Photo: 2016 Citizen of the Year, CJ Niles, and 2015 Citizen of the Year, Mike Franey
A focus of how our history has brought us so much success for the past 75 years was the theme of last night’s (Monday) 2016 Chamber Banquet, and the community came out in force to celebrate those who are ensuring the future of Carroll. A new award was presented to recognize the commitment of young people in Carroll, with Michelle Sturm being named the first Carroll Young Professional of the Year. GehlPro Welding’s Pat and Sue Gehling took home the New Business of the Year award and the Moehn and Milligan Families of Commercial Savings Bank were in the spotlight again as the Heritage award winners for their generosity and philanthropy on behalf of the citizens of Carroll. Throughout all of these awards, however, the impact that the history of Carroll leaders has had on the community became more apparent as last year’s Citizen of the Year award winner, Mike Franey, introduced this year’s winner.
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This woman became the Director of the Carroll Chamber and the Executive Director of the Carroll Area Development Corporation in 1988. After 12 years with the Chamber, she was appointed Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development by Gov. Tom Vilsack. When she returned to Carroll, she took over at the helm of the Carroll County American Cancer Society, making the organization a national leader in fundraising for most of her years there.
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Niles said she was not prepared for this honor, and that there were some people that had some explaining to do later on. But it was all those other people that made her work a bit easier and a lot more fun.
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We will bring you more in upcoming broadcasts about other award winners, including: Becky Windschitl of All Strings Attached who took home the Humanitarian award; Randy Krauel, winner of the Public Service Award; and Jim Mohr, who received the Good Neighbor Award.