The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce announced Byron Hendricks as the First Citizen recipient for 2015. Along with Hendricks, the Salem Chamber announced Ron Hays, TJ Sullivan and John and Susan Gallagher as Distinguished Service Award recipients and Evann Remington as the Outstanding Young Professional. These individuals will be recognized at the First Citizen Awards Banquet on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Salem Convention Center.
Byron Hendricks is president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals. He dedicates much of his time serving those in his industry, teaching classes across the state to educate brokers. Hendricks has served on the board of directors for the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon Real Estate Agency Board, as well as Political Coordinator for Congressman Kurt Schrader. He has received numerous awards, including the 2006 Distinguished Service Award for the Boy Scouts of America, and the 2013 Oregon Association of Realtors Distinguished Service Award. He also enjoys playing Santa Clause at the annual Salem Association of Realtors Christmas party, which hosts around 150 homeless children.
John and Susan Gallagher are co-owners of Gallagher Fitness Resources located in downtown Salem. They have been helping people train for running events since 1994, making themselves available outside of store hours to help people train. The Gallaghers started On Your Feet Fridays, which encourages people to walk or run in and around downtown Salem. They also launched the High Street Hustle, an 8K, 5K, 1K race designed to raise money and awareness for heart disease prevention and awareness in Marion and Polk Counties. In its inaugural year, it raised $29,800 for heart disease prevention.
Ron Hays is the president of the Department of Mission Advancement, a subsidiary of Mountain West Investment Corporation. Hays is involved in the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), and is on the Marion County Commission on Children and Families, the City of Salem Mayors Commission on Homelessness, the Housing and Urban Development Advisory Commission, and a member of the Downtown Salem Rotary Club. He has also held his paramedic license for over 35 years and has worked in emergency medical care and international disaster relief and development work in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. His disaster relief work included working in the rescue at Ground Zero in New York City immediately following 9/11, as well as Sri Lanka and Indonesia following the tsunami in 2004.
TJ Sullivan is known for his civic service, including 8 years as a Salem City Councilor and chairing the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the police facility. He was awarded the 2015 Willard C. Marshall Special Citizen Award, which is the highest award granted by the City of Salem. Sullivan was the board chair for the Friends of the Senior Center and led the capital campaign for the new building, president of the Rotary Club of Keizer, and part of the Life Center Planning Committee for the Salem Alliance Church. He currently serves on the boards for Salem Academy Development Board and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and is the chair of the South Gateway Neighborhood Association. Sullivan is also passionate about helping kids. He is a supporter of Lemonade Day, has been a reading buddy and mentor at Richmond Elementary, and coaches kids football, basketball and baseball teams.
Evann Remington is the president of Fresh n’ Local Foods. She began the company at the age of 27, with the mission of providing fresh, locally sourced, natural and organic food to children of all ages in childcare and schools. Since then, the company has grown and is now serving thousands of children throughout Oregon and Washington. Remington serves on the board for the Salem City Club, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties. She also serves on committees for both Salem and the State of Oregon to improve business and entrepreneurship.
“We are proud to recognize these gems in our community,” says Dan Clem, CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. “They shine a bright light in the Salem community and serve as examples to us all.”
The 66th First Citizen Awards Banquet honors each of these individuals on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Salem Convention Center. Tickets are available online at salemchamber.org or by calling the Salem Chamber office at 503-581-1466. Presented by Pioneer Trust Bank and Bonaventure Senior Living.