Loomis Basin Chamber honors Rabe, Knisley, among others

The Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce's annual award dinner on Feb. 23 at the Blue Goose Event Center was well-attended and honored local business leaders. This year, the chamber named Loomis Town Manager Sean Rabé as "Business Person of the Year." This award honors the local individual who has made outstanding contributions to the community and has served Loomis in important ways over a number of years. "Being recognized for my work with the Loomis business community is very rewarding," Rabé said. "I've always tried to be as helpful as I can with our local businesses and I will always be their champion. They have been through so much these past three years, and it's incumbent on the town to try to assist as much as possible." Loomis Town Council member Jenny Knisley, also executive director of the Loomis Senior L.I.F.E. Center, was named "Most Neighborly Native." Knisley managed the Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. Since 1999, the award honors the individual who contributes time and dedication to the community, and exemplifies the friendly spirit of the Loomis Basin. "I want to thank the members of the Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce for selecting me to receive this award," Knisley said. "It is such an honor to be recognized as the Most Neighborly Native, especially since my mother, Sheila Lee, received this award in 2009." Said Rabé, "She embodies this town. Jenny has done so much for Loomis throughout her career, first as the executive director of the chamber and now as a council member. She is Loomis through and through." The chamber also awarded Soroptimist International of Loomis Basin as Non-Profit Organization of the Year, while Gander Taphouse was inducted to the Loomis Basin Hall of Fame. Artist and Pampered Chef Consultant Hillery Wallis was named Ambassador of the Year. The ambassador award honors a person active in the Chamber Ambassador Program and exemplifies volunteerism through fundraisers and participation in ribbon-cuttings, mixers and ground breaks. The Hall of Fame award honors businesses that contribute to the community with revenue, outstanding beautification projects, professional customer appeal and community service in the Loomis Basin. The nonprofit award honors local organizations that make significant contributions to the community and serve Loomis in exceptional ways over a number of years.