Parkers drive home as Citizens of Year
Photo by TOM GREENE Jim and Diane Parker were recognized as the 2018 Citizens of the Year by the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce during the chamber’s 106th annual meeting held Wednesday in the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn. They are pictured here in September 2016 with Doug Parker, right, in front of North Idaho College’s Career and Technical Education facility in Rathdrum, which was made possible by their generous $1 million donation.
LOREN BENOIT/Press Brenda Bookholtz, vice president of finance and accounting at Pita Pit, receives the Ed Abbott Volunteer of the Year Award on Wednesday.
COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce 2018 Citizen of the Year is not one citizen, but two.
“We have so many people that step up to the plate and they hit a home run every single time,” said Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council Chairman Chief Allan as he announced the award Wednesday. “I get to look from afar and admire this couple that’s been chosen to represent Coeur d’Alene for citizen of the year.”
Jim and Diane Parker have been incredibly supportive of numerous projects and causes around the community, giving books to first-graders, bikes to fifth-graders and cars to high school seniors, to name just a few.
“That’s amazing,” Allan said. “You put your money where your mouth is for a business to say, ‘We’re going to give a new car to a senior every year from these schools.’ It’s just awesome.”
The Parkers, of Parker Toyota fame, were out of town when their honor was announced during the Coeur d’Alene Chamber’s 106th annual meeting and awards, but chamber chairman Mike Ward said several members of the board of directors visited them before they left to share the news.
“We were all out at the dealership last week, and I’ve got to tell you that they were pretty surprised,” Ward said. “They were surprised but they were extremely humbled, and they did want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for that recognition.”
Chamber staff and members enjoyed lunch together in the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn as they celebrated the businesses, organizations and individuals that make the Lake City’s chamber shine.
Brenda Brookholtz received a standing ovation as she came forward to accept the Ed Abbott Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by advisory board member Vicki Isakson. Isakson said the award honors the chamber volunteer “who best exemplifies those qualities of infectious enthusiasm, dedication and confident leadership that contribute to the chamber’s accomplishments.”
“This year’s recipient is someone who’s really embodied that spirit. She attends most all chamber functions with a smile on her face, just as she greeted me here today. She volunteers to lead projects through her involvement on the leadership committee, the board and the executive committee,” Isakson said, adding that Brookholtz is also involved in Coeur d’Alene 2030, Rotary, Excel Foundation, Matt’s Place Foundation, and “she’s a mom, she’s our treasurer and I hear that she also has some time to actually do some real work for Pita Pit.”
Brookholtz, vice president of finance and accounting for Pita Pit USA, gracefully accepted the award amid a roar of applause.
“I am completely taken away and honored by this award,” she said. “Thank you.”
Kootenai Health CEO Jon Ness delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the generous and friendly nature of North Idaho, which leads to its success.
“It’s not just the lakes and the trees and the rivers and all the amenities,” Ness said. “It’s all of you.”
Also recognized at the meeting were the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce Natural Resources Committee as the committee of the year, several long-time volunteers and the chamber staff and members who help promote and keep in place the chamber’s vision for a vibrant and illustrious Coeur d’Alene.