Today, the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced the names of the Man and Woman of the Year. These distinguished honors will be awarded at the 12th Annual Awards Dinner presented by Bank of the Pacific on Thursday, December 1.
“We are pleased to announce that our Man and Woman of the Year are Chuck Robinson and Dee Robinson of Village Books and Paper Dreams. This is the first time that we’ve honored a husband and wife as the Man of the Year and Woman of the Year. It’s also the first time that our Man of the Year and Woman of the Year represent the same business,” said Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry President & CEO Guy Occhiogrosso.
Chuck and Dee opened their bookstore in 1980 and reinvigorated the Fairhaven business community. “It’s amazing what one store can do for an entire community,” said Occhiogrosso. “Not only did the store bring jobs, Chuck and Dee instilled that ‘shop local, buy local’ attitude long before that mantra was popular.”
Honorees for Man of the Year and Woman of the Year are chosen by a select group of community leaders including past recipients, members of the chamber board, members of the community and elected officials.
The Man of the Year and Woman of the Year are lifetime achievement awards. Recipients are honored based on their individual contributions to the community in a number of areas including their civic, business, humanitarian, cultural and educational activities in Whatcom County.
The Man of the Year award is sponsored by Salish Wealth Management and the Woman of the Year award is sponsored by Valpak of Northwest Washington.
Man and Woman of the Year, Small and Large Business of the Year, Nonprofit and Green Business of the Year, the Young Professional of the Year, the Millie DeFord Chamber Ambassador of the Year and Tourism Business of the Year will be awarded at the Chamber’s 12th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 1, at Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa from 5:30 – 9 p.m.
Tickets to the Annual Award Dinner are available on the Chamber’s website, Bellingham.com. The cost to attend is $65 for members and $75 for non-members.
