Table Rock Chamber Of Commerce Holds Banquet
Front, Trailblazer award winner Ralph Swanson and his wife Mary; back, from left, Business of the Year award winners Gary and Sally Morris, Community Service Award winner Terri Tucker-Wiest, Guardian Award winner Shawn Fields, and Table Rock Lake Chamber President/CEO Sheila Thomas.
November 22, 2018
The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce presented four community awards Friday, November 16, during its annual Lake Splash event. The awards banquet was held at Chateau on the Lake.
The Guardian Award recognizes a first responder (law enforcement, firefighter, paramedic/EMT or 911 dispatcher) and their fearless and unselfish service in helping keep our community safe. The award was presented to Sgt. Shawn Fields, a safety resource officer at Reeds Spring schools and a reserve deputy for the Stone County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Fields was working off-duty security on the Branson Belle the night of July 19, 2018, when the Ducks incident occurred on Table Rock Lake. He dove into the water and immediately began helping the victims. In addition to this heroic act, in his daily role as a school safety resource officer he works diligently to build relationships with students and demonstrates his deep commitment to helping youth.
The honoree for Business of the Year was Pizza by the Chef in Branson West. Owners Gary and Sally Morris were on hand to receive the award. The Business of the Year is presented to a business in the Table Rock Lake area that has demonstrated outstanding customer service, a high-quality product or service, and a strong commitment to the community. Pizza by the Chef is a family-run business that regularly donates to the Reeds Spring School District and others, often serving complimentary meals to law enforcement officers who are working in the field.
Long-time Table Rock Lake area businessman Ralph Swanson was presented with the Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes an individual that has forged the path for others in the Table Rock Lake area, has demonstrated invaluable leadership either in business or community development in the past (at least 10 years ago), and influenced the community in a positive manner. An Army veteran of the Korean War where he commanded 1,200 troops at age 21, Ralph, and his wife Mary, moved to Table Rock Lake in 1970. In 1978, they bought Kimberling Marina and in 1981, they bought another marina known as Highway 13 Boat Dock. In 1988 they became one of the first private businesses to lease a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground. When the business sold to family members in 2004 as Port of Kimberling Marina and Campground, the marinas had grown to over 1,000 slips and 150 campsites. Ralph and Mary were the owners of many businesses around Table Rock Lake, developed several subdivisions in Stone County, and Ralph worked as a Realtor with Shepherd of the Hills Realtors for over 45 years. Ralph has also served as the president of Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors, Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce board chairman, and on several bank boards. He was a previous winner of the Chamber’s Community Service Award.
Terri Tucker-Wiest was the recipient of the evening’s most prestigious honor, the Community Service Award. This award has been given annually by Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years to an individual or an organization who, through unusual services and commitment, has improved one or more of the following characteristics of the community: quality of life, economy, educational opportunities, beauty, serenity and safety. Tucker-Wiest has served as the chairman of the Reeds Spring School Foundation for three years, and vice-chairman for five years. To date, the Foundation has presented $432,000 in scholarships to deserving students and teachers. Through her professional contacts at professional football’s Pro Hall of Fame, Tucker-Wiest is credited with assisting Reeds Spring school in procuring turf for its football field at a substantially reduced cost. She has served as the facilitator for Ozark Mountain Country’s Rock It Rally for five years, which is presented by area Chambers of Commerce. Tucker-Wiest has her own consulting company, Tucker Resources, and is a nationally known speaker and presenter and serves as Director of Culture and Employee Development for Phoenix Home Care and Hospice. She is also credited with developing the branding for Ozark Mountain Legacy, (Family, Faith, Friends, Flag, Future), an initiative designed to keep the core values of Ozark Mountain Country.
The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce presented four community awards Friday, November 16, during its annual Lake Splash event. The awards banquet was held at Chateau on the Lake.
The Guardian Award recognizes a first responder (law enforcement, firefighter, paramedic/EMT or 911 dispatcher) and their fearless and unselfish service in helping keep our community safe. The award was presented to Sgt. Shawn Fields, a safety resource officer at Reeds Spring schools and a reserve deputy for the Stone County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Fields was working off-duty security on the Branson Belle the night of July 19, 2018, when the Ducks incident occurred on Table Rock Lake. He dove into the water and immediately began helping the victims. In addition to this heroic act, in his daily role as a school safety resource officer he works diligently to build relationships with students and demonstrates his deep commitment to helping youth.
The honoree for Business of the Year was Pizza by the Chef in Branson West. Owners Gary and Sally Morris were on hand to receive the award. The Business of the Year is presented to a business in the Table Rock Lake area that has demonstrated outstanding customer service, a high-quality product or service, and a strong commitment to the community. Pizza by the Chef is a family-run business that regularly donates to the Reeds Spring School District and others, often serving complimentary meals to law enforcement officers who are working in the field.
Long-time Table Rock Lake area businessman Ralph Swanson was presented with the Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes an individual that has forged the path for others in the Table Rock Lake area, has demonstrated invaluable leadership either in business or community development in the past (at least 10 years ago), and influenced the community in a positive manner. An Army veteran of the Korean War where he commanded 1,200 troops at age 21, Ralph, and his wife Mary, moved to Table Rock Lake in 1970. In 1978, they bought Kimberling Marina and in 1981, they bought another marina known as Highway 13 Boat Dock. In 1988 they became one of the first private businesses to lease a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground. When the business sold to family members in 2004 as Port of Kimberling Marina and Campground, the marinas had grown to over 1,000 slips and 150 campsites. Ralph and Mary were the owners of many businesses around Table Rock Lake, developed several subdivisions in Stone County, and Ralph worked as a Realtor with Shepherd of the Hills Realtors for over 45 years. Ralph has also served as the president of Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors, Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce board chairman, and on several bank boards. He was a previous winner of the Chamber’s Community Service Award.
Terri Tucker-Wiest was the recipient of the evening’s most prestigious honor, the Community Service Award. This award has been given annually by Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years to an individual or an organization who, through unusual services and commitment, has improved one or more of the following characteristics of the community: quality of life, economy, educational opportunities, beauty, serenity and safety. Tucker-Wiest has served as the chairman of the Reeds Spring School Foundation for three years, and vice-chairman for five years. To date, the Foundation has presented $432,000 in scholarships to deserving students and teachers. Through her professional contacts at professional football’s Pro Hall of Fame, Tucker-Wiest is credited with assisting Reeds Spring school in procuring turf for its football field at a substantially reduced cost. She has served as the facilitator for Ozark Mountain Country’s Rock It Rally for five years, which is presented by area Chambers of Commerce. Tucker-Wiest has her own consulting company, Tucker Resources, and is a nationally known speaker and presenter and serves as Director of Culture and Employee Development for Phoenix Home Care and Hospice. She is also credited with developing the branding for Ozark Mountain Legacy, (Family, Faith, Friends, Flag, Future), an initiative designed to keep the core values of Ozark Mountain Country.