WINNERS OF RECOGNITION AWARDS at the 2011 Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce Recognition Banquet, pictured, left to right, are: Mike Ciraulo, service person of the year; Claire Lider, citizen of the year; Irene Soohoo, teacher of the year; Merle Crockett, coach of the year; Mike Galeotti, Sr., business person of the year; and Brian Melton, who accepted the business of the year award on behalf of Jeremy and Heather Brown, owners of Rusty Grape Vineyard.
As Mitchell Molzahn, son of late Battle Ground Police Officer Mike Molzahn, went up on behalf of his father to accept the certificate for being a finalist for the Service Person of the Year award, he was met with a burst of applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
That moment was just one of the highlights of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Recognition Banquet, Treasures in the City, which was held Feb. 3 at the Heathman Lodge. The evening’s top honor, the Citizen of the Year Award, was presented to Claire Lider, former Battle Ground City clerk and president of the Lewis River Rotary Club.
Lider gasped with surprise and became teary-eyed as she approached the front of the room to accept the award plaque, which was presented to her by 2010 Citizen of the Year winner, Jill Kurtz.
"I had no idea I would win," Lider said. "It feels surreal because so many of the past recipients were my mentors. It just feels amazing."
Lider was nominated for the award for her service as the Battle Ground City clerk and president of the Lewis River Rotary. Her service to the community also included volunteering for the Battle Ground Rose Float, Relay For Life, the Lunch Buddy Program, the Lewis River Rotary, the Rotary Community Corps, the Battle Ground Cares Committee and more.
Lider was also recognized by the Vancouver Business Journal for the Accomplished and Under 40 Award, and has earned the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and the Rotary’s Rookie of the Year Award.
In the beginning of December, Lider stepped down from her position as the Battle Ground City clerk, but is still currently the president of the Lewis River Rotary and said she plans to stay very involved with the Rotary club.
Also finalists for the Citizen of the Year Award were Amy Cheng and Heather Renner. Cheng was nominated for her involvement in many organizations and her willingness to always be the first to volunteer. Renner was nominated for her facilitation of numerous events to promote Battle Ground through health and wellness fairs, charitable auctions and business fairs.
Business Person of the Year
Mike Galeotti, Sr., of Galeotti’s Restaurant, was chosen as the 2011 Business Person of the Year. Wayne Rivers, who was the 2010 Business Person of the Year, presented Galeotti with his award plaque at the banquet.
Galeotti was nominated for his heart for the Battle Ground community. He promotes area businesses, serves the Rotary, is a member of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce and gives continually to area nonprofit organizations.
Aside from the restaurant business, Galeotti is a practicing Christian counselor and is part owner of two successful businesses. He is a firm believer in "shop and buy local" and his family opened Galeotti’s Restaurant three years ago and he said they see themselves as blessed to be a part of the Battle Ground community.
Elba Benzler, of BOLD Training and Get BOLD Events, and Dr. Greg Barcus were also finalists for the Business Person of the Year Award. Benzler was nominated for his enthusiastic support and involvement in business, professional and charitable organizations. Barcus was nominated for his creative business ideas and his support of other area businesses and organizations.
Business of the Year
The rest of the evening’s awards were presented to the winners by Denton Harlan of Layne’s Funeral Home. Rusty Grape Vineyard was named 2011 Business of the Year. The award was accepted by Brian Melton, as owners Jeremy and Heather Brown were unable to attend.
Rusty Grape Vineyard was nominated for their support of area businesses and organizations, and bringing people to the community. By bringing people to their vineyard, the people at Rusty Grape help bring people to all Battle Ground-area wineries, restaurants, shops and more.
The Rusty Grape owners faithfully give to charities, such as donating barrel-tasting parties, offering their location and atmosphere to business functions and more.
The other finalists for Business of the Year were Get BOLD Events and Galeotti’s Restaurant.
Service Person of the Year
The award of Service Person of the Year went to Mike Ciraulo, Clark County Fire & Rescue division chief, former Battle Ground mayor and current City council member.
Ciraulo was nominated for his service with Clark County Fire & Rescue and as former mayor of the City of Battle Ground. He has been employed by Clark County Fire & Rescue for 18 years and is responsible for the training and education of approximately 200 paid and volunteer firefighters.
In the 18 years he’s been training firefighters, Ciraulo has said he is proud that never has one firefighter been seriously injured.
Ciraulo is also an active member of the Battle Ground Rotary Club and serves on the North County Community Food Bank Board of Directors.
Deputy Tim Gosch and Officer Mike Molzahn were also finalists for the Service Person of the Year. Gosch was nominated for his service as a Clark County Sheriff’s Department deputy and his dedication to the Battle Ground community and Clark County.
Molzahn was nominated posthumously for making an all-out effort to become involved in the community. Molzahn passed away in July 2011 in a drowning accident. He was well known and especially liked in the Battle Ground community.
Teacher of the Year
The 2011 Teacher of the Year Award went to Irene Soohoo.
Soohoo said she feels that everything she has ever learned has been used to help students meet or exceed the state benchmarks, and she finds joy in making discoveries and doing something well.
A teacher at Pleasant Valley Middle School, Soohoo is also a dedicated volunteer with organizations such as Southwest Washington Regional coordination of History Day and Foxhill Pony Club. She has also earned numerous grants to help her students and is also a published author. She was honored as Washington State History Teacher of the Year in 2002.
The other two finalists for Teacher of the Year were Marian Beck and Ruth Mills, both teachers in the Battle Ground School District.
Coach of the Year
Merle Crockett was selected as the 2011 Coach of the Year. Crockett was nominated for his involvement in the sport of wrestling in Battle Ground and throughout USA Wrestling for more than 25 years. He has coached all levels of athletes from 4 year olds to college-age students. Crockett has contributed financially, emotionally and physically to the success of hundreds of athletes.
The tournaments Crockett has brought to the community have brought thousands of athletes and families to the area that benefit the area businesses substantially. His ability to help Battle Ground and surrounding areas through the sport of wrestling was a major part of his nomination.
The other two finalists for Coach of the Year were J.J. Klaus, Battle Ground High School varsity soccer coach, and Andy Schoonover, coach of the boys’ basketball team at Battle Ground High School.
