Chamber honors community leaders, installs board at Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting award winners, from left: Courtney Angell Sumpter, Young Entrepreneur Award; Chuck Vondra, accepting Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of his late father Ed Vondra; Jill and Jim Habasco, Entrepreneur of the Year (tie), Bob Grove, Sally Roselli Leadership Award; Mark Warner, Entrepreneur of the Year (tie); Asuka Barden, accepting Heritage Award for her grandfather Ed Barden; Kyle Marshall, accepting Heritage Award on behalf of Mary Palmer; Susan Conklin, Community Pride Award for Good Neighbors Food Pantry.

A crowd of 335 people attended the Boyne Area Chamber Annual Meeting at Boyne Mountain, enjoying great food and drink, entertainment and the presentation of awards to community leaders and organizations. The Chamber Board of Directors was installed with Karen Guzniczak honored for completing her year as president and Emily Wilmot starting her year as the incoming president. Full board.
> Petoskey News-Review story and photo.

The award winners are:

> Volunteer of the Year - Ed Vondra, long-time member of the Boyne City School Board, who died unexpectedly in September at the age of 66.  Ed is remembered for his extensive capacity for caring and involvement in many community events - especially those related to our schools. Accepting the award was Ed’s son, Chuck Vondra.

> Community Pride Award - Good Neighbors Food Pantry for starting a new, larger community pantry, which is open every Tuesday. Director Susan Conklin created a partnership with the Boyne Free Clinic, which provided a great space for the pantry.

> Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Courtney Angell Sumpter of Northern Michigan Equine Therapy. Her work with at-risk young people through the non-profit organization she started is dramatically changing lives.

> Entrepreneurs of the Year - A tie vote: Jim and Jill Habasco started Big E’s Smoke Shack in Boyne Falls. Right after they opened, they won first prize in the Green Light East Jordan Business Model Competition for their unique new store. The Smoke Shack sells smoked fish, shrimp, pulled pork and homemade fish and salmon dips.

Also honored was Mark Warner of Northern Table, which brought a fresh new idea – “farm to table” - to the area. Upstairs, the Boyne Pub is a sports bar specializing in wood-fired pizzas.

> Heritage Award - A tie vote:

Ed Barden of F.O. Barden & Sons Lumber has donated countless hours and properties to the community and schools. You would need to look for a long time to find a family that has been a pillar of the Boyne business community for as long as the Bardens. Ed’s granddaugher Asuka Barden accepted the award on his behalf.

Mary Palmer of Magnum Hospitality - It was 1997 when Mary and her partners supercharged the Boyne City dining scene by opening Red Mesa Grill. Five years ago they opened Café Sante just a couple of blocks away. Kyle Marshall accepted the award for Mary, who is celebrating her recent retirement vacationing in Europe with her husband Don.

> The Sally Roselli Business Leadership Award (presented by Sally's sister, Julie Wellman) - Mike Dow and Bob Grove purchased the lakefront land across from Family Fare and offered it to the city at their cost so it can be preserved as open space. The city is leasing the property for $1 and exploring grants and other funding options.

New Boyne City Bakery coming in March

Tom Greetis and Rebecca Harris

The Johan’s Bakery building at 110 S. Lake Street was acquired by Boyne City Bakery LLC on December 30. New owners Rebecca Harris and Thomas Greetis are busy renovating and updating the building with plans to open in March. In addition to having full-time baking tenants, they will provide a commercial kitchen to other food entrepreneurs, offer community food education and other hands-on events.

“Our vision is to bring back a working bakery and facilitate entrepreneurial food-based businesses with an emphasis on local ingredients. It is so exciting to be part of downtown Boyne City. Tom and I love this community and look forward to helping shape its future. We believe in a collaborative and competitive downtown environment,” Harris said.

“Tom and Rebecca are very passionate about Boyne City and they will make such a positive impact on our downtown. We are extremely lucky to have them invest in our community and bring their vision, passion and extensive knowledge to a new business venture. They will help drive the excitement and growth on South Lake Street,” said Lori Meeder, director of the Boyne City Main Street Program.

Harris noted that “We are waiting to announce who the baking tenants will be, but their well-established and loved products are going to thrill the community. Customers will be able to take home products or they may sit down inside or out seasonally on both Lake and Front Streets.”

Tom Greetis moved to Boyne City in 1974 to work at Courter Products now Honeywell. As a project and manufacturing engineer he enjoyed a rewarding career spanning 36 years. He has served on Friends of the Library, Boyne City planning commission, and volunteered as Challenge Mountain treasurer for over 15 years.

Rebecca moved to Boyne City in 1991 and worked at Harbor House Publishers until 2011. Since 2012 she has managed the Boyne City Farmers Market. She has been involved in many organizations, projects and initiatives, including Challenge Mountain board, Main Street Design Committee, Walkabout Sculpture Tour, SOBO Arts Festival, Stroll Through History and the Historical Walking Tour.

Harris stated that “the last four years with the market have been some of the most rewarding in my life. I have had the opportunity to learn from the market’s charter farmers (over 34 years) and experienced the addition of five new first generation farmers. We have held fundraising events, raising over $34,000 towards the permanent winter home for the market. Had I not become involved with the market, local farmers and the local food movement I don’t think we would have taken this path,” Harris said.

The bakery will be open early morning until mid afternoon. More details will be announced in March.