Previous winners of the Business Person of the Year, for their outstanding involvement in the community, the Savage Chamber and their business’ have been:

• 1996 - Tom Hansen: First Community Bank
• 1997 - Joyce Christiansen-Bohn: formerly of Somewhere in Time, now the Peacock Inn, Chaska
• 1998 - Joe Cade: law firm of Eastlund, Solstad, Cade & Hutchinson
• 1999 - Ron Cin: principal, Marion W Savage Elementary School
• 2000 - Barry Stock: Savage City Administrator
• 2001 - Rob Fendler: Fendler Construction
• 2002 - Janet Williams: former Scott County Librarian & current city councilperson
• 2003 - Mark Roberts: Anchor Iron / Eagle Creek Gallery
• 2004 - Jens Bohn: Razors Edge Barbers
• 2005 – David Fong: D’Fong’s Chinese Cuisine
• 2006 - Jerry Young: Twin Cities GMAC

Ray Leathers, Advantage Performance Network
Named 2007 Business Person of The Year!

Ray Leathers, Advantage Performance Network, was honored as the 2008 Business Person of the Year.  Ray has been an active member of the Chamber and a supporter of the Savage business community for years.  Ray fits all the criteria for this prestigious award, as he is not only active in the Business Community but the general community as well.

To say he has the community’s interest at heart is an understatement. Whether buying art supplies for an abused children’s shelter, or encouraging employees to bring in food donations for the food shelf, or raising money for Gillette Hospital or a local women’s shelter, Ray  has been described as a leader in ‘finding a way’ to get others the help they need.

When Hurricane Katrina struck two years ago, Ray personally organized a semi truck to receive donations from area residents and businesses and also arranged for the truck to be driven to Louisiana where the items were needed.

The City of Savage has also benefited, as Ray has served on the Planning Commission from

2002-2005 and has been on the Economic Development Commission since 2006 –  two groups that are vital to city business, but which receive very little public recognition.

In addition, Ray has served on the Savage Chamber Board since 2002, including a term as president in 2004, and for several years has volunteered on the golf committee.

On a personal note, Ray has provided respite care for children in their home, assisted with a building campaign for Shattuck-St Mary’s and, most recently, served on the fundraising board for the YMCA project at Shepherd’s Path in Prior Lake since that project’s inception.

Involved, Successful, Interested in the Betterment of the Community?

Please take a moment to think of your fellow Chamber Members who are actively trying to make Savage a better place to work and live, and are successful in their chosen profession. There are many deserving Chamber Members who are worthy of being nominated for the Business Person of the Year. Please use the form enclosed in the newsletter to nominate a candidate.

Business Person of the Year Criteria

1. Active member of the Savage Chamber of Commerce

2. Savage business or branch

3. Position of authority of responsibility

4. Active interest in the betterment of the business community

5. Active interest in community affairs

6. Recognized as a leader in the community

7. Successful in their chosen profession

8. Business or professional person

We will post when we will be accepting nominations for the 2007 Business Person of the Year.

The business person of the year was created in 1996 in an effort to recognize outstanding service to the Chamber and the community in general. Nominations are made by members of the Chamber, and a committee of recent recipients of the award judges those nominations based on the following criteria:

• Active membership in the Savage Chamber of Commerce
• Interest in the betterment of the business community
• Active interest in Savage community affairs
• And, finally, success in their chosen profession or business.