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Drs. Bud & Selma Pierce

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57th First Citizen
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55th First Citizen

54th First Citizen

53rd First Citizen

52nd First Citizen

58th FIRST CITIZEN’S BANQUET
Presented by

“Celebrating Salem’s Energy”

400 people gathered at the Salem Conference Center on the evening of February 22nd of 2008 to celebrate community leaders and volunteerism at the 58th annual First Citizen Awards Banquet.

Title sponsors for the banquet were West Coast Bank and AmeriTitle and the banquet theme was “Celebrating Salem’s Energy.” (Pictured at right are Ken Jundt, Regional President of West Coast Bank at far left, First Citizen Mike DeRochier of AmeriTitle at middle left, Eric Templeton, General Manager of AmeriTitle at middle right, and Mike DeRochier's wife Melinda.

Chamber Board of Directors President Theresa Taaffe, Portland General Electric, welcomed the audience and President-elect Terri Frohnmayer, First Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC, acted as Mistress of Ceremonies. Chuck Lee, President of Blanchet Catholic School, offered the invocation. Jim Griggs, Saalfeld Griggs PC and last year’s First Citizen, presented the honor of the evening, the 58th annual First Citizen Award.

Recognized for his leadership, passion and example to others, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce honored Mike DeRochier as the 2007 First Citizen.

Motivated by his faith and his family, Mike has continually sacrificed his time and energy to give back to the community. He was honored for his work with the Salem Riverfest, Salem Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Willamette University, Western Oregon University, Chemeketa Community College, Garten Services, The Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Salem Pastoral Consultants, Willamette Valley Hospice, Salem-Keizer  Public Schools, Rotary Club and the Court Street Christian Church.

Mike is one of the top leaders for AmeriTitle (AmeriTitle’s parent company is Jeld-Wen), where he works as vice president. According to his nominators, he is the personification of the positive energy the night’s theme celebrated.

The evening also honored Patti Woods (pictured above while being escorted by Past Chamber President Kris Gorsuch of Saalfeld Griggs PC), Shaklee Products; Alan Bushong (pictured at bottom right while being escorted by Chamber Ambassador Mary Chance), Capital Community Television (CCTV); and Mary Lou Zeek (pictured at bottom left being escorted by City Councilor T.J. Sullivan), Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, with Distinguished Service Awards.

Patti was recognized for her participation as a Greeters and Chamber Business Women’s Team Leader and her work on the Crystal Apple Awards and Show-Biz Trade Show. Her volunteer focus  includes Miss Marion-Polk Scholarship Program, A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, the PGE Festival of Lights Holiday Parade, Michael the Archangel Pregnancy Center, St Edwards Catholic Church, and she received the 2006 St. Joseph Church Distinguished Alumni Award.

As head of CCTV, Alan has used his career to give back to the community by expanding coverage of the Salem area to create local awareness. He works tirelessly as an advocate for Salem-Keizer Public Schools, coaches elementary basketball, is devoted to the preservation of the arts in the schools and is involved with the Lions Club, the Salem Chamber, Stand for Children,  and the City of Salem sister city program with Gimhae, South Korea and Kawagoe, Japan.

Mary Lou has used her vocation as an outlet to build a stronger community. Many of her art shows and exhibits have benefited nonprofit organizations including the YWCA’s Salem Outreach Shelter, Salmon in the City, Mother Oak’s Child, A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, Marion-Polk Food Share and the Poyama Day Treatment Center. She was an Artist in Residence in Salem-Keizer schools through the Salem Art Association’s program. In 2006 she was named one of the top 25 retailers in the country by a leading magazine in the retail industry, Niche Magazine. She serves on the Salem Chamber board, formed the State Street Merchants Association, and helps organize the Salem Conference Center’s Mayor’s Invitational Art Show.

An anonymous committee appointed by the Chamber Board of Directors President selects the First Citizen Award and Distinguished Service Award recipients from those nominated by the public-at-large through letters of recommendations.