Ketchikan’s two Rotary clubs, First City Rotary and Rotary 2000, teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce for the first community-wide, Rotary Vocational Month Awards.
First City Rotary traditionally has awarded “Courtesy Clerk” awards every December, recognizing excellent customer service employees in Ketchikan. Those awarded were nominated by satisfied customers.
In 2011, many of the nominations were for new small business owners. Rotary 2000 and First City Rotary decided to get together and expand the idea into Rotary Vocational Month in October.
The groups created two new awards. During a ceremony Friday, Jose Crespo of the New York Hotel was given the “Excellence in Customer Service Award.” Sweet Mermaids, a local bakery and coffee shop, received the “Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award”.
The Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, and Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, who was in town for a visit on Friday, contributed to the awards through his local office.
Begich gave the keynote address at the lunchtime ceremony.
