TERRE HAUTE, Ind – The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce held their 106th Annual Meeting Thursday night.
Hosted at the Terre Haute Regional Airport, the Annual Meeting was held in part on the facility’s tarmac.
“It is no small feat for an organization to be celebrating its 106th year of being a part of the community,” said Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce President Kristin Craig. “Tonight’s dinner was a great representation of that accomplishment. We honored several great businesses, great people and highlighted a great community asset in the airport.”
Thursday night’s festivities included the presentation of three business awards along with a presentation by Terre Haute Regional Airport Executive Director Jeff Hauser, welcome by Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett and comments by Craig. The newly released community plan and community brand, “See You In Terre Haute”, was also presented during the event.
The following individuals and companies were recognized as award winners:
- First Financial Bank, Building Business Award
- Duke Energy Foundation, Building Community Award
- Jared Ell, Terre Haute Young Leader of the Year
As the Chamber continues its mission of “Building Business, Building Community” two new award distinctions will be recognized, the Building Business Award and the Building Community Award. The award of Young Leader of the Year will also continue.
The Building Business Award, sponsored by Vectren – A CenterPoint Energy Company, was presented to First Financial Bank. The award is designed to recognize an outstanding business that has brought significant economic growth to the region.
A mainstay in the Terre Haute community for more than 180 years, First Financial Bank continues to grow and expand. Just this year the Terre Haute based bank announced expansion… 83 branches and five loan production offices in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The Building Community Award, sponsored by Indiana State University, is designed to recognize an organization or individual(s) for making significant progress toward enhancing quality of life issues in the West Central region. This year’s award presentation recognized the Duke Energy Foundation.
Earlier this month The Duke Energy Foundation pledged $250,000 in grants to tackle opioid addiction. The program is called, “Beyond Awareness: Indiana Opioid Addiction Pipeline Project”. Funding has been awarded to both Ivy Tech Community College and the Hamilton Center.
The Young Leader of the Year Award celebrates and supports emerging and exemplary leadership qualities found in our young professionals in the West Central region. The award is sponsored by Wright’s Pool Service and the Wabash Valley Leadership Institute. This year Assistant Director for Marketing Strategy in Residential Life at Indiana State University, Jared Ell was recognized as the 2019 recipient. The Membership Co-Chair of THYL, a volunteer for Downtown Terre Haute and countless organizations in the community, Ell is also working towards his MBA at ISU.
The previous ATHENA Leadership Award will be transitioned into a new type of recognition for individuals who support women in leadership. Previous award winners and those who have received awards and recognition throughout the year were also be honored at the event.