By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green residents were recognized Saturday for speaking up for the voiceless, caring for homeless animals, finding a stage for a community theater, soothing babies at the hospital and realizing that ice cream can fix a lot of problems.
The Annual Meeting Dinner and Awards for the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce honored eight individuals and businesses at the event held in the Bowen-Thompson Grand Ballroom at Bowling Green State University.
Earning honors were Heath Diehl, Linda Lander, Mark Remeis, Stacie Wenig Anderson, Elaine Goodwin, Dairy Queen, Elite Collegiate Apparel, and Mark Cassin.
The evening was also one of business announcements – with Dairy Queen owner Manny Patel revealing that his family plans to expand to open up a new Indian cuisine restaurant; and with Elite Collegiate Apparel owner Kent Kokomoor announcing plans to open a second store in Bowling Green’s downtown.
The evening held other surprises, with some amount of deception involved to make sure award recipients attended to receive their honors.
Outstanding Male Citizen of the Year 2024 – Heath Diehl
Heath Diehl, an educator and scholar, was recognized as Outstanding Male Citizen of the Year for his unwavering volunteer efforts with community organizations benefiting animals and humans.
As president of the Board of Directors for the Wood County Humane Society, Diehl stands up for the safety and betterment of local animals and puts in long hours volunteering to keep the shelter operating well.
In his many volunteer roles with the Black Swamp Players, Diehl’s leadership helped the “nomad” theater group come back from the verge of going out of business, and instead purchase and renovate its first permanent theater.
Diehl is involved with every role in the theater operations, from script selection to writing, directing, stage and prop management, acting, ushering, and crew work.
One of his nominators said Diehl brings out the best in everyone around him by modeling dedication, passion, and integrity. “His metaphorical green thumb allows organizations to blossom under his leadership … we are a better community for having him.”
In accepting his award, Diehl searched for words.
“Being involved in theater, I feel like I ought to have something profound to say,” he said. “I really wasn’t expecting this.”
But he explained to those present that his volunteer work is a labor of love, allowing him to spend time on animals, theater and the arts – which he genuinely believes in.
Outstanding Female Citizen of the Year 2024 – Linda Lander
Linda Lander agreed to come to the chamber awards event Saturday to celebrate Elaine Goodwin being named Outstanding Female Citizen of the Year. So when Lander’s name was announced, she realized the “suspicious circumstances” used to lure her there.
(Don’t worry, Goodwin received her own award later in the evening.)
Most of Lander’s volunteer work is behind the scenes. One of her nominators wrote she is a “person with clear understanding of what it means to truly be a citizen and a responsible member of a community. Her altruism is one of a kind.”
For more than a dozen years, Lander has been visiting and assisting with residents at Brookdale Senior Living. She also looks out for local youth, being a vocal supporter of Bowling Green City Schools, and serving on school task forces.
Lander “has always been a staunch advocate for not only public education, but for the students and staff of BGCS. [Her] gumption and tenacity paired with her experience in education, research, and facts are greatly appreciated in the fight for what’s good and right in public education” said Tracy Hovest, president of the BG Board of Education.
For several years, Lander has volunteered with the Wood County Humane Society, Wood County District Public Library, Not In Our Town BG, and La Conexion.
“Her efforts helped educate the community on immigrant issues, prevent hate crimes, and aided in the passing of anti-discrimination legislation in Bowling Green. She is not shy about standing up for the most vulnerable and has profound respect for the community,” a nominator wrote.
In accepting the award, Lander said she felt unworthy, calling herself a “foot soldier with organizations with excellent leadership.”
So instead, she changed the topic, and noted the need for 250 volunteers for Habitat for Humanity in Wood County.
Athena Award 2024 – Stacie Wenig Anderson
Stacie Wenig Anderson was presented with the Athena Award, which celebrates the potential of all women to be valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them.
Wenig Anderson is a mother of three, a full-time employee, a volunteer, and an agricultural advocate. Despite this tough balancing act, she has been a servant to the local community. Through her guidance and adaptability, the Wood County Junior Fair Livestock Showcase and Sale in 2022 brought in over $320,000, which was directly re-invested in youth agricultural programs. Wenig Anderson’s goal was to boost youth agricultural initiatives because they shape the futures of so many young people.
Her commitment to youth agriculture has led her to volunteer as a coach and judge for FFA career development events and launch an initiative to raise funds for 4-H clubs. She has also served as the president of the Wood County Farm Bureau and chaired countywide agricultural tourism events.
Wenig Anderson has been awarded the American Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Agriculture Award, which she said is a testament that “females and moms with an agricultural profession can still accomplish so much, be a great mom, and grow their careers.”
As she accepted her award, Wenig Anderson said, “To whom much has been given, so much is required. I feel very lucky to be part of this community. I’ve been so blessed by so many people in this room.”
Zeus Award 2024 – Mark Remeis
Mark Remeis was presented the Zeus Award, given to men who support a culture that encourages women to achieve their full leadership potential through active mentoring, support, and development actions.
At his work with A.A. Green Realty, Remeis is the leader of a mostly female office staff, and according to his nominator, “is continually coaching and helping” the women in the office to succeed, and paying for further education to help them cultivate their professional skill set.
In addition to his dedication to his office, Remeis has held many roles in other organizations. He served on the Chamber Board of Directors and was the chair of the ACT BG Project Team; taught an entrepreneurship class at BGSU to majority-female students; was a member of the BGSU President’s Club and Falcon Club; and was a board member of the American Cancer Society and participant in their Relay for Life.
