Rathdrum Chamber awards inspirational people and businesses
Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce board president, and ambassador Chantel Koho (left) accepts an ambassador of the year award from chamber executive director Ashley Moore at an annual dinner ceremony on Nov. 11.
Photo Courtesy of Ashley Moore
The Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated shining members in the community in an award ceremony honoring the Citizen of the Year, the Ambassador of the Year, the Nonprofit of the Year and the Business of the Year.
The chamber's annual celebration dinner Nov. 11 was a fun night with raffles and gifts, with recognition of the most inspirational members of the community, to encourage exemplary people who enact positive change in Rathdrum.
Eric Singer was named Citizen of the Year.
“It’s an honor and I’m grateful to work and serve in such a great community,” said Singer, the parks and recreation director for the city of Rathdrum.
A Lakeland High School graduate, Singer volunteers for all fundraisers and has been known to work the concession stands at sporting events, said Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce executive director Ashley Moore in a press release.
The Ambassador of the Year award went to Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce Board President Chantel Koho for her exceptional service on the ambassador team.
“I’m just super grateful for all the people who worked with me to go to the businesses and to show them how we can continue to support them,” Koho said.
Koho was selected from 13 ambassadors who work to thank local chamber businesses for contributing to the Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce, and to introduce new businesses to what the chamber does.
Koho shows up to volunteer at every event the chamber puts on, Moore said.
The Lions Club of Rathdrum was named Nonprofit of the Year, with just 40 members making big impacts in Rathdrum.
The Lions Club conducts sight and hearing screening in elementary schools and provides glasses or hearing aids to people who can’t afford them.
They also provide meals to needy children on weekends and cut, split or chop wood for families.
The Lions Club also gathers Toys for Tots donations and works to distribute those, and will be doing that this Christmas season. Its mission is to serve and give hope to the Rathdrum community.
The chamber’s Business of the Year award was given to Tim and Terri Skubitz on behalf of the McDonald's of Rathdrum.
The couple dedicates their franchise and business model to serving the community. They have sponsored Rathdrum Days Big Wheel Races for the last 21 years and they support youth sports.
They’ve contributed more than $36,000 through McTeacher nights to the Lakeland School District and Terri Skubtiz is the president-elect of the Ronald McDonald House Charity of the Inland Northwest.
And there are many other community outreach efforts the couple promote to impact their community in the biggest ways.
An objective committee board is annually assembled to select award recipients.