Local businesses, community leaders presented with honors during annual event
As part of its celebration of a successful 2022, the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance honored several community members and businesses on Thursday evening during the 108th Annual Celebration Dinner.
A dinner and awards program at Bel Air Events, the evening featured reflections of the Alliance’s accomplishments in 2022 and progress updates from the Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association and Inventrek Technology Park. The evening was also a celebration of the Chamber’s more than 580 members and the hundreds of volunteer hours they served throughout the year.
“Many of the accomplishments we are celebrating are the direct result of these amazing people,” Chamber Manager Courtney Butler said. “We are fortunate to have such strong support and dedication from so many.”
Among the 2022 accomplishments that Alliance President and CEO Lori Dukes highlighted during the event was the Alliance’s acquisition of land for an industrial park in partnership with the city and county. Announced earlier this year, the park will be occupied by a $2.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant constructed by StarPlus Energy, a joint venture of Stellantis and Samsung SDI.
“Having the land secured put the community in a solid position to compete for the development,” Dukes said. “Securing the project will have a long-lasting, transformational impact on this community.”
To that end, StarPlus Energy was honored with the Alliance’s Economic Impact Award.
The Chamber also presented several awards:
• Businessperson of the Year: Richard “Dick” Moore
• Volunteers of the Year: Jerry Smith with BMO Harris Bank and Laura Hileman of Guardian Angel Hospice and Foundation
• Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Kathleen Keppner with Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
• Small Business of the Year: BerryComm
• Large Business of the Year: Community Howard Regional Health
• Impact Award: Turning Point S.O.C.
Other divisions of the Alliance also presented awards to deserving recipients during the event. The Downtown Association’s Downtown Champion Award was given to Jonathan Rogers with WWKI. The Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau honored Todd and Amber Jordan, owners of Kokomo Toys, with its F.I.R.S.T.S. Award for outstanding tourism efforts.
Also, Charlie Sparks, former president and CEO of the Alliance, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
For more information on the Greater Kokomo Alliance, visit GreaterKokomo.com.