Elaine St. Pierre and Meaghan Vallee share a laugh during the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce awards dinner at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston on Thursday night. (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

LEWISTON — People in the full banquet room laughed when Alan Hahnel accepted his award against a video backdrop of him doing doughnuts in the Hahnel Bros. parking lot, they all stood when Stephanie Gelinas was called to the front, and above all Thursday night, they celebrated the people and businesses in Lewiston-Auburn.

The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce handed out seven awards at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center during its 131st annual meeting.

President Beckie Conrad, in giving the President’s Award to Clifton Greim, president of Harriman Associates, said he’d been a friend and colleague for 40 years.

Greim said the architecture and engineering company has wanted to keep its headquarters here and has used local resources and employees to grow.

“I think it validates the quality of life — I think there’s room to grow that,” he said in a video message. “It doesn’t seem as though, when you have passion for a community or any initiative, that being recognized is necessary, being part of the process, being part of the community is usually reward enough, but be sure this is very much appreciated.”

Hahnel, president and the third generation at Hahnel Bros. Co., was “surprised and shocked” to receive the Ken Additon – Small Business Advocacy Award. He’s been involved in a successful job training and mentoring project to find new workers in a tight economy.

“I am just humbled that the chamber feels like I am living up to (Additon’s) standards,” he said. “I’m just surprised and shocked for being recognized for what I’ve done in the community. It’s been easy, and I think Lewiston-Auburn’s a fantastic community to live and do business in. To be recognized for that is something special but mostly humbling.”

Diane Champoux, president of Champoux Insurance, received the Theresa Samson – Women’s Business Leadership Award; Safe Voices the Community Service Award; Community Health Options the Business Leadership Award; and Matthew Shaw the Outstanding Chamber Member Award.

The last award of the evening, the Ray Geiger Chamber Champion Award, went to Gelinas for her work with the chamber and founding and growing her business, Sandcastle Clinical & Educational Services.

“I’m humbled, I am honored, I just want to extend my deepest gratitude for this award,” she said in a video message.

In closing remarks, Conrad challenged businesspeople to lead and innovate and not to be a list of names on a website.

“Collectively, we move the dial, together we raise the bar,” she said. “I challenge us individually and collectively as the LA Metro Chamber to open 2019 with renewed energy to design, fund and build the best elementary, middle and high schools in the state to keep our workforce strong. Take risks, change our assumptions and reach deep within our communities to find employees to keep our workforce strong. Take pride in our properties, invest in our downtowns and market our assets to keep our workforce strong.”

After a lengthy list of challenges, she closed to loud applause with: “Thank you for being here tonight — go out and rock your worlds.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Kevin Lewis, president and CEO of Community Health Options, poses for a photo in the office. The company received the Business Leadership Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

Stephanie Gelinas, executive director of Sandcastle Clinical & Educational Services in Lewiston, received the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Ray Geiger — Chamber Champion Award. She’s pictured here at Sandcastle. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Alan Hahnel stands out front of Hahnel Bros. Co. in Lewiston. Hahnel received the Ken Additon – Small Business Advocacy Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Diane Champoux, president of Champoux Insurance Agency in Lewiston, received the Theresa Samson — Women’s Business Leadership Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Clif Greim, president of Harriman Associates, received the President’s Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Matt Shaw received the Outstanding Chamber Member Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. He’s been a volunteer for more than 10 years. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Elise Johansen, executive director of Safe Voices, in her Lewiston office. The agency received the Community Service Award from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

Kevin Lewis, president and CEO of Community Health Options (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

Stephanie Gelinas, executive director of Sandcastle Clinical & Educational Services  (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Alan Hahnel, president, Hahnel Bros. Co. (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Diane Champoux, president, Champoux Insurance (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Clif Greim, president of Harriman Associates (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Matt Shaw (Sun Journal photo by Russ Dillingham)

Elise Johansen, executive director of Safe Voices (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

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