by Sara 

Business Person of the Year

8 Comments

Heather Ussery has been named the Magnolia’s Business Person of the Year for 2010.  Ussery was the chair of Summerfest for the
last several years. 

Here are parts of the nomination for Ussery:  Heather Ussery is the perfect example of what epitomizes a fabulous community volunteer.  She is selfless and thinks of the big picture first through to the end.  We first met when she worked at Peoples Bank and became interested in the Summerfest as a volunteer.  She showed a dedication and willingness to go one step further to make things better.  She later was promoted out of the Village and came back to chair Summerfest for four years.  She built Summerfest to a money making success under some of the most stressful times in dealing with city officials the day before and the day of the festival (few people know of all the threats to shut down the festival) and some of the most challenging weather.  Chairing the festival is no easy task; you bring together a group of individuals to later work as a team.  That happens when the leader of that team (Heather) is exceptional.  Heather worked 24/7 for four years.  She has not sought out any acknowledgement for herself

Ussery was nominated by Mike and Alex Smith from Leroux Fine Apparel for Men and Women. 

Ussery will be honored at a banquet on Tuesday, February 22 at 6p.m. at Mondello Ristorante at 2425 33rd Ave West.  Cost is $40.00 per person and you need to RSVP by February 18th to attend.    You can call 206-284-5836 or email at info@magnoliachamber.com.

In other chamber news, the newly elected Board Members for 2011 are Chuck Flaherty of Magnolia Garden Center, President; Nell Andre of Nell Andre, LMP and Xocai Healthy Chocolate, Vice President; Bill Whitham, Bookkeeping, Treasurer and Elaine Johnson, Epic Styles Salon, Secretary. 

About the author 

Sara

  1. What a JOKE!!!! How are you going to Nominate a person as “Magnolia Business Person of the Year” that doesn’t own a business in Magnolia!! All she did was volunteer to be seafair president. If I was a business owner in the village I would be outraged. This is a prime example at why the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce is nothing but a buddy buddy group only looking out for there own. A social group that only wants to better them selves not the community. I have lost all faith in the Magnolia Chamber! I hope that many more of you think the same after this. Not only does heather not own a business she doesn’t even work in Magnolia. She works for Umpqua Bank in shoreline. LOL She should be volunteer person of the year not business person of the year!

    1. wow harsh hoopaholich8! I think you need to get some of your facts straight. Heather is a great person and has done a lot for the community. I am sure she has done a lot more than most business owners in Magnolia!!!!

      1. I agree with you, Ame. Heather worked in the Village when she started volunteering for Summerfest. Even when Heather’s career took her to Umpqua Bank on Eastlake, she continued to volunteer in Magnolia (which is more dedication than most residents). Most folks don’t recognize the tremendous number of hours to plan and execute Summerfest – it’s about eight months in the making. All the volunteers have full-time jobs, and yet still find time to dedicate to the festival.

        Hoopaholich8 – I would like to challenge you to volunteer. The Chamber puts on a number of events annually for Magnolia (Summerfest, Village Trick-or-Treat, Holiday Open House, etc), applies for grants to make our neighborhood better (the new sidewalks in the Village), and helps local folks network. The group is made up of volunteers that have a desire to make Magnolia great. They all have full time jobs, yet still find time to volunteer. Instead of complaining, why don’t you make an attempt to make it better? Go to a meeting and share your ideas. I’d bet the Chamber would welcome new insights. Heck, they might surprise you – keep an open mind.

        1. I’m not saying anything bad about Heather she is a great person and a tribute to VOLUNTEERS!! That does not mean she should be the “Magnolia business person of the Year”. She should be honored for the “Magnolia Volunteer of the Year”. A business person of the year is a person that own’s a business in the area that also gives back to the community. They make it a better place to live via their business and community involvement. Alex Smith is a prime example of a wonderful business woman. In the past and present she has done so many things for the community. She is an icon of the Magnolia Village and has been for several years. She is responsible for the sidewalks being redone NOT THE MAGNOLIA CHAMBER. I have been to many and many chamber meetings and volunteered numerous times for magnolia events and meetings. I have lived in Magnolia for over 27 years and have seen what magnolia used to be and is today. If the Magnolia Chamber is so great why are there not more people involved? Why is it every time I go to a meeting I hear everyone complaining about everything and wanting a free hand out? People all complain about the pub being dirty, Art Vanderwell’s building being dirty, the offices on 32nd being dirty, all I ever hear is complaining but no one wants to step up and do something about it. I heard some one suggest that we serve Art Vanderwell with a court order to clean his building but no one has the common courtesy to just walk over and ask the guy! That’s not community involvement that’s just being a JERK. People in magnolia have a self entitlement that they are better than the rest of the world. I have seen it get worse and worse over the years. What ever happen to hard work and self worth, Instead it’s why doesn’t the chamber get someone to clean the front of my store and buy flowers for my store! I challenge everyone in magnolia to actually do something just to help out the next person not because you get something out of it but just because it?s a nice thing to do.

      2. I agree with you, Ame. Heather worked in the Village when she started volunteering for Summerfest. Even when Heather’s career took her to Umpqua Bank on Eastlake, she continued to volunteer in Magnolia (which is more dedication than most residents). Most folks don’t recognize the tremendous number of hours to plan and execute Summerfest – it’s about eight months in the making. All the volunteers have full-time jobs, and yet still find time to dedicate to the festival.

        Hoopaholich8 – I would like to challenge you to volunteer. The Chamber puts on a number of events annually for Magnolia (Summerfest, Village Trick-or-Treat, Holiday Open House, etc), applies for grants to make our neighborhood better (the new sidewalks in the Village), and helps local folks network. The group is made up of volunteers that have a desire to make Magnolia great. They all have full time jobs, yet still find time to volunteer. Instead of complaining, why don’t you make an attempt to make it better? Go to a meeting and share your ideas. I’d bet the Chamber would welcome new insights. Heck, they might surprise you – keep an open mind.

      3. I agree with you, Ame. Heather worked in the Village when she started volunteering for Summerfest. Even when Heather’s career took her to Umpqua Bank on Eastlake, she continued to volunteer in Magnolia (which is more dedication than most residents). Most folks don’t recognize the tremendous number of hours to plan and execute Summerfest – it’s about eight months in the making. All the volunteers have full-time jobs, and yet still find time to dedicate to the festival.

        Hoopaholich8 – I would like to challenge you to volunteer. The Chamber puts on a number of events annually for Magnolia (Summerfest, Village Trick-or-Treat, Holiday Open House, etc), applies for grants to make our neighborhood better (the new sidewalks in the Village), and helps local folks network. The group is made up of volunteers that have a desire to make Magnolia great. They all have full time jobs, yet still find time to volunteer. Instead of complaining, why don’t you make an attempt to make it better? Go to a meeting and share your ideas. I’d bet the Chamber would welcome new insights. Heck, they might surprise you – keep an open mind.

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