Menu
Man, Woman of the Year named
John Cristobal was honored by the Chamber of Commerce Saturday with its fourth lifetime achievement award, while Debbie Shoemaker and Randy Valley were selected as the 2004 Woman of the Year and Man of the Year, respectively.
The honors came as part of the Chamber's annual installation of officers banquet, held Saturday at the Elk's Lodge.
Shane Zenner, of the local Edward D. Jones investment firm, was installed as the new Chamber president, sworn in by Fourth District Judge Mike Wetherell.
An overflow crowd filled the Elk's Lodge to enjoy the banquet and dance that followed. Annually the Chamber banquet is one of the top social occasions of the year in Mountain Home.
Each year area businesses compete for the best table decorations during the banquet. The overall winner was B Transfer, with its fire department theme (owner Alan Bermensolo is an officer in the local volunteer fire department).
The table sponsored by Guaranty Title won the award as the "most fun" table, and Century 21 Real Estate and the Elmore County Historical Society also won awards for their decorations during the night.
Cristobal was introduced by last year's recipient of the Chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. John Bideganeta. Other winners of the award in the past have been Bill Sanders and Earl Swearingen.
A Mountain Home native born in 1937, Cristobal grew up working in his parents' corner cigar store in Mountain Home, where he learned his strong work ethic and the importance of working for the betterment of the community from his parents.
Turning down a basketball scholarship to Boise Junior College (today's BSU) in order to marry his high school sweetheart, Barbara, Cristobal went to work for the Johnson Bros. construction company.
"He started his own construction company in 1981 and it has grown to become a great success story," Bideganeta noted.
"John is a benevolent soul," Bideganeta said, who cares about his community, supports the Chamber with significant donations for its projects and programs each year, and is active in supporting local athletic programs for youths. His wife, also, is active in volunteering her time for a number of community projects.
"As a member of the Chamber," Bideganeta said, "he's not just one of those attendees, he's a doer."
Cristobal, in accepting the award, pointed out that he thought many members of the audience were equally deserving. "I look through the room and see all you achievers, well, you just have to get old is all" to win the award he joked.
The man and woman of the year were honored for their years of service to the Chamber.
Shoemaker, a "home grown Texan," came to Mountain Home when her husband, Shigeki, was assigned to Mountain Home AFB. "Like many others, she and her husband saw Mountain Home as the place to stay, raise their family and remain for the rest of their lives," said former winner of the award Coleen Swenson.
She first began working at the NCO club, then went to work for the Mountain Home News as an ad salesman, and later, as its advertising director, before taking her current "cushy" position as executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Shoemaker was the driving force behind a number of Chamber promotions long before she became executive director. Swenson described her as "the woman with the everlasting smile."
In accepting her award, Shoemaker told he audience, "it's not one person that does this, it's all of you."
The man of the year, Randy Valley, wasn't actually present at the banquet. Each year at this time he goes golfing in Florida with his father and brothers, so it was up to last year's recipient of the honor, Alan Bermensolo, to offer his comments on the "missing man of the year."
Born in Michigan in 1954, one of seven children, "growing up, and throughout his teen years, he developed a strong work ethic and discipline by spending hours working side by side with his father in the family businesses of tree stump removal and the delivery of Line en Kugels beer," Bermensolo said of Valley.
He married his high school sweetheart after graduation, and then enlisted in the Air Force. "He made the Air Force, and unwavering service to our country, his career," Bermensolo said, and excelled in the enlisted ranks, making Chief in just 16 years, and retiring as the senior enlisted advisor on base.
After retiring from the Air Force he worked for a local car dealer, "and then his new 'career' evolving into financial planning and community service," Bermensolo said. Valley currently runs the Wadell and Reed financial planning office in Mountain Home.
He has been president of the local Lion's Club, has chaired the Paint the Town Project, has served on the Golf Advisory Board, is a member of the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee, and last year was co-chair of the group that organized the appearance of The Moving Wall in Mountain Home.
He is entering his sixth year as chairman of the Air Force Appreciation Day Committee.
Besides his extensive involvement in community activities, Valley also is an avid outdoorsman and spends each year cutting firewood "for those in our town who need a helping hand."
He and his wife, Vicki, have three sons, one of whom, Matt, accepted the honor in his name.
"He has never accepted anything in return" for this service to the community, Matt said. "I thank you on his behalf. We're really proud of him."
Outgoing Chamber President Barbara Fogleman, noted that "this past year has been a lot of fun" and pointed out that "this community is made up of a lot of generous people."
She reviewed the Chamber's accomplishments for the year, and urged all Chamber members to "get involved in the subcommittees."
Incoming president Zenner praised Fogleman, saying, "she did an outstanding job (and) shared her time to prepare me....
"I have a vested interest in seeing this community thrive and prosper," he said, "and I look forward to serving you.
Jerry Rost, the outgoing chairman of the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee, was honored for his service during the year, and he thanked everyone in the audience for their help.
366th Wing Commander Col. Charles Shugg thanked the Chamber for its support of the Gunfighters, calling it and the community an "integral part" of the base.
Mayor Joe B. McNeal praised the Chamber members for their involvement and contributions to the community, noting that "all that we contribute to the lives of others comes back to us" as a reward for service to others.
And, he urged everyone in the city to "shop locally."
Serving on this year's Chamber board of directors will be Denise Barresi, Albert Clement, Fred Foster, Jeanette Gardiner and Paula Riggs.
Terry Turner will lead the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee, Mir Seyedbagheri will had the Agribusiness Committee, Sue Gross and Donna Herron will head the DIG-IT Committee, Steve Gustafson is the Retail Merchant's Committee chairman, Alan Bermensolo will head up the Silver Wings program, Denis Barresi and Wes Whitworth will lead the Travel and Tourism Committee, and Valley will return as head of the AFAD Committee.
The emcee for this year's banquet was city councilman Tom Rist.
Music for the dance that followed the dinner was provided by Third Take.