It began not with a bang but a whistle.
That’s how Susan Milhoan called to order the crowd milling
about inside the cavernous National Guard Armory when the Greater Jackson
Chamber of Commerce held its 92nd annual banquet and awards ceremony Thursday
night.
About 600 gathered for the event, which featured a sit-down
dinner and a genuinely humorous stand-up comic, Brad Upton.
The Citizen Patriot’s Citizen of the Year, Distinguished
Citizens and Youth Citizen of the Year were honored and the chamber gave out
business awards and installed new officers for its 93rd year of
operation.
Milhoan, president of the chamber, challenged the audience to
envision a use for the building, which in the 1800s was home to convicts. The
National Guard is vacating the former prison and the structure and surrounding
property has been designated a state “Renaissance Zone” to attract new economic
development.
“Many of you have not seen the inside of this historic building
or haven’t visited for years,” Milhoan said. “In the next couple years, this
facility will become available to the community.”
Nearly every politician of local import took time to speak,
including U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, state representatives Clark Bisbee and Mickey
Mortimer, and Robert Lacinski, newly elected chairman of the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners.
“Back in 1839 or 1834 when they brought the first group in
here, I don’t think they had such an enjoyable meal.” Lacinski
quipped.
For his part, Upton took jabs at everything and everyone, from
President George W. Bush and Michigan State University to himself.
He noted that he was the same age as Microsoft billionaire Bill
Gates.
“He’s the richest man in the world and I tell vasectomy jokes
for a living,” Upton said. “In a prison.”
Aside from dinner and entertainment, the main focus of
Thursday’s event was to recognize volunteers, businesses and community residents
for their contributions and achievements in the Jackson area.
“These people have done some remarkable things and they deserve
an audience,” Milhoan said.
This year’s awards and their recipients are:
2001
Small Business Person of the Year, John A. Campau, president and CEO of
Comtronics, 315 Water Street.
“I’m moved by this and I’m humbled by this,” Campau told the
crowd.
He thanked his parents, Philip and Temis Campau, for starting
the business 40 years ago. Being able to work with them, he said, has been
meaningful.
The award, presented by Allesandro DiNello, president of
Flagstar Bank and the award’s sponsor, is designed to recognize a locally based
business that exemplifies the best of small business in the
community.
Comtronics provides security services for homes and businesses.
Campau joined the staff full-time in 1986 and became president in May
1994.
Reprinted with permission from The Jackson Citizen
Patriot
Copyright January 2001
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