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The Dunn County News - March 3, 2003
Ott wins Chamber honors
By Barbara Lyon, News Editor
"Those of you who know me are probably shifting uneasily in your seats right
now, because you know that, when confronted with a microphone, I am likely
to burst into song..."
That's how Ellen Ochs, last year's Small Business Person of the Year got
started as she laid a trail of misleading clues to the identity of this
year's honoree during the Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce's
annual banquet and awards night on Wednesday.
Ochs was "playing" to a full house at the Grand Ballroom at UW-Stout's
Memorial Student Center as she tantalized the crowd with the following
clues:
* Likes riding motorcycles;
* Has served as Chamber director, including as secretary/treasurer and
committee member;
* MHS graduate;
* Elected to the WESTconsin Credit Union Board in 1992;
* A parent who has taught Sunday School and been a PTA member;
* Re-energized Menomonie's Downtown Business Association in many ways;
* Appointed by Chancellor Sorensen to the Committee on Unfair Competition;
* Enjoys boating;
* Member of the Chippewa Valley Convention Bureau;
* Earned a degree from Macalaster College;
* Taught English at Chippewa Falls Junior High, at Oregon High School, and
at LaFollette High (and also served as drama coach);
* Member of the Main Street Preservation Board;
* Enjoys traveling, sewing, and knitting;
* Appointed in 1991 to Dunn County Recycling Advisory Committee;
* Joined Menomonie Rotary Club and now serves as president;
* Achieved the Outstanding Young Women of America Award in Oregon;
* Dreamed, as a young child, about joining the circus and performing with a
high wire trapeze act;
* Was a car hop at the root beer stand while in high school;
* Traded teaching -- where you get summers off -- for retail and the
"opportunity" to work six days a week.
Identity revealed
Ochs expanded on her final clue by becoming more specific. "First Reed's
Schoes, then MS.ellaneous, a very unique women's clothing store -- for
almost 35 years, and at the same location, my subject has offered Menomonie
something that is very rare in the retail world: The kind of specialized,
personalized service that you can only get from someone who owns the
company, someone who has invested wholeheartedly in the community...please
welcome, Sandy Ott!"
Heartfelt congratulations
Adding her words of praise was Mary Solberg, executive director of Main
Street of Menomonie, Inc.
"Congratulations, Sandy, for all you have done and are doing for the
community and the downtown," she said.
"We are proud to have four business owners in the downtown area recognized
with this Chamber award for their community spirit, for their vision and
willingness to help make the world we live in a better place for all: Sandy
for 2002, Ellen in 2001, John Anshus in 1997 and Liz Lammer in 1996," she
added.
"The great things that happen in this community do not happen on their own,
but are because of the efforts of people who care enough to give of their
time, energy, expertise and knowledge," Solberg concluded. "It's only with
the generosity of its citizens, the sharing of information, and the
partnering of a multitude of different organizations and businesses that a
community can grow and prosper."
Predictably modest, Ott said in a post-award interview the following day, "I
was very surprised. I do enjoy being on Main Street and my volunteer work. I
never expected this."
She would like to set the record straight, however, about one of the clues
that was offered during the lead-up to the announcement.
"I never dreamed about joining the circus," Ott declared with a chuckle. "If
you know me, you know that would be really out of character!" |
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