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Chamber names its man, woman of the year
One runs the family's farm. The other manages a local business. On Saturday evening, Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce applauded their dedication to the community and the countless hours they spend in different volunteer roles by selecting them as the city's man and woman of the year.
Honored during the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce's Installation Banquet on Saturday, Dave Bergh and Brandi Garlitz joined the 46 other individuals that have earned the distinction since 1993.
In addition, the chamber presented its lifetime achievement award to former Mayor Tom Rist and his wife, Shirley, in recognition of their ongoing commitment to Mountain Home and Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The banquet represents the chamber's biggest fundraisers of the year, and emcee Randy Valley credited businesses in the local area for their generosity to make the event so successful.
Unaware of his selection for the lifetime achievement honor later that evening, Rist said the banquet came with a "roller coaster of emotions" as he prepared to step down from public office.
"It's very difficult to say goodbye, and I didn't think it would be this difficult to let it go," said Rist, who concluded a career in public service spanning 24 years.
The new year represents a "very exciting time for Mountain Home and Mountain Home Air Force Base," said Col. David Iverson, commander of the 366th Fighter Wing at the nearby base. He credited a number of significant changes in the community over the past 12 months that included the selection of the city's new mayor as well as new representatives to the local school board.
Following dinner, the evening's agenda changed direction to focus on recognizing the chamber's man and woman of the year. As in year's past, the names of each winner remained under wraps until the formal presentation.
Ron Monasterio, who earned the man of the year title just 12 months earlier, credited Bergh's efforts to be an advocate for the local farming industry as well as the local Air Force base.
"He was instrumental in creating a local agri-business group, spending four years as their president," Monasterio said. "He had a distinguished career in the sugar beet industry working with the Sugar Beet Growers Association for 13 years (and) helped create policy for the industry."
He used that experience during his regular travels to Washington, D.C., where he lobbied before Congress. He did all this all while working full time at the farm, Monasterio said.
In recent years, Bergh joined the honorary commanders' program at he local Air Force base, and embraced the civic outreach program, Monasterio added. It led him to serve on the local Military Affairs Committee, including two years as the organization's president.
He used that role to highlight the partnership between the city and local Air Force base to some of the nation's senior military and political leaders, Monasterio emphasized.
"Working beside the guy over the years has been an honor for me," he added. "(Bergh) is hard working, dedicated, a family man, has show grace under pressure, humor and a great deal of stamina."
Reflecting on his years of service to the local community, Bergh said it was a "privilege and honor" to serve with so many people and organizations in the Mountain Home area. He was equally appreciative of those in this city that recommended him for the man of the year title.
Recently selected as the 2015 Woman of the Year by state officials, Garlitz is a person who embodies the mantra that failure is never an option, said Nancy Thompson, who earned the city's woman of the year title last January.
"(She is) adored, caring, excelling, bubbly, high energy, fabulous, creative, exceptional, helpful and one who sets a good example for those she works with," Thompson said.
It was those traits that came to the attention of Treasure Valley Hospice, "who immediately recognized that her energy, caring and compassion was a perfect match for their business," Thompson added.
In addition to running a support group for local caregivers, Garlitz oversees Mountain Home's Young Entrepreneurs Program, which officially debuted here late last year. She's also affiliated with the chamber's business-to-business committee and a member of the Lions Club, Disabled American Veterans chapter and the local 4-H group.
"(She) will raise her hand anytime anyone asks for a volunteer," Thompson said. "She will never fail to succeed because it is never an option."
"This honor is a dream to me," Garlitz said, choking back tears.
Addressing those gathered in the audience, she appreciated the opportunity to be involved to help so many others in this community. She extended a special thanks to the staff of Treasure Valley Hospice, "who do the really tough jobs" in places like Mountain Home.
For the third year in the row, the chamber presented its lifetime achievement award to a husband and wife team. Reading the award citation, former recipient Billy Richey highlighted the former mayor's political career that began in 1991 when Rist was appointed to the city's planning and zoning commission before being elected to the city council five years later.
"He has been passionate in his duties and support of Mountain Home," Richey said. "He is a mayor 24/7, starting each day at 6 o'clock... and going full throttle until the last event of the night."
His passion for the city was evident and sometimes led to heated discussions behind closed doors in his office, Richey emphasized.
"But that passion.... has always been used to support the very best interest of the community," he said.
Rist took pride in the accomplishments of the city during his long tenure such as the city's new walking path, the placement of additional street lights in town and his dedication to securing water resources for the city's future, Richey added.
In addition, the former mayor made numerous trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with the Air Force's senior leaders, including the secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force chief of staff and the commander of Air Combat Command. He used those visits to promote the relationship between the city and the local Air Force base.
Meanwhile, Shirley remained an "outstanding partner to Tom in all his endeavors," Richey said. "While supporting him and raising a family, she pursued a career in human resources, working for several large companies... for over 30 years and finishing her professional life helping to set up Marathon Cheese as their human resource director."
She is also active in the community as a member of the St. Luke's Elmore medical center foundation board, Richey added.
"It's been an unbelievable honor to represent the people of Mountain Home," the former mayor told the hundreds of people attending Saturday's banquet.
While he gave so much to this community over the years, he added that community always gave back even more.
Shirley Rist was overwhelmed by the lifetime achievement award, holding back tears as she and her husband took the podium, surrounded by members of their family.
"It's been a beautiful 25 years," she said. "I love you all."
As part of the lifetime achievement honor, the couple learned that the city parks and recreation department will plant a locust tree this coming spring on the walking path that Rist helped make possible.
Wrapping up the evening's festivities, Magistrate Judge George Hicks swore in the chamber's incoming board of directors. Paula Riggs started the year as the chamber president while Garlitz began her duties as vice president. In addition, the chamber recognized the leaders of its committees, which oversee travel and tourism, community events and more.