Top, left to right: Outgoing chamber president Mike Twombly ( right) passed the gavel to incoming chamber president Eric Thompson ( at podium). Jere Bruning received a special award of appreciation.

Bottom: Accepting the "Business of the Year" award were several members of the Downtown Business Association including Andrea Winter and Ashley Tuttle with Giggle Girls Cakery; Becky Buser with Sarah Kathrens; and Dee Winter and DeeAnn Hinkle with Physical Respiratory and Therapy Services.  Kim Kleopfer with Mainstreet Flower Shoppe, also a member of the group, presented the award.  

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Chamber and Visitor's Bureau held their annual meeting Monday evening at the Fisher Center.

The meeting included the presentation of several awards.  

Honored as “ Business of the Year” was the Downtown Business Association.  The group consisting of several downtown business owners/operators was formed last year to sponsor events every few months in the downtown.     

Hiawatha Fire Chief Gary Shear received the “ Civil Servant of the Year” award and Ciera Nioce the “ Volunteer of the Year” award for her work organizing the Hiawatha Halloween queen pageant.

A special award of appreciation was presented to Jere Bruning for his support of the Chamber and community events.

The meeting saw outgoing chamber president Mike Twombly past the gavel to incoming president Eric Thompson. “Im looking forward to carrying on the traditions that we've always done, and then we've got a lot of things that we're looking forward to”, said Thompson.

Other Chamber Board members include Kate Miller, vice president; Jake Wisdom, treasurer; Joey May, Mike Grier, Ryan Meininger, Kim Kleopfer and Jessica Rush. 

Charles Cunningham, a former area National Guard member who currently lives in the Kansas City area, was the keynote speaker.

Last August, the Hiawatha Chamber of Commerce and city’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau merged as a means of better serving the community.