TODAY IS THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER 2016 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNERS LUNCHEON

GRAND PRIZE DRAWING IS $1,000 DIAMOND NECKLACE FROM KRUCKEMEYER & COHN  

EVENT IS SOLD OUT

City-County Observer is pleased to announce our Annual Awards ceremony for the  2016 “Community Service Award”. This year the City County Observer recognizes 8 local individuals,  who have given back to our community through enhancing employment opportunities, giving back to charitable organizations, or creating economic growth. Individuals who have earned this recognition have gone above and beyond the call of duty to give back to the Greater Evansville Area.

RECIPIENTS OF THIS YEARS “COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD”  INCLUDES

THE HONORABLE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DAVID KIELY 

Recently the Evansville Bar Association recognized the Honorable Superior Court Judge David D. Kiely was presented the James Bethel Gresham Award at the annual Law Day dinner hosted by that organization.

Judge Kiely began his legal career in 1989 entering private practice with his father at the firm of Kiely & Kiely. He was in private practice for approximately 9 years prior to being appointed as Circuit Court Magistrate. He was subsequently being elected Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge and elected Vanderburgh Circuit Court Judge in 2012, where he continues to serve.

Judge Kiely created the very first Veterans Treatment Court in the state of Indiana and has worked diligently to expand into other counties. He also co-manages, with Judge Trockman, the Vanderburgh County Day Reporting Drug Court, Re-entry Court Program and Forensic Diversion Program.

VICKI HUBIAK PRESIDENT OF HR SOLUTIONS

Vicki is extremely well thought of in our community and she gives a great deal of her time and financial resources to help those in need.

It was 1994, and Vicki Hubiak faced a career crisis. For 15 years she had been climbing the ladder at Peabody Energy, all the way to employee relations manager of the Midwest Division, before the age of 40. In 1990, however, Congress had passed an amendment to the Clean Air Act to significantly reduce acid rain within five years. By 1994, the amendment had taken its toll on the coal industry, and Hubiak was spending much of her time handing out pink slips to employees. The work became, in her words, “overwhelming” and “depressing.”

Hubiak resigned from the only employer she had known since attending the University of Evansville, set up a desktop computer in the walk-out basement of her Henderson, Kentucky, home, and went to work as a human resources consultant and certified resume writer. Despite her departure, Hubiak was respected so much by her former bosses that she signed Peabody as one of her first clients.

Twenty-one years later, the woman who took a leap of faith in becoming an entrepreneur has turned a business in her basement into a $10 million company. She is president and owner of HR Solutions, Inc. in Evansville, which serves businesses and individuals with five core services: staffing, executive recruiting, outplacement, executive coaching, and training. Hubiak and her staff of 15, including her son, Nicholas, recently purchased and moved into the former Umbach & Associates building on Saint Joseph Avenue near the intersection of the Lloyd Expressway after outgrowing their longtime location across the street. The new building is named the HR Solutions Business Complex with 18,000 sq. ft. and is also an income property for her business.

ANNE AUDAIN SIX TIME OLYMPIAN AND WORLD RECORD IN THE 5000 METER RACE

Few Evansvillians, even enthusiastic distance runners, are aware that there is a world-class pioneer in professional distance running living right here among us, in the person of Anne Audain. The native New Zealander has traveled a long road both geographically and metaphorically from her native land to Southern Indiana.

She chronicles her journey in her biography, “Uncommon Heart” from Cedarwinds Publishing and is the subject of the documentary film “Anne Audain: Running Her Way.” Her life is traced from meeting challenges as a child born with deformed feet, to a teen-aged running phenom after painful surgery to correct the foot problems, to a career as a teacher. From her teaching career, she stepped onto the world stage to make a name for herself as a three time Olympian, World record holder, Gold medalist and the first woman to become a professional distance runner in the US. Ms. Audain is now a motivational speaker who has spoken at institutions of higher learning such as Indiana and Purdue Universities and in the corporate world for companies like her former running sponsor, Nike.

We are struck by Anne’s philosophy as a teacher, which is to endeavor “to give children the self-esteem necessary to reach their goals and dreams.” She is a living example of just what determination and belief in oneself can accomplish, which makes her as much of a “natural” as a motivational speaker as she is as a distance runner. Her discussion of her father’s influence on her success offers some wisdom to all parents who are dedicated to helping their children accomplish exceptional goals. His extraordinary adopted daughter credits him with teaching her the attitudes that led her to being inducted into three Halls of Fame in two countries and recognition from Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the British Empire.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF DAVE WEDDING

Sheriff Wedding is extremely well thought of in our community and he gives a great deal of his time and financial resources to help those in need.

His career in public safety began in 1981 working as a civilian jailer. He worked his way up Corporate ladder and in 1983 he became a deputy sheriff .

Sheriff Wedding worked in various assignments as a young deputy including canine unit for several years. He held ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major, Chief Deputy before being elected Vanderburgh County Sheriff in 2014.

Sheriff Wedding graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1997. He also attended many leadership courses including one at Northwestern University.

