Dearborn Co. Chamber Celebrates Businesses, People Making A Difference

The chamber held its annual awards dinner Thursday evening.

Six awards were doled out at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner held at the Lawrenceburg Event Center on Thursday, November 8. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - It was a big night for members of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce at the Lawrenceburg Event Center.

The chamber held its annual awards dinner. The Large Business of the Year Award went to Ivy Tech Community College of Lawrenceburg.

Campus chancellor Mark Graver thanked the school’s students, staff, and community partners for helping it succeed.

“I started at Ivy Tech in 1992 and had the opportunity to work with many talented faculty and staff. These individuals have their fingerprints all over the road to success of Ivy Tech in Dearborn County,” said Graver.

Lawrenceburg Mayor Kelly Mollaun presented the award to Ivy Tech. He noted the college’s new, state of the art advanced manufacturing education facility at its Lakefront campus in Lawrenceburg will help southeastern Indiana’s workforce thrive in an ever-changing environment.

“Ivy Tech provides a terrific launch pad for students all over the region to begin their lives and careers, and works tirelessly with local businesses and organizations to make sure their curriculum is meeting the needs of the community. Everything Ivy Tech does is community focused,” said Mollaun.

Small Business of the Year was given to Janet’s Diner in Dillsboro, a quaint restaurant with a loyal following.

“I’m very proud of what we do,” said owner Janet Beard. “It’s been a struggle sometimes, but thank you to the town and all the neighboring towns for being so supportive of us. I also want to thank Dallas Ross for giving us the strength and the confidence to start the business.”

Janet Beard delivers her acceptance speech. Janet's Diner in Dillsboro won the chamber's Small Business of the Year award. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

Kevin Wang, the proprietor of Grand Buffet and Wang’s Hot Chicken, was presented the Lauren Hill Community Service Award. He related his life story of growing up without much to his name, but always giving what he could. Each Thanksgiving, he and a team of employees and volunteers prepare and deliver meals to needy families in Dearborn County.

“We are able to feed hundreds of people. I could not have done this without support of my wife and all my friends who helped me organize the event, or any of you that donated desserts. I am standing up here tonight because of you guys,” Wang said.

Top Quality Building Products owner Mark Banschbach accepted the 50 Year Award. He recalled how his father, the late Bob Banschbach, founded the business and how the company has survived through lean times.

“A word of advice Dad said was ‘Worry about the things you can control. Not the things you can’t.’ That gets me through a lot because you stop piling on the things in life that don’t matter, and focus on what does,” Banschbach said, then thanking those who have supported Top Quality.

2018 Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Casey Knigga selected fellow chamber board member Andrea Ewan to be the recipient of the Chairman’s Award. Knigga says Ewan, of Aurora, has an impressive resume of professional accomplishments and volunteer work.

“Andrea has made many great contributions to the chamber and to our community,” said Knigga.

In addition to her role on the chamber board and leading a successful law practice at Dearborn Title, Ewan is a past president of the Indiana Land Title Association, committee member of Dearborn County Young Professionals, and a member of the Cincinnati Zoo Ambassador Council. She also dedicates lots of her time to Mt. Sinai United Methodist Church, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dearborn Ohio Counties Relay for Life, The Salvation Army, and Hillforest Museum.

“I am sure my staff and my clients probably wish that I would cut back on some of that volunteering, but that wouldn’t make me me,” said Ewan. “I hope that each day I make a difference in someone’s life.”

Ewan also credited her husband, Mike Wallace, for joining her in many of her volunteering endeavors. Wallace is a member of the Aurora Fire Department.

“I volun-told him what we are going to do this weekend,” she joked.

Hidden Valley Golf Club was awarded the Dearborn County Young Professionals Award for its hosting of the organization’s annual Goofy Golf Outing. Club pro Brian Krinsky accepted the award.

“It’s one of the most fun nights I’ve had just watching everyone play golf. We look forward to continuing the relationship,” said Krinsky.

The chamber’s board of directors elected its new officers for 2019. MGP of Indiana general manager Mike Templin was approved as chairman. Graver was appointed vice chairman. Dearborn Savings Bank president and CEO John Young is treasurer. Ewan was named secretary.

Eagle Country 99.3 news and sports director Mike Perleberg, also a committee member of Dearborn County Young Professionals, served as the master of ceremonies.

“If I have to be honest, I think every one of you people in this room here tonight are those who really make our county so special and unique. And that’s what we are here to celebrate tonight,” he said.