The Mid County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of their 2020 Annual Awards.
The awards will be presented live via Zoom on Friday, October 23rd from 4:00-5:00 p.m. The award ceremony is part of a week long celebration of their 34th Annual Auction & Awards Ceremony. This year’s theme is “There’s No Place Like Home” and kicks on October 19th with a virtual online auction.
Information about view the Award Ceremony and/or participating in the virtual auction can be found on the event website.
Business Person of the Year
Neil Suthar, Foundation Grounds
Neil Suthar has been an integral part of the Maplewood business community since purchasing Foundation Grounds over 5 years ago. He has served on the Mid County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Economic Development Committee of the Mid County Chamber and the Special Business District Tax Advisory Commission. As a member of… Read More
Educator of the Year
Dr. Karen Hall, Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
Dr. Karen Hall has spent the last 22 years pouring herself into public education. She has been a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, an assistant superintendent, and for the last eight years has served as the superintendent of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District. Under Dr. Hall’s leadership, MRH has risen up as a district centered around the quest for equity for all students. Her vision is one of dismantling the status quo and using systems-based thinking to eliminate disparities. A district-wide social…Read more
Citizen of the Year
Richard Vilcek, Resident of Richmond Heights
Rick has served the Richmond Heights Community for over 50 years.
In March of 1969, Rick started with the Richmond Heights police department as a patrol officer immediately after being discharged from the U.S. Army after finishing his tour in Vietnam.
During his tenure as a police officer, Rick was promoted to Detective Sergeant, Captain, Major, and in 2011 after 42 years working in the RHPD Rick retired as the Chief of Police. Rick wasn’t finished working for our community. He was elected to the…Read more
Rick Vilcek is very deserving of this award. He was a great cop and a cop’s cop. Something most people don’t know is that Rick was a phenomenal softball player. (As was retired chief Roy Wright ). Spent many a Sunday evening playing ball against them.