heating and cooling needs from small residential to multifamily and commercial products.”
Focus supports the local community through donations of toys for the fire department toy drive, giving $5 for every service call to local non-profit businesses, and partnering with the local SIT team, the food bank, and Family Building Blocks to provide services to families in need.
Distinguished Service Award
Karen Andall: “I have always believed that each of us has a responsibility to care about and care for the place where we live whether it is for our fellow humans or activities and/or causes that help and make things better. I also have so much fun working out there and with all in our communities. I also am sort of hyper and love doing many things and being active.”
Karen is a Stayton Area Rotary member, a three-term past president, a member of Santiam Hospital Auxiliary, has worked on the Fire Relief Project, is volunteer/liaison for Rotary to local schools and youth related programs. Karen has also been involved in Court Appointed Special Advocates of Marion County.
Kim Dwyer: “I want to be a part of the community I live in. I don’t think you should be telling others how to do something if you aren’t going to be involved in the process, or the action of doing it. I want to be able to say I had a part in something.”
Kim works at Santiam Hospital & Clinics with the Santiam Service Integration Team. Other community involvement includes the Detroit Fishing Derby, Stayton Elementary (past) and Middle School PTC (current), Stayton Homeless Task Force, Stayton Warming Center, Detroit 4th of July Celebration, Stayton 4th of July Celebration and Canyon Shop with a Cop.
Cari Sessums: “I think what drives me to make a difference in our community is the future for our children, grandchildren and the livability of our wonderful communities. Giving back is a sure way of making a difference. Giving a hand up to others can make such a difference in the world. Loving on our seniors who may have no one is a feeling like no other. I am the proudest of our free (Thanksgiving) community dinner. Gathering all people together over a plate of food creates unity and acceptance and personally I feel like that can change the world.”
Cari owns the Covered Bridge Cafe in Stayton and served on Marion County Public Safety Council and the Marion County Alcohol and Drug planning commission for more than ten years. She also has been involved with St. Joseph’s Catholic Services, the Stayton Police Department Citizens Board, the Stayton Homeless Task Force, the Marion County Sheriff’s Advisory Board, the Sublimity Harvest Festival Volunteer, Family Building Blocks, Liberty House and the Marion County ReEntry initiative.
Future First Citizens
Information on the achievements honorees Diego Salinas of Stayton High and Noah Koenig of Regis will be showcased at the awards luncheon. This award is sponsored by Stayton Area Rotary.
78th Annual Awards Celebration – A Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce luncheon event
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4
Foothills Church, 975 Fern Ridge Road SE, Stayton
Tickets: $45; 503-769-3464
