McALESTER —
The Southeast Expo Center was the site for the Annual Chamber Banquet 2013.
Several hundred people gathered for the black and white themed event called “A Crystal Evening.”
The event opened with Pastor Tim Russell of the First Baptist Church McAlester leading in a prayer for the victims of the recent Eaglemed helicopter crash in Oklahoma City that claimed the lives of the pilot and the nurse and left one survivor.
Chamber Chairman David Keith kicked off the evening’s events with a history of the Chamber of Commerce, introductions and acknowledgment of the Chamber’s sponsors.
The event included dinner, silent auction, awards and speaker Chad Wilkerson of the Federal Reserve.
Wilkerson discussed the effects of sequestration on the nation and on Pittsburg County.
Wilkerson explained the impact of sequestration and said Oklahoma faces a larger exposure to sequestration because of the effect on the four main industries and employers in Oklahoma including, government, municipalities, mining and manufacturing.
Also during the dinner, Tanaye Harvanek chamber president presented awards to the following Chamber members:
Large Business of the Year, McDonald's; Small Business of the Year, Auld Family Dentistry; Business Man of the Year, Scott Walker of Shared Blessings; Business Woman of the Year, Janet Wansick of EOSC; and Young Professional of the Year, Stephanie Giacomo of Pride in McAlester.
Also an Honorary Business of the Year award was given to the McAlester Fire Department.
The awards presentation culminated with Harvanek presenting Giacomo with a check for $2,500 in matching funds for a grant to restore the OKLA Theater in downtown McAlester.
Contact Jeanne LeFlore at jleflore@mcalesternews.com.
For more on this story, see the print or electronic editions of the McAlester News-Capital. Click here for print edition home delivery or click here to see the Smart Edition for your computer, tablet, e-reader or smartphone.
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
