Chamber awards event sells out

The 21st Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner Saturday night has sold out and promises to have the largest crowd ever, a chamber official said Thursday.

Laura Nicholson, president of the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce, said the 400-person event is “as full as we've ever been. I would love to be able to put more people in there, but we have to meet the expectations of those we have already sold tickets to,” she said.

The annual black-tie affair is a celebration and recognition of local businesses and individuals who are chamber members. It is held in the Main Exhibit Hall at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds.

Chamber members and committees began planning in October, Nicholson said.

“We put a lot of work into this dinner,” she said. “We put a lot of work into it every year, but we try every year to make it bigger and better.”

There are several awards given during the event - this year titled “The Spotlight's On You” - including the new Chairman's Award and the first Exemplary LEADership Award, meant to recognize a member of the LEAD Yuba-Sutter program who has excelled in the community.

Other awards include Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year and the Dottie Neubauer Volunteer of the Year.

One of the most well-known and coveted awards is the Athena, which goes to an outstanding woman in the community who has made the most difference each year. Wheeler Auto Center sponsors the hand-cast, one-of-a-kind real bronze statue.

The program is formal and includes a red carpet at the entrance and flashy, larger-than-life decorations relating to the theme.

This year the main hall is a splash of sparkling silver and white and lots of glitz, said Jackie Sillman, a chamber board member and table sponsor coordinator.

The catered dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7. Tickets will not be available at the door. For more information, call 743-6501.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Kymm Mann can be reached at 749-4708. You may e-mail her at kmann@appeal-democrat.com.