Lynch, Logan Supermart, Krider Among Chamber's 2017 Award Winners

By Mike Perleberg (Left to right) Jim Scott, Business of the Year winners Mike and Diane Bender, Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce 2017 chairman Ramzi Nuseibeh, Joey and Michael Lynch, AIM YP award winner Julie Lunsford, Chairman's Award winner Pat Krider, and chamber CEO Eric Kranz. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Dearborn County, Ind.) - Dearborn County Commissioner Kevin Lynch, a tireless advocate of the county and southeastern Indiana, was honored with the Lauren Hill Award from the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce. Lynch has been battling a serious illness and was unable to attend the chamber’s 2017 awards dinner held Thursday, November 10 at the Lawrenceburg Event Center. With Lynch’s wife Joey and son Michael in attendance, fellow county commissioner Shane McHenry accepted the award on Lynch’s behalf. McHenry had spoken with Lynch ahead of the award presentation. “Kevin emphasized that he knows his success is our success. He said he’s been blessed with a great team. He’s proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together and he said we’ve achieved great things with cooperation amongst each other. Kevin likes to emphasize that we are all better people because of each other,” McHenry told the room full of local business and government leaders. The award honors an individual who exhibits the late Lauren Hill’s legacy of inspiration, collaboration and community spirit. Lynch and the other commissioners had met with Hill in October 2014 and declared that following November 2 “Lauren Hill Day” in Dearborn County – a meeting McHenry recalled. “Lauren was so gracious and thanked us for honoring her. She made it like we were making a big deal about it and ‘You guys didn’t really have to do this for me.’ Think of the great things and legacy she left behind and how many people she helped with her mission,” said McHenry. “Kevin is a lot like that. She was a tremendous young lady who inspired us all to be better people. I feel the same way about my friend Kevin and am fortunate to serve with him on the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners. There is no doubt I’m a better person today because of Kevin’s influence and am very proud of the things we have and will continue to accomplish together.” McHenry concluded by challenging listeners to be more like Lauren Hill and Kevin Lynch, making each other better to achieve great things for Dearborn County and southeastern Indiana. McHenry and award presented Tom Palmer, the 2015 Lauren Hill Award winner, left the stage and each embraced Lynch’s family.   Business of the Year Mike Bender operated Mike’s Meat Market at Findlay Market. Nine years ago, he and wife Diane bought Logan Supermart, trading the bustle of downtown Cincinnati for the rural setting of northern Dearborn County. “We never imagined what it would become,” Mike said in accepting the chamber’s 2017 Business of the Year award. “It is more than just a convenience store. It is a deli, a restaurant, and ice cream shop. But, more importantly, it has become an extended family. We have 19 employees. Our employees are great at making Logan a fun place to work and to visit. Logan is a gathering place and many new friendships have begun while sharing a good meal together,” Mike added. Bender called it an honor to work and live in such a great community. Award presented Bebe Kinnett called Logan Supermart a gem in northern Dearborn County. The Bender’s contributions to the community don’t stop with their business. They also serve as president and vice president of the Bright Lions Club, regularly support the North Dearborn Food Pantry, and are members of the Bright Area Business Association.   Chairman’s Award Outgoing Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce chairman Ramzi Nuseibeh harkened back to 1999 when he first joined his father’ business, Midwest Data, located on Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg. The downtown area wasn’t much to write home about then, but with the leadership of Lawrenceburg Main Street, Inc., it has been revitalized. “I don’t think anyone has had more to do with this than Pat Krider, the executive director of Lawrenceburg Main Street. I’d like to thank her personally for making Lawrenceburg a better place to have a business and continuing to make it fun for our employees and our families,” Nuseibeh said. Krider said she loves small towns because they are the strength of the country. “Everyday I get to go to work and interact with incredible people, such good, good people. They are working hard at their jobs, taking care of their families, contributing to their communities. It’s really amazing,” said Krider. Krider thanked those who have helped the main street organization succeed and her family. She called those she has worked with over the years her inspiration.   AIM Young Professionals Award Julie Lunsford has been a consistent judge and supporter of AIM Young Professionals of Dearborn County’s Maverick Challenge. The annual challenge is a business planning competition for local high school students. “We’re very blessed to live and work in a great community and we need to continue to build our bench strength with our children,” said Lunsford, the mortgage loan originator for five U.S. Bank branches across Dearborn County. She said volunteering is addictive. Lunsford called her daughter, Reagan, her inspiration. Jim Scott was the master of ceremonies for the chamber's annual awards dinner. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. Retired Cincinnati radio personality and Dearborn County resident Jim Scott served as the emcee of the evening’s activities. During the business portion of the dinner, Casey’s Outdoor Solutions owner Casey Knigga was elected 2018 chairperson of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce. MGP Ingredients Lawrenceburg Distillery manager Mike Templin was named vice chair. Ivy Tech Community College Lawrenceburg campus president Mark Graver was named treasurer. Dearborn Title owner and attorney Andrea Ewan is serving as secretary. Prior to the award presentations, Mike McLaughlin and Dearborn Superior Court I Judge Jonathan Cleary highlighted a project by the inaugural Leadership Dearborn class. The leadership training series participants sought to connect employers with recovering drug addicts under the supervision of the Dearborn County Court Services Second Chance Program. You can read more about the program here. 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