By Mardi Suhs
CADILLAC - The Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual meeting and awards dinner Wednesday night at Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort.
The event included the chamber message delivered by Dave Cox and Kelly Smith titled, 'Building Bridges Between You and Success.'
Chamber President Bill Tencza thanked chamber staff and the Chamber Ambassadors Club. He also acknowledged new and outgoing board members. In addition, 23 Cadillac Leadership Class graduates were formally recognized. Graduate Jennifer Neff, of Avon Protection Systems, described her class experience as 'exciting, educational and sometimes crazy,' and added that it allowed her to meet 'the leaders that made Cadillac such a great place to live and work.'
But while 200 guests enjoyed the updates, what they really wanted to know was - who gets the awards?
The Spirit of Community and Outstanding Citizen awards were the highest honors the chamber bestowed, and an anonymous committee selected the recipients. This year, two retired Cadillac business owners were honored for their leadership, volunteerism and for giving back and making Cadillac a better place to live.
Bill Panasiewicz, 2014 Spirit of Community Award
Bill Panasiewicz, known by most as 'Billy P,' received the Spirit of Community Award. Panasiewicz, the retired owner of New Image Hair Salon and Spa,was nominated by two women. And that's par for the course, said his daughter Kathy Fewless. 'Bill is one of the girls.'
He worked with women for 30 years in the salon, and he just returned from an all-girl fishing trip with his daughter, Barb, and three granddaughters.
When he accepted the award, he said that he 'was almost speechless,' adding, 'Now I know why my fishing buddies had to come home early. This is a tremendous honor. Thanks a lot everybody.'
Panasiewicz is a devoted husband, father and grandfather who taught his children to do for others. His career has been intertwined with dedication to numerous charitable causes.
'I grew up in this household where my dad was always volunteering,' said Fewless. 'And then I worked with him as a hairdresser for 15 years, and that's what we did.'
Fewless said her dad organized trips to Lakeview Manor, where they'd spend the day doing free hairdos. Eagle Village children and teenagers are often guests in the salon for haircuts.
'He was always doing something for somebody else,' she said. 'That's how we were raised. This has been his whole life, and I'm glad that there's an award for people that do this.'
'He's unassuming, and he's done a lot for people that goes unnoticed,' said nominator Margo Jacobs, director of admissions for Autumnwood of McBain. 'I met him 12 years ago, and he encouraged me...it was life-changing. I am one of many who share a story of personal achievement as a result of Bill's encouragement.'
Jacobs added that if Bill doesn't cut your hair, probably someone who was trained by Bill is cutting your hair.
'Many salons in business today owe their start to Bill,' she said.
'I have grown to respect Bill as a caring member of the Cadillac community,' said co-nominator Kelly Smith, campus president of Baker Cadillac. 'Bill does not openly share all the ways he devotes his time; he's more comfortable behind the scenes, hoping that no one sees his many contributions.'
Barbara Darrigan, Outstanding Citizen
Nominator Linda Kimbel described this year's winner of the Outstanding Citizen award, Barbara Darrigan, as '... grace under fire with a generosity of spirit.'
'She has an aptitude for math and finance that borders on genius, she has a love of God, family and home, she's an entrepreneur and a successful businesswoman.'
Darrigan is the co-founder and retired owner of Northern Billing Company, a medical billing company. The success of her business is a testament to her leadership. Her mentoring and volunteerism speak to her commitment to make a difference in the community.
'Barb is the most amazing woman I have ever met,' said Kimbel, director of the Cadillac Area Community Foundation. 'I met her in Rotary, and she is tireless. She is passionate about the community.
'Her bottom line is that she's always trying to make things better for everybody,' added Kimbel. 'Whatever Barb is doing, she wants to build a better community. If Barb serves on a board, she will make it happen. But she doesn't like the limelight, and she likes to be behind the scenes.'
In 2009, Darrigan sold her business to former employee Roxanne DuFort.
'Barb deserves this award,' DuFort said. 'She is dedicated and caring, a great mentor and role model. Someday I hope to achieve half of what she has in her lifetime. She says no when she has to, but it's not very often.'
'I'm overwhelmed, thank you very much to everyone,' stated Darrigan. 'Wolverine Power brought our family here 30 years ago, and you can't beat Cadillac. It's such a giving place, a great place to raise our kids, so thank you.'
Past Outstanding Citizen recipients:
1980 - Carl T. Johnson
1982 - Patricia Anderson
1984 - Keith McKellop
1985 - Jim Comp
1986 - Bill Winn
1987 - Jim McGuire
1988 - Carl T. Johnson
1989 - Craig Weidner
1990- Dr. Charles Dumanois
1991 - Larry Davy
1992 - Gerald Winkle and Della Garneau
1993 - John Horrigan
1994 - Jim Anderson and Kathy Balzuweit
1995 - Cindy Gorman and Esta Emmons
1996 - Doug Brown
1997 - Ron Andrews
1998- Jack Benson
1999 - Keith Merchant and Tom Huckle
2000 - Maynard Thompson
2001 - Steve Anderson
2002 - Pete Stalker
2003 - Dennis Benson
2004 - John MacLeod
2005 - Todd Bennington
2006 - Darlene Merritt
2007 - Chris Huckle
2008 - Ron Blanchard
2009 - Paul Liabenow
2010 - Bruce Schafer
2011 - John Catlin
2012 - Jeremy Winkle
2013 - Dan Minor
Past Spirit of Community recipients:
1997 - Dr. Glenn Verbrugge
1998 - William Rzepka
1999- Regan O'Neill
2000 - John Bishop
2001 - Sue Westhauser
2002 - Carol Potter
2003 - Jackie Soltman
2004 - Mary Blackmer
2005 - Judy Coffey
2006 - Sue Peterson
2007 -Pat Goggin
2008 -Mickey Putman
2009 -Matt Gibson
2010 - Katy Huckle
2011 - Tracey Kanouse
2012 - David Burrill
2013 - Vickie Essenmacher
Bill Panasiewicz's community service and leadership:
Bill Panasiewicz is a U.S. Army veteran. He has been involved in: Relay for Life, Oasis, St. Jude Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society and their wig bank, Paws for a Cause Service Dogs and Locks of Love. He volunteers his time as a hair stylist for children at Eagle Village and many Rotary Club of Cadillac activities. He is a member of the Cadillac Moose Lodge, Business Networking, Intl., and the Downtown Cadillac Association. As a member of the Cadillac Chamber of Commerce he has been a Chamber Ambassador. He promotes the Cadillac Leadership program and is the former owner of the New Image Hair Salon. He's also a volunteer Santa Claus.
Barbara Darrigan's community service and leadership:
Barb Darrigan is a member of St. Agnes Church in Marion where she serves on the Parrish Council and is the treasurer of 'Grub to Go' program, providing packback meals to school children. She's a founding member and treasurer of the Cadillac Area Women's Giving Circle, board member of Thirsting to Save, co-founder of Feeding America's local free food distribution sponsored by the Cadillac Rotary Club and the Cadillac Area Community Foundation. Serves on the CACF Board of Trustees and is the treasurer of the Cadillac Rotary Club and their charities. She is the former owner of Northern Billing Specialists in Cadillac, a medical billing company she co-founded and mentored students through the Baker externship program.
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