Lake Cities Award Luncheon
The Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce was engulfed by elegance as it rang in 2024 with its Annual Awards Luncheon held on January 10, on the beautiful grounds of The Olana wedding venue in Hickory Creek. Frost Bank was the title sponsor of the sold-out event recognizing the recipients of the Chamber’s prestigious awards for 2023, and January’s Teacher and First Responder of the Month winners were also awarded.
Pastor Chuck Church, of Lake Cities United Methodist Church, led the invocation with a prayer asking the Lake Cities community to be “united in love for our neighbors.”
Board Chairman Grady Ray introduced Chamber President Tina Henderson, who has spearheaded what are now popular events such as the annual Bike Rally and Daddy Daughter Dance during her 8eight-year tenure promoting local businesses and enhancing community involvement. It’s her dedication and tenacity that has helped drive Chamber membership and presence in North Texas to an all-time high.
Henderson thanked those gathered for their continued support in rallying behind area businesses and recruiting new development to the Lake Cities, which includes Frost Bank’s newly opened branch in Hickory Creek.
Frost Bank Vice President, Steve Martin, and Vice President of Private Banking, Damon Hurst, gave their sincere thanks to the Lake Cities residents for the warm welcome their team has received. Hurst said Frost Bank is excited to be guiding Lake Cities bankers along their financial journeys, and he looks forward to future growth within the community.
Pat Sherman of DATCU Credit Union presented Lake Dallas Elementary first-grade teacher Kelsey Starkey with the Teacher of the Month award. Starkey was recognized for her wholehearted, creative dedication in the classroom that ensures her students are poised for academic success.
Trenna Ezzell of Ciera Bank recognized Cpl. Billy Speedy of the Lake Dallas Police Department as First Responder of the Month. In just one year with the department, Cpl. Speedy has already shown himself to be a standout community servant. Excelling beyond expectations in his position earned him a promotion to corporal and the role of Field Training Officer.
Leader of the Chamber’s Ambassador Program and owner of Efficient Health Solutions, Randy Clark, kicked off the luncheon’s award presentation recognizing outstanding achievements performed by Lake Cities Chamber members during 2023. Clark said that in order to earn Chamber Ambassador of the Year, candidates must possess passionate enthusiasm when meeting and greeting new members into the Chamber’s fold. They take time out of their schedules to attend community events, networking meetings, and ribbon cuttings. The winning ambassador must emphasize the importance and benefits of Chamber membership to everyone he meets. Clark said these are all qualities that Shelley Jones, this year’s winner, has continuously shown when assuring new business owners that the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce is here to support their endeavors.
Board Member Julie Willis, of CoServ and last year’s recipient of Chamber Member of the Year, passed the baton to this year’s winner, Chris Gordon. Gordon serves on the Chamber Board as treasurer while also wearing many hats in the community as owner of QuickShip Mail & Business Center, The Cowboy House, Cowboy Car Wash, and Twice the Ice. He manages all these commitments while also serving as a Hickory Creek Councilman.
Board Member Robert Goodwin of Huffines Kia Subaru surprised the Denton-Lake Cities Rotary Club with the Chamber Business of the Year Award. In presenting the recognition to Rotary Club President Dave Martin, Goodwin noted the 2,600 United States flags the Rotary Club proudly had waving throughout the community on Flag Day. The impressive flag display is just one of the Rotary’s many programs aimed at uniting area residents.
Henderson happily bestowed this year’s President’s Award to Bellann Hyten of Maverick Financial. Henderson disclosed that it is Hyten’s willingness to share her wealth of business acumen and tech savviness that helps her keep the Chamber’s events running smoothly. Henderson said she relies heavily on Hyten’s expertise when preparing budgets and generating funding for the Chamber’s outreach programs.
For the ceremony’s grand finale, Chairman Grady tried his best to provide an introduction for the coveted Citizen of the Year Award without first divulging the identity of its winner. However, to keep the audience in suspense, he had to cut the winner’s accolades short and reveal Susan Anderson, a 23-year retired school teacher, as this year’s honoree. Anderson’s long-standing community involvement is felt year-round by hundreds of beneficiaries throughout Lake Cities — both through her Chamber membership and by her service as a certified lay servant for Lake Cities United Methodist Church. Anderson’s husband, Chick, and their son, David, stood by to see Anderson celebrated for her tireless volunteer work devoted to the betterment of the Lake Cities community. Grady told the gathering that Anderson is well-known for many of what he calls her “Yogi-isms,” but he asked her to quote his favorite.
“I’m just here to make sure your ticket is punched for your last trip,” she answered, laughing.
Recognition as Lake Cities Chamber Awards sponsors go to:
Table Sponsors: Alpha & Omega, City of Corinth, CoServ, Community Waste Disposal, DATCU Credit Union, Denton-Lake Cities Rotary Club, Huffines Kia Subaru, City of Hickory Creek, Point Bank, the city of Shady Shores, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
Title Sponsor: Frost Bank
Photography: Bauer Roofing and Construction
Print: Edward Jones
The Lake Cities Chamber also sends special thanks to Albertsons in Corinth, Kroger on Teasley Lane for flowers, Guyer High School Floriculture Class for table arrangements, Town of Hickory Creek for use of sound system, Thousand Hills Church for podium use, City of Corinth for use of the United States and Texas flags, VFW Post 10460 for leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and Steve Holzwarth of United Country Real Estate for valet services.
