Lewisville Chamber of Commerce Honors 11 at Annual Gala
Anyone who knows Sue Bowman will tell you she is never at a loss for words. Seriously … never. So imagine everyone’s reaction on May 1 when Sue, the long-time Community Relations Director at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford Lewisville, couldn’t muster much beyond lots of happy tears and a smile on her face when she was named Citizen of the Year at the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 63rd Annual Awards Gala.
The latest honor was a no-brainer given Sue’s tireless service and dedication to countless organizations and everyday people in Lewisville and surrounding communities. But to Sue, there was a clear feeling of disbelief.
“I’m the last person I would have ever thought of for that type of award,” Sue said. “I’m still a little speechless.”
In winning Citizen of the Year, Sue joins an illustrious group of past honorees that includes the likes of Bill Collins, Angie Cox, Charlotte Wilcox, Kellie Stokes, and last year’s winner, Kronda Thimesch. The award also capped a memorable evening that celebrated the businesses, leaders, volunteers, and organizations that continue to move Lewisville and surrounding communities forward through service, leadership, and a shared commitment to making a difference.
In total, 11 awards were handed out, and in Sue’s defense, she wasn’t the only one with a shocked look on her face.
The night started off with Tiffany Waisanen being named Ambassador of the Year. The annual Volunteer of the Year award went to Jen Adame with JenAssist, while Rookie of the Year was presented to Alfredo Cedillo with PointBank. Cedillo found out about his award while on a vacation cruise. As the story goes, the Chamber staff gave him a sealed envelope before he left and told him to record himself reading it while on the boat as part of a TikTok challenge. The video was played at the gala.
“Usually when you’re reading, you can see ahead and figure it out. But I was also thinking, ‘Don’t mess this up,’ so I was reading it word for word,” Cedillo said of finally realizing that the video would ultimately be his acceptance speech. “I got a little emotional. … It meant a lot; sometimes you do things and aren’t sure if they were seen. It caught me off guard.”
Waisanen agreed, adding, “The atmosphere was electric. When my name was announced, I was more than a little surprised,” she said. Waisanen is the current Ambassador program Co-Chair and a beauty guide with LimeLife. “I love what I do with the Chamber. I feel like one of my strengths is welcoming people into the Chamber, so having that acknowledged was special.”
Rounding out the list of award winners was Steve Gamel with Edit This, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Gary Lewis with Bank of the West was honored with the prestigious R.L. Crawford, Jr. Legacy Award.
Small Business of the Year went to Lorentz Automotive, and Large Business of the Year was presented to Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. First Responder of the Year was Captain Clay Martin with the Lewisville Fire Department, and Leena John of Valley Creek Middle School was named Teacher of the Year.
Last but not least, outgoing Chairman of the Board Glenn Kimball was presented with the annual Chairman’s Plaque.
“The Annual Awards Gala is always one of the most meaningful nights of the year for our chamber because it gives us the opportunity to honor the incredible members who are truly the heart of our organization and help make this community so special,” said Lori Fickling, President/CEO of the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“It was such a thrill to recognize 11 outstanding award winners and celebrate alongside 240 of our closest friends, partners, and community leaders. The entire evening was a reminder of how fortunate we are to live and work in a community filled with so many generous, hardworking, and inspiring people.”
