Chamber honors those who help community

CELINA - The Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night honored the people who make the area a better place to live during its annual awards banquet.

Receiving the Citizen of the Year Award was Ivan Knapp, who said the award was really about all the people he's interviewed over the last 10 years.

"I've interviewed more than 300 people," Knapp said. "They've told me about their lives and their hardships, their heartaches and their triumphs. They let me into their lives for just a few minutes or hours. It's been my pleasure to be able to tell their stories."

Knapp won the award because he has been "one of the most positive people to champion Mercer County over many, many years," said chamber president Chad Stolly. "He was an educator and mentor, has been a newspaper and radio businessperson who has never used negativity to get attention. He only speaks of positive events and activities."

The chamber board decided Knapp deserved the award for serving on the DARE Board, the Mercer County Agricultural Society and as president of the Celina Kiwanis Club.

"Ivan is a visionary leader and positive influence for the people of Mercer County," Stolly said.

Bruce Swonger, who won the Humanitarian Award, said while he was surprised and very honored, he believes the award wouldn't have been possible "without the generous and giving citizens of this community."

Swonger was honored for his years of selfless dedication to helping the people of Celina, such as repairing their homes, helping them move and driving them to appointments as far away as Columbus, with no thought of any type of reward, according to the honor.

He was instrumental in saving the Giving Thanks Community Dinner in Celina and a little more than a year ago, he began the House of Hope, a place for women to continue with a sober and drug-free life.

Swonger, his eyes tearing up and his voice shaking, told the crowd at Romer's the award "really isn't about me."

"This is about the people of this county," Swonger said. "It makes me very proud to say Mercer County is the best place to live."

The Business of the Year award went to the Potter House and Java Nation. Proprietors Kim and Vance Nation were excited to receive the award and said they believe it really belongs to the customers and staff who have helped the businesses blossom.

The Nations deserved the award this year because of their vision and persistence to carry out that vision, according to the chamber board.

"It started out as a dream and now has turned into a reality making it a destination point for downtown Celina," said chamber executive director Pam Buschur.

Buschur said the Nations are not just good businesspeople but they also look at the "big picture of what will help the community and downtown businesses as a whole."

"By looking at helping the community, it helps their business," Buschur said. "These owners take the lead for downtown events and activities."

Vance Nation said when they began the business, they focused on using local vendors.

"From the top to the bottom, we wanted as many local businesses to be involved in this," Nation said. "I can't say enough about how much support this community gives to each other. You don't find this in big cities. This is the coolest community I know."

The Achievement Award went to Dr. Bonnie Mathies, the dean of Wright State University-Lake Campus since 2011.

According to the board members, Mathies deserved the award not just for taking on such a "hefty job" but also for helping expand the branch through programs, facilities and outreach; for pioneering efforts to host three regional summits; for introducing new bachelor's degrees; for creating opportunities for students to obtain jobs in the community and for supporting students from outside of the area.

While Mathies will leave the post in June, the board felt her impact on the students and staff should be honored and not forgotten.

"It is without hesitation that we recognizance the many opportunities she has provided for our students," Buschur said. "The lasting value of her impact will be remembered by everyone who has had the privilege to work with her, both at the Lake Campus and within our surrounding communities."

Mathies said she was honored to receive the award and said her tenure as dean "was an easy job since I was surrounded by such good people in the community and at work."