Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., (GGHI) hosted a fancy soiree for the winners and nominees of its 2024 Business Recognition awards, plus guests, on Friday night at the Rotary Log Pavilion.
Everyone who attended the celebratory event was treated to an upscale and delicious small bites spread from the popular Kit’s Catering Kitchen, plus a cash bar with refreshing cocktails, beer, wine, pop and water from The Tap Room.
GGHI sold all 160 tickets for the celebratory event, according to Jon Martin, CEO of GGHI. But the log pavilion looked like it was much fuller than that.
The winners are as follows:
• Advanced Heating & Air, LLC — Member of the Year
• Coastal Interpretive Center — Nonprofit of the Year
• Five Star Dealerships — Large Business of the Year
• Hoquiam Brewing Company — Small Business of the Year
• Snowbird Farm & Cidery — New Business of the Year
• Tara Maynard – Ambassador of the Year
And this wasn’t just an organizational award, it was a community-driven award.
While GGHI awards the businesses, the votes were from the community, according to Kelsey Norvell, marketing coordinator for GGHI.
“A few months before this annual event, Greater Grays Harbor opens a survey for all community members to submit their countywide nominations for businesses and organizations to potentially win,” Norvell said. “After we receive the nominations, we then verify that they are members of Greater Grays Harbor and reach out to them if they are not in case they would like to join to be included on the final ballot. After verifying their membership status, we then compile all the eligible nominees into a final survey that’s distributed to the GGHI membership. The top four nominees are then recognized at the Leaders’ Celebration before the unveiling of the winner.”
Once the community nominates the businesses, the vote for the winners goes to the more than 300 GGHI members.
Here’s what several of the winners had to say.
Advanced Heating & Air, LLC
First off is Advanced Heating & Air (AHA), who won Member of the Year. AHA, which started business in 2004, is celebrating its 20th year in operation this year:
“Receiving this award on our 20-year anniversary is truly a blessing and it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing customers and the support from the community of Grays Harbor,” said Kellie Larson, owner of AHA. “Always remember to shop the Harbor first.”
The Cosmopolis-based company can be reached at 360-537-6505, via email at sarah@advanced heating1.com, and has an address of 732 W. First St.
Coastal Interpretive Center
Jean Stevens, president of the board of directors for Coastal Interpretive Center (CIC), was happy to comment on winning in the Nonprofit of the Year category.
“The Coastal Interpretive Center is so honored to have been recognized as the 2024 nonprofit winner of the year,” Stevens said. “We are certainly thrilled and grateful and we are just so dedicated to the educational opportunities and exhibits that we can provide all of our visitors who come to Ocean Shores, as well as for all of our school children who visit as well. That’s our mission.”
Stevens said the nonprofit is “grateful and excited for the coming year.”
“We’re looking forward to more exhibits and more local tours to provide educational opportunities,” Stevens said. “And we’re certainly grateful to the community of Ocean Shores for their support as well.”
The CIC can be reached via email at hello@interpretivecenter.org, or phone at 360-289-4617. The CIC’s address is 1033 Catala Ave. SE, in Ocean Shores.
Five Star Dealerships
Five Star Dealerships won the Large Business of the Year Award.
“On behalf of our team, I wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible community that stands behind us,” said Rich Hartman, Allen Erickson and Damon Gleason in a joint statement. “It is through your unwavering support that we are able to continuously give back and uplift our community. We are truly honored to have received the recent award. It serves as a testament to the dedication and efforts of everyone involved. Additionally, I want to extend a special thank you to the Greater Grays Harbor for their tremendous support in fostering growth and prosperity within our community. Together, we have achieved so much and we look forward to continuing this journey of empowerment and collaboration with all of you by our side.”
Five Star Dealerships has two locations in Aberdeen. Rich Hartman’s Five Star Dealerships Ford Lincoln Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram can be found at 711 E. Wishkah St., in East Aberdeen. Rich Hartman’s Five Star Motors Chevrolet Toyota and Scion can be found at 212 S. Boone St., in South Aberdeen. To reach the Wishkah Street dealership, call 360-533-3673. To reach the South Boone Street dealership, call 360-532-0650.
Hoquiam Brewing Co.
Hoquiam Brewing Co. won Small Business of the Year.
“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to be named Small Business of the Year,” said Drew Grannemann, head brewer and head of sales for HBC. “This award is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are so continually grateful for the support of our customers and community and this recognition motivates us even further to deliver exceptional beer and even better customer service. We look forward to what the future holds, not only for Hoquiam Brewing Co., but also to the promising outlook for businesses all throughout Grays Harbor.”
HBC — 526 8th St., in Hoquiam — can be reached at 360-637-8252, or via email at beerme@hoquiambrews.com.
Grannemann also shared some praise for the delectable hors d’oeuvres, which included lemon basil scone with turkey, carmelized onion and mushroom crostini, shrimp cocktail and more.
“I thought everything was great,” Grannemann said. “Those little turkey scone sandwiches were bomb. The shrimp cocktails were great too, and so was the hummus. You can never get enough of hummus.”
Snowbird Farm & Cidery
Snowbird Farm & Cidery won the New Business of the Year Award. Raeann Edwards and her husband Duncan offered up wide smiles when they won the award.
“It really was a surprise and honor to be awarded New Business of the Year,” Raeann said. “We have been overwhelmed by the support and love that the community has given us. We have made so many meaningful connections and friends through the cidery. It has gone beyond our expectations and we are thankful to everyone for helping us build this dream.”
