The Duneland Chamber of Commerce consistently works toward improving the communities it represents and enjoys recognizing those who help along the way. On Wednesday, the Chamber hosted a State of the Chamber and awards luncheon at the newly renovated Allure on the Lake to celebrate their upcoming plans and recent achievements within the community.
As guests arrived for lunch, hugs, smiles, and laughter could be witnessed around the room. The community appeared to embrace all, making sure none felt like a stranger. Beth Luncsford, Marketing Director for the Duneland Chamber, indicated that the event was one of much importance for the community.
“We are very lucky to be celebrating businesses, organizations, and individuals in the community that help make this area a better place to live, work, and play,” Luncsford said. “I think it’s important to see and understand how many people are on the ground every day trying to make the area a better place. Putting faces to those projects are really important.”
After a quick lunch, the Chamber shared its strategic plan for the future, which included: providing educational programs for paid membership while engaging the community; attracting, maintaining, and engaging membership throughout the Region; identifying new and innovative revenue streams; attracting, retaining, and engaging talent for the board of directors and staff; and actively engaging existing collaborative partnerships. An important aspect of moving forward, Duneland Chamber’s Board of Directors Chair, Paul Boyter, laid out the plans and allowed the audience to understand what the Chamber was striving for.
“In 2015, our Vision committee got together and made a three-year plan which was going to end in 2017,” Boyter said. “We got together again and decided that we were going to have a strategic plan and make that a two to three-year plan for the Chamber. Once again, we came up with five strategic priorities to get us through 2020 with the vision in mind to elevate Northwest Indiana and the Duneland Communities as a destination to work, live, and play.”
The event wasn’t only focused on the Chamber itself, though, and gave well-deserved recognition to the community businesses and members who make all the work possible. Recognizing the good in the community, from business development to inspirational residents, the event thanked those who make the area such a wonderful place.
“I think there is a time where you have to give recognition to the people who give it their all and really make your community great,” said Maura Durham, President of the Chamber. “This is the moment that we’ve carved out in the year to say that these people have put investment of time, talent, or treasure into the community and it’s really important for us to acknowledge that.”
Congratulations to the following award winners:
Volunteer of the Year: Joe Grossbauer
Humanitarian of the Year: Lu DeWulf
Golden Achievement Award: Carol Ruzic
New Construction Award: Town of Chesterton
New Construction Award: StoryPoint Chesterton
New Construction Award: NITCO
Business Renovation Award: The Allure on The Lake
Putting Duneland on the Map Award: Chesterton Speech & Debate Team
Service Person of the Year: Marshal Susan Resteau
Clearly, the event captured the spirit of the Duneland community and the goals of the Duneland Chamber. The sold-out event showed not only the dedication and drive community members have to make their home great, but also the willingness of all to support that vision.
To learn more about the Duneland Chamber of Commerce and their programs and events, visit them here!