The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a “Thank You!” to event sponsor Rochester Metal Products for supporting our annual meeting as well as our entertainment sponsor Duke Energy.

Thank you to our community award sponsors that help make this event possible: Fulton Economic Development, Lake City Bank, and WROI 92.1 Giant FM. Thank you to Mart Smith and his selection team for presenting the Community Service Award.

We received several deserving nominations for the community awards this year and had the opportunity to recognize and honor qualifying nominees by turning the voting over to chamber members. 

The Organization of the Year Award is presented to an organization or business in the Fulton County area with proven growth and stability, provides innovative products or services, and demonstrates economic support of the Fulton County area business community. The nominees for 2021 Organization of the Year include: Brooch Boutique, Rochester Boat Company, and Woodlawn Hospital. 

Brooch Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique that offers a variety of gifts, accessories, and footwear. In the last 5 ½ years, Brooch Boutique has expanded from a small brick-and-mortar location attached to an already existing business to an additional three storefronts, an e-commerce platform, and a robust mobile app. Now they are building a 3200 square foot addition to the Rochester location, of which 1600 square feet will be used to accommodate growing shipping and receiving departments. 

Rochester Boat Company is a family-owned business founded in 2009 by Lisa and Shane Reffett to meet their need of installing a lift and pier at their home on Lake Manitou. Since then, Rochester Boat Company merged with and purchased several pier/lift services on the lake, acquired a Shore Station franchise, utilize three boat storage buildings in Rochester, built a wash bay for detailing boats and other vehicles, and established a design service for piers and lifts. 

Woodlawn Hospital is an integral part of our community’s healthcare system and one of Fulton County’s largest employers. The hospital invested in purchasing the da Vinci robot for Gynecologic and General Surgery.  More recently, the Robotic Orthopedic Surgical Assistant robot, known as ROSA, was purchased and has nearly eliminated the need for a hospital stay for many patients. In 2021, Woodlawn Hospital received a 4-Star Rated Top Hospital in Indiana by Medicare.gov and was designated ‘Safe Sleep Provider’ in its New Beginnings Department. 

Congratulations to this year’s recipient: Brooch Boutique!

The Emerging Business Award is presented to an organization or business established in the last 0-5 years in the Fulton County area that demonstrates growing success in the community, and exhibits commitment to good business practices, community relations, and employee relations. The nominees for the 2021 Emerging Business Award include: The Flagpole, One Eyed Jacks, and The Outlet Youth Center.

The Flagpole is a nostalgic family-owned ice cream and hot dog shoppe that serves 21 flavors of ice cream made on site. Owners Tim and Helen Durkes continue to witness sales growth year after year as they strive to provide a fun family atmosphere to Rochester and Fulton County’s residents and visitors. Tim and Helen are grateful to provide many teenagers their first job, teaching them communication, respect, and hard work. They reward these teenagers’ hard work with bonuses and treating them like family. 

One Eyed Jacks is a full-service American restaurant, locally famous for their breaded tenderloin sandwich. One Eyed Jacks originated in Winamac and the owners opened a second location in 2020 inside Manitou Moose Lodge 1107 on beautiful Lake Manitou. In that time, they have experienced over 340% growth in gross sales. The employees of One Eyed Jacks aren’t just coworkers, they are a family and they are proud to support local nonprofits and school activities. 

The Outlet Youth Center is a faith-based, youth-driven, and community-minded nonprofit organization striving to provide a safe and structured environment for all Fulton County area youth. Director Patience Hisey and the Board officially opened its doors in August 2020. Despite COVID and school-reopening challenges, the number of participating students has doubled this school year. They added a tutoring program, several clubs, and even had enough support to hire an Assistant Director. 

Congratulations to this year’s recipient: The Outlet Youth Center!  

The Business Professional of the Year Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates growing excellence, creativity, and initiative in their profession, is engaged in the community, and shows a strong commitment to good business practices. This person serves as a role model for other professionals both personally and professionally, and possess vision and passion to lead and mentor others. The nominees for 2021 Business Professional of the Year include: Pat Brown with Recovery Café Fulton County, Patience Hisey with The Outlet Youth Center, Brian Johnson with Fulton County Community Foundation, and Erin Reason with Fulton County REMC. 

Pat Brown is locally known for actively pursuing a drug-free Fulton County. He is the Executive Director of Recovery Café Fulton County, a peer support community physically located in Downtown Rochester. Recovery Café provides a clean and sober environment where people can express themselves without fear of judgment or rejection. Additionally, Pat volunteers with many local non-profits to eliminate drug abuse and encourage harm reduction. 

As I’m sure you just heard, Patience Hisey has a passion for the vulnerable youth in our community. She is committed to being someone students can depend on and trust; she partakes in additional training and takes time to build relationships. She sets an amazing example of how to care for and mentor students in our community. 

Not only is Brian Johnson the Director of Development for the Fulton County Community Foundation, in 2021 he was a project leader for Fulton County 4-H, Rochester Youth Baseball League coach, and volunteer at Rochester First Baptist Church. He also had the opportunity to organize volunteers for mobile food pantries in Fulton County and be a mentor for colleagues within the community foundation. 

Erin Reason is the Chief Financial Officer of Fulton County REMC. She has an open-door management policy overseeing 5 positions within the office. That’s in addition to raising three boys under 5, raising and selling meat goats, providing bookkeeping services for her two family businesses, and being an active member of a local sorority, of which she is the incoming Vice President. 

Congratulations to this year’s recipient: Brian Johnson!

The final award of the evening was presented by Mart Smith to Treva Mulligan of Flirt Boutique for her efforts in business and community, the Community Service Award.

Thank you to the following for your contributions in making the gala is successful event for all: Log House Restaurant, Evergreen, Jarrety’s Place, One Eyed Jacks, Rochester Community Schools, The Round Barn Opry Band, the Fulton County Chamber Board of Directors and Gala Events Committee.