1/30/2008 10:29:00 AM PT Chamber honors McComas, Harper, Caldwell
Bruce McComas, named Port Townsend Citizen of the Year, thanks the crowd of about 150 people who gathered Sunday at the Commons at Fort Worden. – Photo by Fred Obee
Nick Harper receives his plaque naming him Port Townsend Business Leader of the Year for 2007, due to his leadership in the civic and business world. – Photo by Fred Obee
Bruce McComas was named Port Townsend Citizen of the Year and Nick Harper received the Business Leader of the Year award at the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce brunch Jan. 27 at Fort Worden State Park.
Also, in a special recognition, future business leader of the year awards will be given in the name of Tim Caldwell, the chamber's 12-year general manager and a tireless advocate for better ferry service to Port Townsend.
McComas, the general manager at Port Townsend Paper Corp., is a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County and the Port Townsend Educational Foundation, and the Jefferson County Community Foundation. He has served on the school board and the chamber board.
"I'm still shocked," McComas said Monday. "You don't do it for the recognition. You do because it's the right thing to do."
McComas is especially proud of his work with the Community Foundation, a group that collects donations and uses interest earned to fund worthy community projects. So far, the foundation has about $500,000 invested.
McComas said the goal is to give community nonprofit groups a reliable and predictable income to help fund their programs.
"I'm excited about what's happened in the last year," McComas said. "A lot of people are doing a lot of things to make life better for people. The Community Foundation can be a big part of that."
Business Leader
Dominic "Nick" Harper is the founding president of the Port Townsend Education Foundation and chaired its volunteer committee, whose endeavors led to the successful passage of a four-year Port Townsend School District's maintenance and operation levy early in 2007.
The Port Townsend native is among the area's busiest real estate agents, working with Re/Max First Inc., and he owns Macadoo's restaurant.
"It feels quite surreal," Harper said of his Business Leader of the Year award. "I'm really humbled and honored."
Harper said he owes most of his success to his family, fellow volunteers, and the employees who make his restaurant a going concern. It's their dedication, he said, that makes the difference.
"That is how it all comes together," he said.
Caldwell award
Caldwell was perhaps the most surprised. He has been nominated for Business Leader of the Year every year for nearly a decade, but the chamber selection committee has always found it awkward to give the award to Caldwell, the chamber board's employee. In the end, they decided if they could not give him the award, then they might as well name it after him.
In years to come, the award will be called the Tim Caldwell Business Leader of the Year award, announced chamber past-president Jennifer MacGillonie.
"I was very surprised and very grateful," Caldwell said. Caldwell gave a lot of credit to his wife, who for years has commuted to jobs in Seattle, Port Orchard and Bainbridge Island so the Caldwell family could call Port Townsend home. Caldwell's two children are fourth-generation graduates of Port Townsend High School.
Caldwell joked that this is the kind of honor that usually comes after you're dead, and that it will be a little eerie for him seeing an award given each year in his name.
"But I'm very honored by it," he said.
Award nominees
Also nominated for Port Townsend Citizen of the Year were Ron Brantner, an Elks Lodge member and a regular volunteer at the Port Townsend Visitor Center; Kim Hammers, who has been instrumental in organizing and operating the seasonal homeless shelter at the American Legion Post; Bruce Marston, who has devoted many volunteer hours to The Boiler Room; and Kris Nelson, a member of Sunrise Rotary Club who has spearheaded the Fourth of July fireworks show for the past three years.
Nominees for Business Leader of the year included Thatcher Bailey, executive director of Centrum; Chamber General Manager Caldwell; Susan Grant, owner of Dream City Photography, who helped launch the Port Townsend Wedding Show; Moses Henri, manager of the Cyber Bean Café, who regularly teaches classes to patrons and strives to help others increase their computer abilities; Sandy Hershelman, owner of Sandy Hershelman Designs, a graphic artist, journalist, photographer and executive director for the Jefferson County Home Builders Association; Briar Kolp, general manager of The Food Co-op; and Kelly Liske, branch manager for First Federal Savings and Loan, responsible for the Port Townsend, Poulsbo and soon-to-be-opened Aldrich's Market offices.
For "the rest of the story" and full coverage of all Port Townsend and Jefferson County news, events and people, subscribe to our award-winning weekly newspaper.
