At the third annual West Chamber Jefferson County Hall of Fame Awards, Arvada and Evergreen residents shone and one of Lakewood's most influential residents was remembered for her contributions to the county.
"We're here to celebrate five people who helped to do so much in Jeffco," said Pam Bales, president and CEO of the chamber, to the audience in attendance at Pinehurst Country Club on Aug. 24.
The honorees were Evergreen's Sylvia Brockner and Dan Pike and Arvada's Steve Camins and Eldon Laidig. Lakewood's Betty Miller was also posthumously recognized.
The Hall of Fame recognizes business, government, and philanthropy by honoring outstanding individuals, from past and present, who have had significant long-lasting impacts through their leadership and contributions to Jefferson County's economy, community and legacy.
"I come to these events and always learning something new," said Ernie Witucki, Hall of Fame Chair for the chamber. "This event is an important tribute to those who have given of their time, talent and treasure to helping the entire area."
Meet the honorees, and hear what they had to say about winning:
Brockner has been a leader in the Evergreen area preservation movement for more than 40 years.
She started the Evergreen Naturalists in 1968 with her late husband, which has since become the Evergreen Audubon and Nature Center. She also helped Jeffco Open Space acquire 319 acres of land that became Lair O' the Bear Open Space.
At 97, she still writes and illustrates her weekly column for the Canyon Courier.
"The great reward of the work I do is to be able to drive by parks and see people using and enjoying them. I think everyone for the honor, and hope everyone will continue to save our lands before they disappear."
Camis has worked as an insurance agent for his company, Financial Dimensions Ltd., for more than 40 years.
He has served on the Arvada Center Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors three times in those same 40 years, worked with the Arvada Planning Commission for 10 years, helped form the Arvada Enterprise Center and has served on the Jefferson County Business Resource Center board.
Currently, Camins is the chairman of the Arvada Chamber Man and Woman of the Year nominating committee.
"This is very exciting and humbling, and has been a lot of fun along the way. These days community building is vitally important."
Laidig has been a financial planner for 52 years, including 42 years of service in the United States Coast Guard Reserves. He spent 27 years working for Jeffco Public Schools, 25 of which were spent as a junior high school principal.
He has also served as club president of the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities, the Arvada Rotary Club and Friendship Force of Greater Denver, as well as the Arvada Historical Society.
Laidig is also an Elder at the Arvada Presbyterian Church, a position he has held since 1964.
"I couldn't accomplish everything I have if not for a lot of other people who supported me along the way. As William Shakespeare said, 'thanks and thanks and ever thanks."
Miller started her community involvement by volunteering with the League of Women Voters and PTA, eventually culminating in her election to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1964.
She helped establish Lakewood as a city, and served on the first city council, from 1965 to 1975. She served as Director of Colorado Local Affairs under Governor Dick Lamm and was chief administrator for Senator Tim Wirth, where she helped shut down Rocky Flats. In 1992 she was elected as a Jeffco County Commissioner.
She died in January 2012.
- "It was my privilege to know Betty, who was a fine leader."
- "It's my honor to share Betty with everyone - a woman who touched the lives of many in the City of Lakewood, Jefferson County and Colorado."
Pike began working in the conservation field in 1976, when he opened an office for the Nature Conservancy and drafted the state's first Colorado conservation easement.
He went on to be a founding member of the Mountain Area Land Trust in Evergreen and Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy and was president of Colorado Open Lands. He worked to protect both Noble Meadow and Beaver Brook Watershed in Evergreen.
He was the vice chair of the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts and legislative member of the Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Task Force.
"Evergreen has taught me a lot over the years. The communities where we grow up and live structure our values, and we become truly invested in the places we live and work. The world needs communities more than ever."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Chamber-honors-Hall-of-Fame-class,234755?branding=15
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