Jim Franklin, Kristin Manwaring, Gregory Brotherton, Malcolm Dorn and Jordan Eades were honored March 5 at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Awards banquet at the  Fort Worden Commons.

Franklin, who has been a behind-the-scenes volunteer for decades, was named Port Townsend 2016 Citizen of the Year.

Franklin, who received a standing ovation, told a story about how he didn’t believe it when he was first told he had been nominated for the big annual award. Franklin, 81, was honored for his many years of service working with a number of organizations, from the Kiwanis Club and Elks Club to his work supporting youths in the community. He also was named Elk of the Year several years ago.

Other nominees were Bill and Elena Kraut, Ann Metcalf, Danny Milholland and Don Olsen.

Greg Brotherton was named Young Professional of the Year.

Brotherton, owner of Sea Change Cannabis, Discovery Bay Village Store, Disco Bay Detour and HiYu Audio, has been active in promoting community events, and was president of the Quilcene Fair and Parade.

“It really is an honor to be considered young,” Brotherton said, adding that he had gotten an invitation to join the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) the same week he was nominated for the Young Professional of the Year award.

“We can make this county whatever we want it to be,” Brotherton said of wanting to create sustainable jobs for people in Jefferson County.

In addition to Brotherton, Stephanie Selle and Stephen Sklar were nominated for the honor.

Rocky Friedman, owner of The Rose Theatre and 2015 winner of the Tim Caldwell Business Leader of the Year, introduced nominees and announced Kristen Manwaring as the winner of this year’s award.

After the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, a number of insurance agencies decided to stop selling health insurance rather than learn the new regulations.

“Kristin stood to lose revenue as some insurers stopped paying commission and as the expanded option for people to use an online marketplace shifted business away from licensed agents,” one nominator wrote. Manwaring opted to focus the agency on helping educate people about the market.

“Wow. I am honored and humbled,” said Manwaring in accepting the honor. “I’m proud to be part of this community that wants small businesses to thrive.”

Other nominees were Andy Cochrane and Steve Carr of Power Trip Energy, Bob Little of G. Little Construction, Katy McCoy of Chimacum Corner Farmstand and Malcolm Dorn of WallyWorks.

VISIONARY AWARD

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Teresa Verraes struggled for words when initially trying to explain the last award presented, the Visionary of the Year award. Jake Beattie, executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center, received the chamber directors’ Award for Innovation last year, Verraes said.

“He’s a job creator. He’s a mentor.… He’s just a long-term leader and hard worker,” she said in describing the winner. “He incubates businesses. He builds quality and plans for quality. He’s leading the charge for affordable housing,” she said.

“He’s supported many businesses, the co-op, farmers market, Quimper Unitarian Fellowship, Finnriver,” she said. “And you probably know who I am talking about.”

“Beware when this individual steps into your life and presents a vision,” Verraes said before announcing that Malcolm Dorn had been given the Visionary award.

The crowd erupted into hoots and hollers as Dorn took to the podium to thank people.

Dorn said he first arrived in Jefferson County in his old 1959 Chevy 39 years ago, and farming and building felt right for him. He said he looked forward to working with everyone.

“Let’s do something about affordable housing. It’s time to pull up our sleeves,” Dorn said, inviting those in the room to join him in helping solve the problem.

And Jordan Eades, past president of the chamber, also was given an award for her work last year with the chamber.

MORE THAN LUNCHES

Earlier in the ceremony, Verraes said Jefferson County is blessed with many talented and extraordinary people.

“I’ve never been more confident in this community,” Verraes said, adding later that the chamber also is “so much more than ribbon cuttings and lunches.”

Of the many projects going on in the community, Verraes estimated the chamber had a hand in about 70 percent of them. And, she said, when she goes to conferences, people around the country are “wowed by our community collaboration.”

STORIES

Evelyn Clark of Port Ludlow, an author and professional speaker who teaches executives to become better leaders, stopped in the middle of her keynote speech before the awards were announced and asked people to look to the person sitting next to them and share a story about themselves. The audience went silent for only a moment before participants erupted into conversation.

When Clark regained the audience’s attention, she explained that research has found that stories are a good way to communicate not only visions, but what how you want employees to work.

“If you want to paint a clear picture of where you are going in your organization, you need to be able to tell a story that helps other people see the same thing,” Clark said.

She said employees learn 30 percent of what they need from formal classroom training and sources such as manuals, and “the other 70 percent is from stories swapped with coworkers around the water cooler or coffee pot.”

And finally, she said, she wanted to impart a quote that seemed appropriate for all the stories being told that day about the leaders in the room.

“Stories are the glue that stick us together,” she said.