Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

55th Annual First Citizen Banquet

with a Special Tribute to Past First Citizens

“Honoring the Pillars of the Community”

The 55th annual First Citizen Awards celebration was the first major community event held in the Salem Conference Center. To honor past First Citizens for their leadership in community efforts, such as the Center, each was given an engraved Refin Ceramiche tile, which was used in the construction of the Center. The message reads: “In appreciation to Salem’s First Citizens for their extraordinary vision, commitment and leadership in laying the foundation that has made the Salem Conference Center a community’s dream come true.” The tiles were donated by Thomas Kay Flooring & Interiors. Engraving was by FASTSIGNS.

Active in civic, education and business arenas, George Puentes was selected as the 55th Annual First Citizen of Salem. According to one nomination letter, George is known for "standing up for what is right." George's past and current community activities, through his company (Puentes Brothers/Don Pancho Authentic Mexican Foods) and through his individual efforts, include service on a variety of boards and councils including the Salem Hospital Foundation and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce (President, 2002-03).

Honored as 2005 Distinguished Service Award Recipients were Gloria Jackson, Sam Skillern, and Father Charles Taaffe. 

Gloria is known for quietly working behind the scenes for many local institutions and charities including the Boys & Girls Club of Marion and Polk Counties; Salem Area Chamber of Commerce (President, 1997-98); Strategic Economic Development Corporation; the Salem Association of Realtors; Catholic Community Scholarship Foundation; Chemeketa Community College Foundation, A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village; Salem Art Association; St. Paul's Episcopal Church; and Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow).

Sam Skillern is active in the Exchange Club of Keizer, mentors in Salem-Keizer schools, serves on the board of Family Building Blocks, is on the No Meth-Not in My Neighborhood Task Force and is a board member on the Salem Community Development Corporation. In addition, Sam has brought hundreds of adult volunteers into Grant Elementary School, a high-needs school, with the launch of Fantastic Fridays, a no-cost after-school enrichment program.

Over the last 30 years, Father Charles Taaffe has dedicated his life to the preservation of human life. He founded St. Brigid's Home for pregnant teenage girls and their unborn children in 1975. St. Brigid's provided meals, counseling, clothing, education, and emotional support for underage women with no other means of support. Since 1975, he has opened St. Monic's Home and St. Teresa's Home. The homes operate as the Father Taaffe Foundation, Inc.

A special thank you to all our sponsors in the right hand margin and to the following participants for their help creating another successful First Citizen's Banquet:

Creative Center; Jary's Florist; Select Impressions; Thomas Kay Flooring & Interiors; A-Z Party Rentals; Salem Trophy; Glass Graphics; Kathy Goss, Capitol Valuation Group, LLC; Kris Gorsuch, Saafeld Griggs PC; Vocalist Lonnie Parsons of Fastsigns; Rev. Barry Heath; and Crystal Image Photography.

Title Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

FASTSIGNS

Bronze Sponsor

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Supporting Sponsors

BC Towing

Class Act Event Coordinators, Inc.