Kirkland Chamber of Commerce honors community at annual awards luncheon

The chamber recognizes individuals who’ve been impactful on Kirkland’s business community.

By Kailan Manandic • December 15, 2017 8:30 am
Sajeenaa Jebanathan (Middle) from Lake Washington High School receives the Lee Johnson Student Community Service Award. Katie Searle (Right) a Lake Washington School District CTE Specialist, and Tod Johnson (Left) of the Johnson family presented the award. <em>Kristina Bowman, Lake Washington School District</em>
Sajeenaa Jebanathan (Middle) from Lake Washington High School receives the Lee Johnson Student Community Service Award. Katie Searle (Right) a Lake Washington School District CTE Specialist, and Tod Johnson (Left) of the Johnson family presented the award. Kristina Bowman, Lake Washington School District

The Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards luncheon Thursday morning and honored eight community members who were impactful within the chamber and community throughout 2017.

The event, hosted at the Woodmark Hotel, was sponsored by numerous local organizations, including the Kirkland Reporter. The chamber presented six awards and partnered with the Kirkland Downtown Association (KDA) to present two more.

“It is truly one thing that everyone looks forward to every year,” said Ryan James, founder of Ryan James Fine Arts. “Thank you so much to the chamber staff, the KDA staff and everyone who put today’s luncheon together.”

James is the incoming 2018 Chamber Board of Directors president and won the Merrily Dicks Community Arts & Culture Award.

The current president, Jessica Beck of Krueger Beck PLLC, hosted the luncheon and officially passed the gavel to James as this was her last event as president.

“I was truly honored to serve this year,” she said. “This has been a fantastic opportunity to meet so many of you in the community … It’s just been a wonderful experience.”

The four other 2017 chamber award winners include the Columbia Athletic Club, which won the Charles “Chuck” O. Morgan Business Excellence Award. Brenda Kauffman, the club’s membership director, accepted the award.

Kevin Hansen of Livengood Alskog PLLC won the A. Duane Lund Chamber Member of the Year award.

Claire Bruining of Getting Eventive and the KDA won the Anne J. Owen Community Service Award.

Laurene Burton of EvergreenHealth won the William C. Woods Above and Beyond Award.

Sajeenaa Jebanathan a Lake Washington High School student won the Lee Johnson Student Community Service Award. The award comes with a $1,000 scholarship that Sajeenaa can use at whatever institution she attends after high school and a $1,000 additional donation to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation made in Sajeenaa’s name.

The 2017 KDA award winners include Christina Roberts of Realogics Sotheby’s who won the Teddy Overleese “Teddy” Award.

Finally, Julie Metteer of Real Living NW won the Dick Beazell Friend of Kirkland Award.

The Chamber Board of Directors will hold their next meeting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 27 in their offices.