Craig Distributing Is Chamber Business Of The Year

Dearborn Country Club owner Dan Goebel (third from left) is presented the AIM/YP Award from Young Professionals of Dearborn County members (from left to right) Mike Wallace, Andrea Ewan, Hollie Stoops, Amanda Ewbank, and Tom Palmer at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce 25th Anniversary Gala at Hollywood Casino Thursday.

Paul Kunkel-Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg last night.

Perfect North Slopes owner Chip Perfect emceed the silver anniversary event. He welcomed the crowd on the eve of the ski area’s 2012-2013 season opening.

The coveted Business of the Year Award went to Aurora-based Craig Distributing, which supplies Anheuser-Busch and Nestle products across southeast Indiana. Formerly named Southeastern Beverage, the 35-employee company serves five area counties with the Anheuser-Busch line of products and 17 counties with Nestle.

“We’re going to continue growing our business and produce jobs for the community,” said President Richard Craig, who accepted the award for his company from Chamber Treasurer Mark Banschbach.

Craig noted the thousands of dollars his business has been able to contribute to local charitable causes with the help of Anheuser-Busch.

The Founders Award was presented to Chuck Folop, a charter member of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce, by Chamber Vice Chairman Kathy Patterson. The owner of General Graphics in Lawrenceburg was a driving force in getting chambers of commerce from Lawrenceburg, Greendale, and Aurora to merge in 1987.

“The Chamber has been good to me and I hope that continues on,” Folop said.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Lawrenceburg 10 County Regional Grant Program shared the Chairman’s Award, presented by Chamber Chairman Mark Rosenberger.

Those two entities have helped create 8,000 new jobs in the region and millions of dollars in new investment. IEDC Regional Director Trevor Lane pointed to IntraPac’s relocation from New Jersey to Lawrenceburg in 2011 as an example.

State Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville), a board member of the Lawrenceburg 10 County Regional Grant Program, said the program has put southeast Indiana in a unique position to attract jobs in a recovering economy and get people working. He also thanked former Lawrenceburg Mayor Bill Cunningham for working to establish the program and current Mayor Dennis Carr for keeping the momentum going.

“We are in the best position of anywhere in the state to lead Indiana to economic prosperity,” McMillin said. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Fellow grant committee board member Mel Davis credited Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and owner company Penn National Gaming for making the grant program possible with their contributions to the city.

A new award was given to Dan Goebel, owner of the Dearborn Country Club in Aurora. The AIM/Young Professionals of Dearborn County Award recognizes an individual who has embodied the third-year organization’s mission.

“Mentoring new workers, new mangers, helping out the youth and the community is what it’s all about,” Goebel said, adding that owning the Dearborn Country Club for a couple years has given him a new taste of getting a business off the ground.

The AIM/YP Award was presented by Amanda Ewbank and Andrea Ewan.