Chamber to recognize Zack Jones as Citizen of the Year
Malvern artist and community leader Zack Jones has been named the Glenwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. East Mills High School student Emmy Duysen is the chamber’s Junior Citizen of the Year.
Jones and Ms. Duysen will be among the award recipients honored at the chamber’s annual Better and Beautification Dinner and Awards Program on Thursday, March 2, at Bella Terre Vineyard and Reception Hall. Other honorees will include Happy Trails Cycle (Start-up Business of the Year), Melissa Gray – Mills County Veterans Affairs (Community Connection Award), Keg Creek Brewing Co. (Business/Facility Expansion of the Year), Brian Stanley (Educator of the Year), Barrett Auto Center (Customer Service of the Year), Sell Properties, LLC (Business Transformation of the Year) and Mills County United (Club / Organization of the Year).
Citizen of the Year
Jones was selected for the Citizen of the Year Award for his contributions to his hometown and Mills County.
“He is filled with a passion to bring people together to share in the love of his community and the colors of the world around him,” stated his nominator.
In addition to his highly-acclaimed work at the Art Church, Jones has helped foster the growth of the Friday evening Farmers Market in Malvern, gathering vendors and bringing in regional musical acts. Jones’ love of art is evident by his promotion and participation in the Southwest Iowa Art Tour, his paintings and murals on local buildings and at area businesses and his participation in career days at southwest Iowa schools.
“Zack loves southwest Iowa and works hard to promote it in ways untold,” his nominator said. “He always finds a new way to incorporate fun, friends and facts into a world colored by the love of Mills County.”
Junior Citizen of the Year
One of Ms. Duysen’s nominators pointed out that she excels in academics, extra curricular activities and social situations.
At this time, she has a grade point average of 3.96 and a No. 2 ranking in her class of 40 seniors. She’s enrolled in high-level courses and is also taking courses through Iowa Western Community College.
In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society, Ms Duysen has participated in FCCLA, FFA, band, drama, volleyball, basketball, track and softball at East Mills. She’s volunteered her time for several causes, including Red Cross blood drives, making blankets for hospital patients and giving her time to elementary school functions.
Tickets for the dinner and awards program are $25 and must be purchased by Feb. 22 from the chamber office in Glenwood. The event will include appetizers and a cash bar from 5-6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program. The keynote speaker is humorist and magician Devin Henderson.
The following award winners and nominees will be recognized at the March 2 dinner and program (award winners names in bold):
Citizen of the Year – Zack Jones, Bill Eich, Bill and Genea Stoops, Kristy Wilson, Ann Staiert, Vonnie Esterling, Dick Achenbach, Ed Thompson and Dr. Jacque Young.
Junior Citizen of the Year – Emmy Duysen, Zachary Mass, Jason Kelly.
Start-up Business of the Year – Happy Trails Cyle (Hobbie and Mari Jo Pieken), Harvest Moon Coffee and Specialty, Club 321.
Community Connection Award – Melissa Gray – Mills County Veterans Affairs, Anne Smith, Phil Warren, Dr. Jacque Young, Hooves and Paws of the Heartland (Bill and Genea Stoops).
Buisness/Facility Expansion of the Year – Keg Creek Brewing Co. ) John Bueltel, Matt Kirsch, Art Renze and Randy Romens), JJ and CL Model Train Shop, Kohll’s Pharmacy.
Educator of the Year – Brian Stanley, Robin Hundt, Becky Ruth, David Clark, Dawn Hillyer, Jessica Miller, Karen Bueltel, Linda Eckheart, Makenzie West, Brian Bertini, Jane Young.
Customer Service of the Year – Barrett Auto Center (Shawn Barrett, Dale Haines), Severn Pest Management, Flat Iron Laundry, Town Floral and Gifts (Roger Klabunde), G-Nails, Jackie Harless.
Business Transfor-mation of the Year – Sell Properties, LLC (Ryan and DeShawne Bird-Sell, Perk Plaza, Hotel Arthur), The Quarthouse, Bloom Senior Center, Happy Trails Bike Shop, Club 321, Methodist Physicians Clinic-Malvern, Moreau’s Backerei and Pizzaria.
Club/Organization of the Year – Mills County United (Kristy Wilson, Pastor Susan Reed, Pastor William Painter, Samantha Giangreco, Charity Blum), Mills County Conservation Board, WatchDog Dads, The Connection:A Christian Community, Glenwood RAGBRAI 2016 Committees, Hooves and Paws of the Heartland, Glenwood Campus Life, Kiwanis Club of Glenwood, Glenwood Booster Club, Glenwood Baseball and Softball Club, Glenwood Giving Garden, Glenwood Knights of Columbus Council 6977.
Brick and Mortar Awards (for new building/facility construction) – Clark Storage (Henry Clark), Subway (Jay and Kay Klyn), Glenwood Aquatic Center (City of Glenwood), Shaggy Dog Grooming and Boarding (Jenny and Nathan Korver), Mills County Conservation Pony Creek Nature Center (Jerad Getter, Dessa Montgomery, Mills County Conservation Board representatives).