Snowbird Farm & Cidery — 484 Old Monte Brady Rd., in Montesano — can be reached at 360-593-0018, or by email at snowbirdfarmandcidery@gmail.com.
Ambassador of the Year
Tara Maynard won Ambassador of the Year Award. Cindy Taylor, last year’s winner, spoke about what the ambassador group does.
“As ambassadors we have the pleasure to support the business community of Grays Harbor with ribbon cuttings, Business After Hours, and business milestones,” Taylor said. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know the businesses, and to support them and their endeavors, to prosper and to thrive.”
Taylor then lauded her work with Stephanie Conway, who is the director of member services for GGHI.
“Stephanie has been a pleasure to work with,” Taylor said. “She’s been the biggest supporter of ambassadors.”
Conway then spoke briefly.
“I do describe my job as visiting with friends and making new ones,” Conway said. “So if we don’t know each other be my new friend. That being said, I am very grateful to be able to work with the ambassadors. It is fantastic.”
Then she asked for GGHI ambassadors to stand, called them a “fantastic group of individuals” who she “could not appreciate more,” and then talked about Maynard and how she “stepped up.”
“I would like to take a moment to tell you about this year’s Ambassador of the Year. She is an individual who stepped up to run point with the ambassador group,” Conway said. “When I went out on realistic goals, I had rotator cuff surgery and I was going to be back in three weeks, but (that turned into) five-and-a-half months … so it was a heavy lift. And I absolutely appreciate all the hard work and many hours that she spent taking care of all of you with ribbon cuttings and celebrations and milestone events, and just kept the momentum going seamlessly. I absolutely cannot tell you how wonderful she has been.”
Conway said Maynard was able to “get out of her comfort zone and do things that she may not actually want to do,” Conway said. “But for all of you she was willing to do that — to get that great photo … and just know that you all have been appreciated and honored.”
Then Conway read a quote that Maynard wrote for Conway’s brochure.
“I am proud to be a Greater Grays Harbor ambassador,” Conway said. “Part of the valuable community resource that connects individuals and businesses to each other. I love that opportunity to celebrate, connect, engage with GGHI members, while building lifelong community relationships. It is so rewarding to be part of a team that encourages and supports economic growth, opportunity and vitality of our members throughout the community that I love and hold dear.”
Maynard, who received a lengthy applause, briefly spoke.
“We talk about comfort zone, right?” Maynard said. “Thank you so much. I would not be in this place without these two, I’m just telling you that right now. And my employer who allows me to partake in all of the ambassador and Greater Grays Harbor events. Thank you so much. This is an honor.”
The event was a well-sponsored event as well, with TwinStar Credit Union, Seabook — “Washington’s Beach Town,” Lorraine’s Candle Studio, Great NorthWest Federal Credit Union and Lightcurve, collaborating to help make the event possible.
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Drew Grannemann, head brewer and head of sales for Hoquiam Brewing Co., (HBC), and Sativa Miller, bar manager for HBC, graciously accept the Small Business of the Year award on Friday night at the Rotary Log Pavilion. Grannemann spoke about how “absolutely thrilled and honored” the business and its staff are to receive the award. HBC beat out Cut Rate Auto Parts, Game Freaks and Durney Insurance Inc.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Kary Kugan, assistant general manager for Advanced Heating & Air, Inc., (AHA) accepts the award for Greater Grays Harbor, Inc’s Member of the Year award at GGHI’s 2024 Leaders’ Celebration. Kellie Larson, owner of AHA, noted something special about the timing of the award. “Receiving this award on our 20-year anniversary is truly a blessing and it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing customers and the support from the community of Grays Harbor,” Larson said. AHA beat out The Moore Wright Group, La Spiaggia Ristorante, and Renae’s Rendezvous.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Raeann Edwards and her husband Duncan, owners of Snowbird Farm & Cidery, accepted the award for New Business of the Year on Friday night at the Rotary Log Pavilion. Raeann, who commented on the award, gave a humble response. Here’s part of what she said. “It really was a surprise and honor to be awarded new business of the year,” she said. “We have been overwhelmed by the support and love that the community has given us.” Snowbird Farm & Cidery beat out Lorraine’s Candle Studio, Two Broke Chics, and UNPLUGGED: Kurt Cobain Tribute Gallery.
Tara Maynard, center, accepts Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.’s Ambassador of the Year award from Stephanie Conway, who, standing to the left, is GGHI’s director of member services. Maynard took “point” with the ambassador group, according to Conway, who had rotator cuff surgery months ago. “And I absolutely appreciate all the hard work and many hours that she spent taking care of all of you with ribbon cuttings and celebrations and milestone events, and just kept the momentum going seamlessly. I absolutely cannot tell you how wonderful she has been,” Conway said. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
From left, Anne Marie Babineau, Bryce Romero and Alex Thurston, were three of the hard-working food and drink staff who catered Friday’s event. Babineau and Thurston’s work through their company Kit’s Catering Kitchen, received numerous compliments from attendees. “Anne Marie did a fantastic job,” said Wil Russoul, who was part of the UNPLUGGED: Kurt Cobain Tribute Gallery team. “That food was over the top amazing.” The Tap Room, with Romero and Celena Taylor, worked hard to keep people refreshed. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
