Six County Association of Governments
and
Six County Economic Development District
PRESS RELEASE
Date: December 2, 2015
Contact: Russ Cowley at (435) 893-0712
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Area Businesses and Leaders Honored For Efforts in Economic and Community Development
RICHFIELD - The Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) and Six County Economic Development District (SCEDD) held their Twenty-sixth Annual General Board and Recognition Banquet December 2, 2015. Commissioner Claudia Jarrett, Sanpete County and SCAOG Board Chair officiated at the event. Commissioner Rick Blackwell, Piute County and SCEDD Board Chair conducted the economic and community development recognition segment in which businesses and community leaders were honored for their outstanding efforts and contributions to the area’s economy and community development. Local elected officials presented a “2015 Business-of-the-Year” recognition award to a business and/or individual from their respective county. Those honored as county 2015 businesses of the year include:
Prince Valley, Inc. of Sevier County. Commissioner Gordon Topham made the presentation to owners Kinley and Bridget Peterson and Rex and Stacia Shipp.
Dale Cox Contracting was Sanpete County’s business of the year. Commissioner Claudia Jarrett presented the award to owners Dale and Diane Cox.
Sahara Motors was honored as Millard County’s business of the year. Owners Russell and Cindy Greathouse and Craig Greathouse received the award presented by Commissioner Alan Roper.
Houweling’s Tomatoes received Juab County’s business of the year recognition. Commissioner Rick Carlton made the presentation to Jacobo Yanes, Reina Torres and Mindy Peterson.
Blackburn’s Auto Body and Propane was Wayne County’s business of the year. Commissioner Newell Harward presented the award and recognized Howard, Cherie, Jordan, Loryn, Raegyn and Brigg Blackburn for their outstanding efforts.
Junction Gas Station was honored as the Piute County business of the year. Commissioner Rick Blackwell made the presentation to owners Will and Jodi Barnson.
The Regional Beautification Award was presented to Ephraim City for accomplishing their goal to complete their downtown revitalization project and other beautification endeavors. Ephraim City representatives Bryan Kimball, Community Development Director and Chad Parry, Public Works Director received the recognition award from Commissioner Rick Blackwell.
The Region honored Snow College and Lynnette Robinson with Region Recognition Awards. Snow College was recognized for their willingness to collaborate with local officials and businesses on aligning the college’s curriculum with local business needs. Commissioner Rick Blackwell made the presentation to Snow College President Gary Carlston and Lisa Laird. He acknowledged the College’s support of the Small Business Development Center and goals to establish more degrees and initiatives which provides more opportunities to receive local training and jobs. Lynnette Robinson was honored for her 29 years of service to the Six County region as a program administrator and the Chief Financial Officer for the SCAOG. Commissioner Claudia Jarrett presented the award and expressed appreciation for the dedicated and professional service rendered by Ms. Robinson. She acknowledged that the professional expertise and leadership of Ms. Robinson helped the SCAOG maneuver through the tumultuous regulations of government imposed on the agency’s programs. A special recognition was presented to Chelsea Bakaitis by Commissioner Jarrett acknowledging her effort beyond expectations to complete the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. On behalf of the Region, Commissioner Jarrett thanked Ms. Bakaitis for her dedicated hours at night, on weekends, and even during vacation time to complete the plan which makes counties eligible for federal grants. Malcolm Nash was recognized for his four years of service as Chair of the Six County Technical Committee. Commissioner Rick Blackwell made the presentation and thanked Mr. Nash for his leadership in this capacity.
Commissioner Jarrett explained the traditional rotation process in which the mantle of the Chair for the SCAOG is passed to another commissioner. She then expressed appreciation for the opportunity she has had of serving in this capacity over the past year. After her remarks she introduced and passed the gavel to Commissioner Gordon Topham, Sevier County whom will assume responsibilities of Chair for the SCAOG Board(s).
Commissioner Topham expressed appreciation to Commissioner Jarrett and recognized the commitment and dedicated service she has rendered as SCAOG Chair during the past year.
The SCAOG and SCEDD sponsors the Six County General Board and Recognition Banquet annually. The SCAOG General Board consists of all eighteen commissioners and one appointed mayor from Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties. The SCAOG Executive Board comprises one appointed commissioner and the appointed mayor from each county. Members of the SCAOG Executive Board for 2016 are: Commissioner Gordon Topham – Sevier County and SCAOG Chair; Commissioner Claudia Jarrett – Sanpete County; Commissioner Newell Harward - Wayne County; Commissioner Rick Blackwell – Piute County, SCEDD Board Chair; Commissioner Byron Woodland - Juab County; Commissioner Alan Roper - Millard County; Mayor Russell Mangleson - Levan; Mayor Gayle Bunker - Delta; Mayor Rick Dalton - Junction; Mayor John Christensen - Mayfield; Mayor David Ogden – Richfield; and, Mayor Gilbert Hunt – Bicknell. In addition to the above, the following comprise the SCEDD Board, Technical Committee (TC), and Loan Administration Board(LAB): Mr. Brent Boswell – Juab County, TC/LAB Chair; Mr. Malcolm Nash – Sevier County; Mr. Scott Barney – Millard County; Commissioner Darin Bushman – Piute County; Mr. Kevin Christensen – Sanpete County; Ms. Michelle Coleman – Wayne County; Ms Lorraine Gregerson – Chambers of Commerce Representative; Mr. Jody Gale - USU Extension; Mr. Kay Monroe - Panoramaland RC&D; Mr. Alan Christensen – Small Business Development Center (SBDC); Mr. Jake Harman – Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED); Ms. Lisa Laird – Snow College Career Services Advisor; Mr. Doug Johnson, Snow College Concurrent Education Coordinator; Mr. Gary Parnell, USU Education Center; Mr. Forest Turner, Department of Workforce Services; Dean Woodbury – State Bank; and, Mr. Glenn Greenhalgh – Juab County.
PICTURE ATTACHED TO EMAIL
Names of those in picture:
Left to Right: Gary Carlston, Howard Blackburn, Cherie Blackburn, Jodi Barnson, Maci Barnson, Russell Greathouse, Cindy Greathouse, Chad Parry, Bryan Kimball, Rex Shipp, Malcolm Nash, Kinley Peterson, Mindy Peterson, Reina Torres, Jacobo Yanes, Diane Cox, Dale Cox
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