2014 CSI-Willamette Valley Chapter Awards Banquet

2013-2014 WVC-CSI president Tana Baker (2nd from left) with award recipients Alorie Mayer, Steven Leuck, Marina Wrensch, Trixie Deines, and Brian Hamilton.

Every June, the Willamette Valley Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute marks the end of its annual calendar with a celebration to recognize those who contributed to the group’s success in the preceding year. Feeling especially munificent, 2013-2014 Chapter President Tana Baker, CSI, bestowed a record number of honors at this year's awards banquet, which took place on June 26. The common thread tying all the awards together was the recipients’ unstinting efforts to champion the message regarding the benefits CSI has to offer everyone in the construction industry.

Here’s the list of this year’s awards, conferred by Tana with her characteristic good humor and bubbly enthusiasm:

Special Awards:

Steven Leuck – President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your consistent, high quality commitment, of service as President Elect the past year from places afar, I present the Travel Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Randy Nishimura - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your passionate enthusiasm for CSI, your positive thinking and master skill in making a difference (one twitter at a time) for the good of the chapter, I present the Tweet Award on the 26th day of June,

2014.

Tom Deines - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your “I’m just saying” passion for excellence, “My Two Cents Worth” knowledgeable input, “I’m Weighing In Very Late” approach, and “My 25 Cents Worth” from the “Old Gray Haired One,” I present the I’m Not The Government But Here To Help Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Alorie Mayer - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your passionate enthusiasm for CSI, your boundless energy to promote the Chapter to everyone you see, I present the Ambassador Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Loren Berry - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

 For your “Cool Hand Luke” approach to CSI, your positive thinking, sharing and mastering the best angle to make things better for the good of the chapter, I present the Best Shot Award (Photography) on the 26th day of June, 2014.

David Jones - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your consistent, quality of work producing the Documentor, I present the Behind - The - Scenes Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Larry Banks - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your consistent, quality and dependable work with the website, I present the SEO Award (Search Engine Optimization) on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Zach Rix - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

 For your commitment to pick up the ball and run with the responsibility of Program Chair, I present the Outfielder Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Marina Wrensch - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your important contributions as the Membership Committee Chair, thoughtful outreach to Emerging Professionals this past year and organizational skills for outside activities with other organizations, I present the Outreach Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Trixie Deines - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For your outstanding diligence, patience and service as our “No, you can’t do that” Chief Financial Officer of the chapter, I present the Babysitter Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Allen Wright - President’s Certificate of Merit and Appreciation –

For the wisdom, dedication and personal contributions for the 3C Conference, I present the President Service Award on the 26th day of June, 2014.

Paul Edlund – Chapter Service Award -

For your commitment of attending Willamette Valley’s Awards Banquet for “49 Years” (not missing a single one) and teaching the CDT/CCS Certification Class for “44 Years”, I present the Honorable President Service Award on this 26th day of June, 2014.

Chapter Service Awards:

Brian Hamilton

For your advice, wisdom and service as Past President, I present the Certificate of Appreciation

Linn West

For your commitment to the mission of CSI and service as Certification Committee Co-Chair, I present the Certificate of Appreciation

Marina Wrensch

In appreciation for your passionate and devoted service as this year’s Secretary and dedication to the CSI mission – I present the Certificate of Appreciation

Trixie Deines

 In appreciation for your dedication to the CSI mission and service as this year’s Treasurer, I present the Certificate of Appreciation

Zach Rix

For your willingness to join the team, your excellent efforts organizing events and highly successful monthly presentations, I present the President Service Award

Alorie Mayer

In appreciation for your willingness to tackle diverse responsibilities, fill in where needed, negotiate for the best interest of the Chapter and commitment to service as Director, and House Committee Chair, I present the President Service Award

Steven Leuck

For your consistent, service as President Elect the past year, I present the Certificate of Appreciation

Additionally, Tana presented some “unique” awards to many of these same individuals. These included bags of peanuts to members of the “peanut gallery,” people like myself who were not formal members of the 2013-2014 chapter board or chaired a chapter committee but weren’t shy about offering advice or opinions on chapter matters. They also included cans of Mountain Dew to those who exemplified the “can do” attitude that was a theme of Tana’s tenure.

I received a President's Certificate of Merit and Appreciation. Thanks Tana!

The backdrop for the awards banquet was the Center for Meeting & Learning at Lane Community College’s Downtown Campus (DTC). As one of the many team members responsible for the design and construction of the DTC, I helped conduct an educational tour of the LEED Platinum facility following Tana’s presentation of the chapter awards. I was ably assisted by Mike Sager and Riley Allen of Lease Crutcher Lewis, the construction manager/general contractor for the $42 million project.   

Speaking of Lease Crutcher Lewis, the company generously supported the awards banquet as a Gold-level sponsor. Additional sponsors included DCI Consulting Engineers, Twin Rivers Plumbing, Contractors Electric, and Capital Engineering & Consulting. 

Tana’s successful reign as chapter president is now in the books. As I commented at the banquet, Steven Leuck, CSI, CDT has big shoes to fill but I know he’ll do a great job as Tana’s successor. A year from now, I’ll undoubtedly be reporting about how Steven was happy to likewise share his appreciation for the help he received during his time at the helm of our chapter.