BUSINESS OF THE YEAR The Thompson Geesey Funeral Homes family were proud to accept the Business of the Year award presented by Kelly Bigger
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Chamber of Commerce had a big night on March 5th, as they greeted everyone at their annual banquet.
This year saw many different people speaking, with Police Chief Dan McGee serving as emcee. Social hour began at 5 p.m., with Pastor Mary Beth McCandless praying over the meal shortly after 6 p.m.
Dinner, catered by Drop Tine Winery & Tap House, consisted of either pork or smothered chicken, alongside mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, a bread roll, and cupcakes.
Water, lemonade, and iced tea were also available, and everyone shared in conversation while enjoying the meal.
The Montpelier Jazz Band, under the impressive direction of Rachel Krueger, gave a truly wonderful performance to accompany the meal, showing that although they are high school students, they were well up to the task of providing professional entertainment for this year’s banquet.
Lauren Oxender then gave the State of the Chamber Address before the Montpelier High School Locomotion performed, ending with an entertaining excerpt from their upcoming “Madagascar the Musical”.
The featured speaker this year was Vice President of Operations of the Northern Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Rachel Wynkoop, who detailed discount services that chamber members have access to.
The Northern Ohio Chamber of Commerce is made up of 138 chambers, spread across 41 counties. Then, the energy shifted in the room as Kara Custar began to share how great of an impact the Veterans of Williams County have on the community, naming all Montpelier veterans as Citizen of the Year.
Everyone was proud as the veteran representatives accepted the award, with Custar’s words of appreciation echoing in their thoughts.
Kelly Bigger then began sharing the history of a local family endeavor, Thompson-Geesey Funeral Homes.
They were started by Gene and Edla Thompson in 1937, then led by their son Jim and wife, Janice, who then partnered with Norman Geesey, and joined in 2002 by third-generation member Nathan, a proud councilor to the Montpelier Village Council.
Nathan Thompson thanked everyone for their support, and shared that it is his belief that it is the responsibility of local businesses to invest in the betterment of their communities, and that everyone here is what makes Williams County such a great place to live.
Then, something truly great happened. The 50/50 raffle, whose proceeds were to go to the unpaid student lunch balances at the Montpelier Schools, was called.
Awarded the pot was Montpelier Village Council President Kevin Motter, who promptly handed most of the winnings right back.
Everyone then applauded Motter, while he waived his hand dismissively as though he did what any would have done.
Lastly, Rachel Wynkoop was welcomed back up to the front, and presented with a wonderful gift to remind her of her time spent in Montpelier. The gift was a cute potted succulent, with the pot being a black locomotive.
All in all, the night was a wonderful success, where members of the Montpelier Chamber of Commerce gathered to raise money for a good cause, eat good food, honor good people, and spend some good quality time with one another.
