Community leader Pat Convery was honored as the 2017 Citizen of the Year at the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on January 25 at the Johnson Center at Cleary University. Patti Griffith, the 2016 Citizen of the Year, made the announcement after recounting anecdotes and achievements in Convery’s life.
Convery is president of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been with the organization for 28 years, and started her career at the chamber as the Michigan Challenge and Communications Manager. She became president in 2003.
Convery is a member of and has held leadership positions in many organizations including Howell Rotary, Howell Main Street/DDA, Advantage Livingston, Livingston County Economic Development Council, Livingston Diversity Council, Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals (MACP) and Board of Regents for the US Chamber Institute’s Northeast.
She is the only chamber professional to receive the Michigan Chamber Professional Award from the MACP two times since its inception in 2014. Under her leadership, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce received the MACP Michigan Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award in 2016 and was a finalist in 2017.
A resident of Hartland, Convery and her husband Joe have three children and eight grandchildren. She enjoys time with her family who call her home “Camp Convery.” Convery enjoys outdoor activities, sailing, homemade hot chocolate, lighthouses, reading and blueberry pancakes.
The annual Citizen of the Year Award has been presented by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce since 1957. Pat Convery is the 61st Citizen of the Year. The award winner is selected by a committee of previous winners and is a closely-guarded secret until the announcement at the annual dinner.
This year’s event was sponsored by Saint Joseph Mercy Livingston and PNC.
Other awards presented
The Howell Area Chamber of Commerce presented nine other awards, and recognized the accomplishments of those people and organizations that have made exceptional contributions.
Rick Resinger, Sales and Leadership Trainer for Champion Automotive Group, received a new award – the Outstanding Event Leadership Award. He has chaired the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest Committee for three years and leads with salt and grit, his hashtags for 2017. Resigner uses the words stretch, attitude, loyal and transition to inspire and encourage his teams. And his love of sports makes him the perfect coach to lead the 34th Michigan Challenge Balloonfest in 2018.
The Above and Beyond Award went to the City of Howell Police Department for their passion and involvement in special events. This department provides the service, involvement, safety and security needed to ensure events in this community are safe for all of our guests. They participate on event committees, provide valuable input, and are always available to assist and serve as needed.
The Livingston Educational Service Agency received the Game Changer Award for its new, innovative Early Middle College program. Students in the program commit to an extra year of high school. Starting in their junior year, they work to earn a high school diploma and either a technical certification or up to 60 transferable college credits, an associate’s degree, industry credentials or technical certificates in a career pathway such as welding, nursing, machine tool certification – all at no cost to the student.
Keeping young people engaged in the community in vital for our future. The Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority received the Innovations in Youth Services Award for its work with teens at The Hive, an amazing teen center right in downtown Howell.
This past year, a unique public/private partnership emerged that created The Hive. The center is full of resources like a cyber café, video games, Dodgeball, a Pickle ball Court — even Human Foosball! It attracts hundreds of youth each week, who gather after school for a great spot to meet up, have fun or even do homework.
Brandi Tambasco received the Young Professional Award.
The Howell community is fortunate to have many resources for entrepreneurs and existing businesses, to help them grow and thrive. Tambasco, of the Howell Carnegie District Library, is in charge of one such resources: The Business Resource section. Full of books, periodicals and online resources such as Reference USA, she gives businesses a hand to help them find what they need. In addition, Tambasco is always ready to lend a hand and volunteers at events of the chamber and other organizations.
Adam Merkel Restaurants received the Community Investment Award for investing in and expanding his restaurant footprint in downtown Howell. First, Adam Merkel moved Diamonds Steak and Seafood to a greatly expanded building at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Grand River. Then, he opened the very cool high end bar, The Silver Pig, featuring oysters and other delicious small plates. His finale (so far) was the opening of Cello Italian Ristorante, with its iconic yellow awning and amazing food. These three restaurants bring people to the city and help create a vital and bustling downtown.
Three manufacturers received the Jobs and Prosperity Award – Chem-Trend Limited Partnership, Thai Summit America Corporation and TG Fluid Systems USA Corporation.
Chem-Trend Limited Partnership has its worldwide headquarters is in the City of Howell. Chem-Trend manufactures chemical specialties, particularly release agents. Last year the company, as part of its three-year commitment to invest $7.7 million dollars in its Howell facilities, completed an expansion of its Research and Development laboratories at its McPherson Park Drive location, as well as created two dozen new jobs since the start of the project in mid 2016.
Thai Summit America Corporation is a leader in the sheet metal stamping industry, primarily for the automotive industry. In 2017, in order to accommodate new lines, customers and internal processes, Thai Summit completed a $7 million dollar expansion, connecting its existing Plant 1 and 2. As a result of this expansion, 33 new jobs were added to its existing workforce.
TG Fluid Systems has completed an ambitious project, consolidating three Livingston County locations into a newly-expanded facility in the City of Brighton. This $12.5 million dollar investment allows them to better serve customers and expand business. 35 new employees were hired. TG Fluid Systems manufacturers components for industry, particularly automotive.
