Dearborn Chamber Annual Awards Honor Ritzmann, Proximo, Casey's And Eagle 99.3

Friday, November 21, 2014 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

Bill Ritzmann delivers his acceptance speech of the Chairman's Award at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce's annual awards and dinner on Thursday, November 21. Photo by A.J. Waltz (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - United Community Bank co-founder Bill Ritzmann received the Chairman’s Award at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner and meeting Thursday night. “The name United Community Bank was created with the word ‘community’ as the centerpiece. That was no accident. We are a community bank dedicated to serving the needs of our community,” Ritzmann said. Ritzmann retired June 30 as the president and CEO of UCB, which he helped form in a 1999 merger between Perpetual Federal Savings and Loan Association and Progressive Federal Savings Bank. “My memorable 40 year career provided me the opportunity to be part of a team. A team that helped grow a sweet little $10 million building and loan with four employees into United Community Bank, a $525 million bank with 116 employees.” Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce 2014 Chairman Mark Banschbach said Ritzmann’s tireless efforts for so many local organizations have resulted in him helping to grow and shape Dearborn County in countless ways.

Proximo Distillers Indiana, represented at the dinner by John Montgomery, won the Large Business of the Year award at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce's annual awards and dinner. Photo by A.J. Waltz More hardware was given out during the evening. The chamber’s Large Business of the Year award went to Proximo Distillers Indiana. Located in Lawrenceburg, Proximo has seen growth in the past two years by investing over $30 million to renovate and expand their facility. “The new owners were not content with just the status quo. Proximo in Spanish loosely translates to ‘next’, and that’s what our new owners had in mind. They wanted us to be the next great spirits company in the U.S. market,” said John Montgomery, PDI’s plant general manager. Proximo employs 181 people today, more than double its workforce two years ago. Montgomery said the business is projecting a bottling volume this year of 8.5 million cases, up from 2.6 million just a few years ago. Proximo is also importing 2.75 million cases and shipping out 9.9 million cases from it’s warehouse in the Spirit City. The liquor bottler also supports local organizations such as the Dearborn County Clearinghouse, Toys for Tots, United Way of Greater Cincinnati – Dearborn and Ohio Counties, and a reading program at Lawrenceburg Primary School.

(left to right) Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce chairman Mark Banschbach, Casey's Outdoor Solutions owner Casey Knigga, and Kathy Patterson of Premiere Properties Real Estate. Photo by A.J. Waltz. Small Business of the Year was given to Casey’s Outdoor Solutions in Bright. Casey Knigga, a 2001 East Central High School graduate, purchased the business on Stateline Road in 2006 and has since grown it – and lots of plants - to a thriving multi-faceted business offering services, plants and landscaping materials and a floral shop. “I can remember when I first became part of the chamber organization about five years ago. I sat in this room and I had no idea that I’d be up here today,” Knigga said, in thanking this community, his family, friends, and staff. “Some of you in this room have had a helping hand as well and I’d like to thank everyone, thank the chamber for giving me these opportunities,” he concluded.

The AIM Young Professionals Award was presented to Eagle 99.3. Posing are (left to right) AIM YP board members Kate Jansen, Hollie Stoops, Alan Miller, Eagle 99.3 general manager Melissa Murphy, and Andrea Ewan. Photo by AJ Waltz. Eagle 99.3 was awarded the YP Award for the radio station’s support of AIM Young Professionals of Dearborn County. AIM YP board member Alan Miller said the station has always had an eye towards serving the many communities that make up southeast Indiana, and more recently have added the young professionals organization to that effort. “They've been a continuous sponsor of our 5K race each spring, they are happy to share our news and upcoming events on the air and on their website, and once in a while asks one of our board members to crawl out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to do a morning interview with Bubba Bo,” Miller said. Miller especially thanked Eagle 99.3 general manager Melissa Murphy for dedicating her time and wisdom for a second year in judging AIM YP’ s Maverick Challenge high school entrepreneurship competition. Eagle 99.3’s Mike Perleberg served as the chamber dinner’s master of ceremonies. He snapped some selfies from the stage.

Had a blast serving as the MC of the Dearborn Chamber's annual awards dinner tonight! #WinnerWinnerChamberDinner pic.twitter.com/0bqvC68zpS

— Mike Perleberg (@MikedUp84) November 21, 2014