BACC looks ahead with banquet

Monday, 06 February 2012 by Matthew Girard

BACC President and CEO Stephanie O’Banion welcomes those in attendance at the Annual Awards Banquet last Thursday.The Belton Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated 2011 and got 2012 started off with a bang during the BACC's Annual Awards Banquet last Thursday at the Catherdral Oaks Event Center.

"The banquet was wonderful," BACC President and CEO Stephanie O'Banion said. "It's a great time for us to come together and celebrate the year, but also to celebrate those that made the year such a success."

The night began with introductions and was followed by a video presentation of events from 2011, testimonials from chamber members, an introduction to BACC's newest program "Apprentice Belton," remarks from outgoing chairman Susan Kamas and the night ended with the presentation of the Beltonian, Ambassador of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Chairman's Award of Excellence awards.

Kamas was presented with the Beltonian Award, while JoAn Musick-Dillard was presented with the Ambassador of the Year Award, Cynthia Hernandez was presented the Citizen of the Year Award and Chris Moore was presented with the Chairman's Award of Excellence.

"The highlight for me every year is watching the faces of the award winners," O'Banion said. "Seeing the faces of Cynthia Hernandez, Susan Kamas and JoAn Dillard was great. To see those women honored for their volunteer services was the highlight."

Hernandez, who is the executive director of the Belton Economic Development Corporation, said she was honored to win the Citizen of the Year Award.

The Belton Area Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual awards at a banquet last Thursday. The award winners were (from left to right) Susan Kamas (Beltonian), JoAn Musick-Dillard (Ambassador of the Year), Cynthia Hernandez (Citizen of the Year) and Chris Moore (Chariman’s Award of Excellence)."I was very shocked and it's an honor," Hernandez said. "There are many great people in Belton that do many great things, so the fact that I was considered for this award is truly an honor. It's a pleasure to work with all of the people on the various committees. It's certainly a team effort."

O'Banion said all the winners were deserving of their awards.

"The exciting thing about the winners this year is their long-time passion for community," O'Banion said. "JoAn Dillard has had a lifetime of service and genuine passion for this community. Cynthia Hernandez has given many years and has truly given her time, talents and wisdom to helping grow some of our key programs. Susan Kamas is just amazing. Her impact on the community is not often that is something that everybody can see and unlike many who have gone before her, her mark has been left through Workforce Development and other things."

Hernandez said she was flattered to be honored the same night as the other award winners.

"To be awarded on a night when Susan received the Beltonian and Chris Moore received the Chairman Award of Excellence is just very flattering," Hernandez said. "It's a great honor and very humbling."

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