Community’s stars shine brightly

Some of the local business and nonprofit community’s brightest stars were celebrated Friday at “A Starry Night,” Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.

It was the largest crowd ever for the art-themed dinner, which sold out in about 24 hours despite moving to a larger venue, First Bank Expo Hall.

Several awards were presented, including Tracie Robinson being named the Art Vivian Distinguished Community Leader. She is sales manager/associate broker for Better Homes and Gardens First Realty Group.

Robinson’s community involvement began more than 20 years ago through the chamber, initially helping pick up trash throughout the city. That service inspired future service, with roles including board president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County.

“We are all here through choice, chance or change, so why not make the most of our time while we can?” Robinson said. “I believe in embracing the power to choose, to take chances and to create positive change in the things we can improve. Together, we can build a more vibrant, healthier community for everyone.”

Vandor Corp., named corporation of the year, continues making new local investments and adding employees. The company, which moved to Wayne County in the 1960s, has grown to include several divisions, such as plastic wire and cable packaging and automotive interior components.

Its Vandor Funeral Products makes cremation products, and its quickly growing Starmark Local division is opening distribution centers throughout North America to serve funeral professionals.

Landon Elder, director of operations, said it’s an exciting time for the company, noting its workers are creative and willing to come up with solutions for their customers’ needs.

“Wayne County is just the prime location to find all this incredible talent, the incredible people, and everything that can help make us successful,” Elder said.

Theresa Lindsey, business and workforce development manager for Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, said her colleagues are “always amazed” with Vandor’s new patents and products developed locally.

Commercial Maintenance Services earned the Achievement of Excellence for large businesses for providing vital cleaning and maintenance services, enabling companies such as Purina, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Blue Buffalo to operate efficiently and maintain the highest production standards.

Rick Thomas Masonry was recognized for its achievements as a small business, with chamber staff noting its contributions “have significantly enhanced the aesthetics of our area” at sites including the new addition to Blue Buffalo and Reid Health’s entrance. 

Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County received the nonprofit honor.

In a video, Molly Kamrath, director of business integration and improvement for Anchor Ingredients, said when company officials were choosing a site for its new transload and ingredient processing facility, the EDC seemed like a friendly new neighbor.

“Working with the team there was like that neighbor, that they made every effort they could to come and introduce us to other parties that might be useful for us to know, or specifically on a grant program that we put together which was critical for our facility to even exist or not … Anytime we called them for anything, they were always there to help us.”

The chamber’s 2024 board chair, Ron Holbrook of SugarCreek Packing Co., said the organization focused last year on building a strong talent pipeline, providing businesses with essential tools and connections, and amplifying the business community’s voice.

Tony Foster, 2025 board chair and Richmond Power & Light general manager, started his career as a chamber intern in the mid-1990s, and noted the long-term impact of planning. An early assignment was to attend a road construction meeting, where officials discussed replacing the Depot District bridge. The new bridge just opened earlier this month.

A few years later, when working for the city of Richmond, Foster saw sketches of plans for Whitewater Gorge and Cardinal Greenway trails and redevelopment of the Starr-Gennett area. He noted that work eventually took place because the community had sketched those plans for many decades.