Libby Chamber banquet a spirited, sold-out affair
Libby Schools Superintendent Craig Barringer, left, honors award winner Brenda Nagode during the Libby Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night at the Libby Memorial Events Center. Nagode was presented with the “Educator of the Year” award. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Libby Mayor Brent Teske speaks after being receiving the Libby Leadership award at the Libby Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Libby Memorial Events Center Saturday night. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Saturday night’s Libby Chamber of Commerce Banquet was a sellout success, with all 240 tickets accounted for. It was held at the Libby Memorial Events Center and featured food, live and silent auctions, games and the presentation of a number of community awards. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Jim Brooks, left, participates in the game “One Right Price” during the Libby Chamber Banquet at the Libby Memorial Events Center Saturday. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Jessika Jones, center, rolls a “die” during the “Heads and Tails” game at the Libby Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night at the Libby Memorial Events Center Saturday. Assisting her are Paige Chapel, left, and Marissa Wood. Patricia Morford and Brent Orr, background, play the roles of Vanna White and Bob Barker, respectively. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
Liz Whalen, center, the treasurer for the Libby Chamber of Commerce, sells hats donated by local businesses for use in the “Heads and Tails” game at the Chamber’s banquet Saturday night at the Libby Memorial Events Center. (John Blodgett/The Western News)
The Libby Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual award and fundraising banquet, held Saturday at the Libby Memorial Events Center, was a high-spirited and sold-out event filled with good food, fun games and recognition for local businesses and individuals.
The event was themed “Libby Chamber’s Game Changer,” loosely modeled on the game show “The Price is Right.”
Chamber President Amber Holm said the organization “absolutely” met its goal of making the event better than before.
“The Chamber board wanted to update the banquet, make it more engaging, and add focus to the community awards ceremony and the fundraising aspect of the event,” she said via email. “I think our team accomplished just that.”
Among other things the Chamber did differently than in the past, it asked the community to vote for the recipients of seven awards, Holm said.
The award winners were: Glacier Bank as Business of the Year; Kootenai Pets for Life as Nonprofit of the Year; Noble Excavating as Family Owned Business of the Year; Brent Teske for Libby Leadership; Ray Eanes as Volunteer of the Year; Managhan’s Furniture for Customer Service Excellence; and Igniter’s Car Club “Ignites the Nites” as Event of the Year.
The Chamber also invited the City of Libby, Lincoln County and Libby School District to publicly recognize people as well. Libby Mayor Brent Teske announced John Hibbs as the city’s outstanding employee of the year; Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck presented an employee appreciation award to Marc McCully; and Superintendent Craig Barringer presented Brenda Nagode as educator of the year.
Chamber board member and treasurer Liz Whalen said all 240 tickets were sold, netting more than an estimated $20,000 in profits to benefit the Chamber and the visitor’s center it operates.
Holm said the community’s response was overwhelming.
“It was an honor to have so many community members in one room to support the Chamber’s progress,” she said. “The Chamber is a community organization and it takes community members to make it successful.”