Sheriff Wedding is active many community and support groups and organizations. He is a strong supporter of the Santa Clothes Club, St Vincent Child Daycare, Youth Resources, Albion Fellows, 911 Gives Hope, Honor Flight and has a strong passion in helping local youth programs.

COUNTY COUNCILMAN TOM SHELTER JR 

Thomas J. Shetler Jr City County Observer 2016 “Outstanding Community Services Awards” Winner

We are pleased and excited to announce that Vanderburgh County Council member Thomas J. Shetler Jr has been selected as the fourth (4th) CCO 2016 “Outstanding Community Service” Award Winner” for 2016. Mr. Shelter is extremely well thought of in our community and he gives a great deal of his time and financial resources to help those in need. He is considered to be the “Dean of Conservative” leadership in Vanderburgh County. politics.. In fact, Mr. Shelter is extremely focus when it comes to hold the line on excessive spending of our tax dollars.

Tom is married: to Gail A. (Folz) Shetler for 40 years. They have 7 Children: Becky Shetler Clark, married with 6 children, Natalie Shetler Pickerel, married with 5 sons, Alisann Shetler Elpers, married with 3 sons, John Freeman Shetler, married with one daughter, Martha Shetler Frounfelter, married with 2 sons, Mary Shetler at home, and the youngest is Thomas James Shetler, III a student at USI. A total of 17 grandchildren. He and his wife are members of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Daylight.

FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN AND FINANCE CHAIRMEN  JOHN FRIEND CPA 

We are pleased to announce that former Evansville City Councilmen JOHN FRIEND CPA has been selected as the sixth (6th) CCO “Outstanding Community Service” Award Winner” for 2016. Mr. Friend is extremely well thought of in our community and he gives a great deal of his time and financial resources to help those in need. He is extremely well respected in the business community.

As City Council Finance Chairman Mr. Friend openly challenged members of the Winnecke Administration for their excessive spending habits and continued lack of planning for future capital projects. He also warned fellow Council members, the City Controller, select members of the local media and the Mayor himself about the major budget shortfalls facing the city in the upcoming 2015, 2016 and 2017 city budgets. His sound financial advice fail on deaf ears which was the main reason why the City of Evansville is presently experiencing major cash flow challenges. Also when Mr. Friend warned fellow Council members, the City Controller, select members of the media and Mayor Winnecke about the major financial shortfall facing the City employees Healthcare fund in 2016 and 2017 they once again didn’t heed his visionary warnings.

During his last year in office he stood steadfast and continued to be the financial watchdog for the citizens of this community even when people in the Winnecke Administration tried to quietly to discredit and destroy his creditability.

We are pleased to publicly recognize former City Councilman and Finance Chairman John Friend CPA for being a true “fiscal watchdog” for the citizens of this community.

Education:

Mr. Friend is a Graduate of Indiana State University, School of Liberal Acts ( Economics) and School of Business (Accounting)

Credentials:

Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
Member of the National Association of Certificated Valuation Analysts (CVA)
Member of Charter Global Management Accountants Association (CGMA)

President of John Friend and Company, P.C. – Certified Public Accountants and Consultants

Public Service

Served two terms on the Common Council of Evansville, Indiana (2008-2012)
Served as the Finance Chairman of the Common Council from 2009-2013
Served as the President of the Common Council for 2014

Boards: Levy Authority Board
Utility Advisory Board
Swirca Board member
Evansville Museum (Served two years as Treasurer)
Leadership Council of the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business)

Honors:

Selected as one of 100 Civilians Nationwide to the National Security Forum (War College)

Mr. Friend is married to Marty Friend for 35 years and they have four children and seven grandchildren

ATTORNEY SCOTT DANKS SELECTED AS CCO “OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNER

We are pleased to announce that the extremely popular and highly respected Evansville attorney SCOTT DANKS has been selected as the seventh (7th) and final CCO “Outstanding Community Service” Award Winner” for 2016. Mr.Danks has provided a great deal of free legal work to those who can’t afford to hire legal counsel but has donated many of thousands of dollars to not-for-profits who serve the poor and disadvantaged.

Mr Danks is a 1989 graduate of Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law and a founding partner of the Danks & Danks Law Firm.

Scott is married and is the father of six (6) children. His two (2) oldest sons are attending law school at Scott’s alma mater.

Scott has been admitted to all Indiana Courts, The United States Supreme Court, The United States Tax Courts, and The United States Court of Federal Claims.

He was selected to the United States Department of Justice Law Institute and received an Outstanding service award for his representation of chapter seven (7) of the Disabled American Veterans. Scott has successfully argued before the Indiana Supreme Court.

Scott’s primary areas of practice are criminal defense, family law, and personal injury law. He has previously served as the attorney for the Common Council of the City of Evansville and as an assistant City Attorney for the City of Evansville.

This years awards luncheon will be held at Tropicana-Evansville Walnut rooms A and B. The registration begin at 11:30 am, the event officially starts at 12 noon on November 2, 2016. This event is a complete sell out.