Remeis is chair of the NORIS Board of Directors for Northwest Ohio Realtors and has been president of the Northwest Ohio Realtors Association, as well as the chair of the Ohio Realtors Strategic Planning Committee. He is member of the Ohio Realtors Executive Committee, a director for Ohio Realtors, a member of the Ohio Realtors’ Finance Committee, and a member of the City of Bowling Green’s Planning Commission who previously served on the City’s Land Use Plan Steering Committee, Zoning Code Update Committee, Downtown Forward Steering Committee, and CAP Task Force Committee.
When accepting his award, Remeis shared his success with the Green family.
“I came into a family business where the culture was already in place,” he said, adding that he just needed to follow Al Green’s belief in the Golden Rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
I Love BG 2024 – Elaine Goodwin
At 94 years old, Elaine Goodwin is still proving she loves Bowling Green.
She volunteers Monday through Friday at the Wood County Hospital, doing any task needed, from guiding patients and families through the surgery process, to delivering mail and creating forms and files for various departments, to making bags for guests in the waiting room.
When not volunteering at the hospital, she is often helping at her church, St. Thomas More, with the food pantry and St. Vincent DePaul Society. In the past, she has also delivered Wheeled Meals for Wood County Hospital, participated in the Citizens Review Board of the Court of Common Pleas, been a Bridge Hospice relieving caregiver, helped residents at Sunshine Children’s Home, and rocked newborns at Toledo Hospital.
When presented with another award in 2001, Goodwin was quoted as saying, “I just want to be involved and make Bowling Green a better place. I love Bowling Green.”
On Saturday evening, surrounded by family and friends on stage, Goodwin revealed that she realized the award introduction was about her when it mentioned the recipient had 11 children. That narrowed it down, she said.
Goodwin said she has no intention of stopping her volunteerism anytime soon, noting that she hopes to continue being the 94-year-old pushing a cart down the halls of Wood County Hospital.
“I feel as if Bowling Green has given more to me than I have given to BG,” she said.
Outstanding Customer Service 2024 – Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen owner Manny Patel was presented with the Outstanding Customer Service Award. Following a management change at the Bowling Green location, Patel’s staff cleaned and renovated the premises. They also doubled down on providing a warm, friendly atmosphere, with “fantastic” customer service.
“They set a high standard that others should want to emulate,” one nominator wrote.
The Patels also quickly looked for ways to give back to the community. Soon after opening, the owners contacted the BG Fire Division to ask if they could help out with donations and food to anyone in need. On Halloween, they gave out free treats to children in costumes, and in December they donated 50% of sales to the Dear Santa Society.
Dairy Queen also sponsored the Chamber Foundation’s 2023 Community Holiday Parade and a Fire Department open house event. Despite being in business for under a year, they have truly made an impact on the Bowling Green community, a nominator wrote.
When accepting the award, Patel offered praise for his new city.
“I want to thank you all in the Bowling Green community,” he said.
Patel also announced to the large audience that he is branching out and has plans to open an Indian cuisine restaurant in Bowling Green. His announcement was met with loud cheers.
Small Business of the Year 2024 – Elite Collegiate Apparel
Elite Collegiate Apparel, which received the Small Business of the Year Award, was recognized as a business that has not only set customer service standards very high, earning a reputation for providing an excellent shopping experience, but also prioritizes their employees.
Owned by Kent Kokomoor, the business works to equip employees with the skills they need to succeed, offer competitive wages, and emphasize work-life balance. Because many of their employees are students, the store offers flexible scheduling and strives to make employment feel like a “home away from home.”
This level of care has earned the owner the title of “Local Dad” among staff, and is felt in the warm, comfortable atmosphere enjoyed by their customers, a nominator wrote
Since opening in 2017, Elite Collegiate Apparel has doubled its inventory level and increased its selection of apparel and giftware.
After getting requests from the community, Kokomoor added new products, including BG Bobcat merchandise, and is always looking for new vendors and apparel lines.
Kokomoor and Elite Collegiate Apparel have a long history of community involvement, supporting events at BGSU, BG City Schools, and other local schools. They have consistently donated to community events to raise awareness and participation and are always willing to donate to fundraisers for local organizations and businesses.
As he accepted the award, Kokomoor reinforced his commitment to the community, local schools and BGSU. He announced plans to open a second location in the downtown – also met with cheers of support from the audience.
Greg Kegler Volunteerism 2024 – Mark Cassin
Mark Cassin, who has been in banking for 43 years, was presented the Greg Kegler Volunteerism Award.
Cassin has spent the last nine years serving the Bowling Green area community in a variety of roles – as a member of the BG Kiwanis Club, partner with the Cocoon, and a member of the BG Chamber of Commerce. He has led several BG Chamber Project Teams, including the Holiday Parade Project Team and the BG Boom Festival and Fireworks.
According to a nominator, Cassin’s leadership skills are outstanding and he has “a way of encouraging everyone to raise the bar.” He and his staff at State Bank have become a symbol of “giving back” to Bowling Green. In the last six years, they have launched an initiative that gathers individuals to volunteer, empower, and serve, leaving a meaningful impact on the lives of those they work with.
In 2023 alone, Cassin volunteered 59 hours across 10 events and through the cumulative 356 hours their team put in, they were able to disburse over $10,270 to local nonprofits in the Bowling Green and Toledo regions.
“I’m not from BG, but I love BG,” Cassin said as he accepted the award.
Cassin said he learned the value of community from Ashel Bryan and Ed Reiter, of the former Mid-Am Bank. While a bank cashes checks and gives loans, “we’re really in the people business,” he said.
Cassin also thanked State Bank for making volunteerism easy.
