More than one martini was consumed Friday night — shaken, not stirred.
The James Bond-themed 2015 annual OHscars awards banquet, held at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge, honored chamber businesses and individuals with member-voted awards in various categories.
“It was a fabulous party,” said Executive Director Christine Cribb. “The James Bond theme was amazing. The purpose is to celebrate the excellence of this community.”
Chamber President Jason McFadyen said it was one of the most well-put-together chamber events he has attended.
“They had a Bond car in the building,” McFadyen said. “Everyone appeared to have a great time, and we were able to show our members how much we appreciate them with our member-voted OHscar awards. An event like this shows that the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce is a class-act organization with top-notch leadership from top to bottom.”
McFadyen walked away with two awards himself this year, Volunteer of the Year and Most Likely to Star as the Next James Bond.
Other winners were Frasers Gourmet Hideaway, Quality Award; Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, John Platt Customer Service Award; Soroptomist International, Service Organization of the Year; New Leaf, Inc., Business Community Service Award; Lorna Guzman of Alaska USA Fedral Credit Union, Chamber Ambassador of the Year; Dave Crume of Sherwin Williams, Chamber Member of the Year; Big Brother Big Sister, Nonprofit Organization of the Year; Ron Newberry of the Whidbey News-Times, Journalist of the Year.
Whidbey Coffee won both Business of the Year and Employer of the Year.
(Below: Whidbey Coffee owner Dan Ollis, bottom, accepts an award accompanied by staff Friday. The company won both Business of the Year and Employer of the Year.)
“I’m honored,” said Whidbey Coffee owner Dan Ollis Tuesday. “It’s such a great honor to be recognized. It was really cool.”
Ollis said the key to the company’s success is “people doing great things.”
“We strive every day,” Ollis said.
Unlike previous years, “an unprecedented” $20,000 in Fourth of July sponsorship money was secured by January, allowing the OHscars to be more awards banquet than fundraiser, Cribb said.
“These sponsorships will provide the community with a historic display, the largest on the island,” Cribb said.
In response to the overwhelming support, the chamber is planning to add a New Year’s Eve fireworks display at Windjammer Park, Cribb said.
This is the second year Whidbey Coffee has donated $6,000 as the grand sponsor for the Fourth of July event. The remaining $14,000 was donated by Navy Federal, Davis Amusement, Bob Severns, Jeff Pleet Edward Jones, Oak Harbor Tavern, the chamber board of directors, Sherwin Williams, Kathy Jones, Greg Wasinger, 7-11, Tradewinds Insurance and the Magnificent Crab Queens.
