The Merrill Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the winners of their Leadership Awards for 2015. The awards were presented at a dinner on Nov. 19 in the follow categories: Women of Distinction Professional Leadership Award; Women of Distinction Community/Leadership Service Award; Rising Star Award (for under age 40 years); and the new Merrill Person of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winners are: Women of Distinction Professional Leadership Award presented to Dr. Shelly Mondeik, Vice President of Learning at Northcentral Technical College; Women of Distinction Community Service/Leadership Award presented to Ginger Beltram, owner of Geiss Soil and Samples; Rising Star Award presented to Amanda Kostman, Family Living Educator at UW-Extension; and the Merrill Person of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Gene Bebel, long time educator/principal and community activist/volunteer with numerous Merrill organizations.
Nominations were made by Merrill citizens in the early fall and a selection committee comprised of a diverse group of community leaders reviewed and evaluated all nominations and selected the recipients for the Women of Distinction Awards and the Merrill Person of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award. “The Women of Distinction Awards and the new Merrill Person of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award both celebrate exemplary leadership and accomplishments of the women and men nominated. Each one are an inspiration for all of us,” concluded Chamber Chief Executive Officer Debbe Kinsey.