Chamber honors businesses, individuals

The Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce and Office of Tourism recognized Chanute businesses and individuals for their contributions to the community.

The chamber honored Hi-Lo Industries, doing business as Bridgewood Cabinetry, for Business of the Year; the Chanute Community Foundation for the community investment; and David Petersen for volunteerism. Outgoing chamber president Chris Bilby served as emcee before transferring his position to Stacy Atherton at the end of the event last week at the Southeast Kansas Impact Conference Center.

Hi-Lo has been in business for around 50 years. The company has stayed current with changes in the industry and retooled products to meet customer demands. Bilby said. In 2024, Bridgewood produced 39,600 cabinets with 220 employees. Bilby said Bridgewood/Hi-Lo opened an Experience Center in 2024 that displays its products to sales teams and potential customers.

Bridgewood refurbished a Chanute building for use as the Experience Center and how has 2,500 square feet of space to showcase products in a typical setting. The Experience Center has a full kitchen and conference space, which brings people to Chanute, Bilby said.

Jim and Jeff Caldwell accepted the Chanute Business of the Year Award and Jeff addressed those attending the banquet.

Jeff said the Chanute community was a huge part in the company’s success. He said the staff works some pretty late hours, weekdays and Saturdays, to fill orders for customers.

He said customers visit the facilities and meet the staff and community members, sometimes staying two or three days.

“You can’t help but be committed to a product when you’re working hard on something physical and maybe it’s 100 degrees in the factory. So the staff is excited to show the quality of work they produce for those customers,” Jeff said.

He said people from larger communities are impressed with the hard work ethic on display at Bridgewood.

“It really makes them want to do business with us. And, of course, that’s what we want as well. That’s just one of the things that’s uniquely beneficial about being in a smaller community,” he said.

Jeff added that the community’s commitment to Bridgewood has been “phenomenal” over its years of existence. This support comes from local banks, the city government, Neosho County Community College, the state and grants that help the company expand and grow. He said even in tough economic times, he mentioned 2008 and 2009 when the economy was in shambles after the housing market crashed, Bridgewood kept going thanks to these relationships. RV customers were also struggling at the time.

“Those same relationships that we built up benefited us to survive and make it through those hard times. So we never want to lose sight of that. We never will because it’s true that we’re all in this together, and it’s mutually beneficial,” Jeff said. He said Bridgewood/ Hi-Lo will have an amazing future and have had a great past.

“So thank you all so much for making this success a reality,” Jeff said.

The Chanute Community Foundation received the chamber’s Community Investment Award for its role in helping Chanute residents with various needs. The foundation started in 2009 to enhance the life of the Chanute citizens, promote economic viability and perpetuate the growth of the Chanute area.

The foundation has helped those impacted by the Cornerstone Apartment fire, thanks to additional community donations. It has helped with housing needs, food aid, clothing, supplies and other initiatives. The foundation continues to refine its mission, Bilby said.

Foundation board members Tim Fairchild and Doug Klaassen accepted the award.

Fairchild said the foundation creates “holy moments,” when it realizes there is a need and feels moved by God to address it. He said the credit for donations to the Cornerstone fire victims goes back to the community for its donations through the foundation.

A portion of the Cornerstone Apartment Complex caught fire in March 2024 and the blaze spread to other apartments. Two people died in the fire. The fire started due to carelessly discarded smoking materials on an exterior balcony of the building.

See CHAMBER, Page 2.

“It is moving to see people come to the aid of their fellow men,” Fairchild said, and the foundation has more projects in the works.

David Petersen, an auctioneer, received the Community Volunteer Award. He owns Petersen Auction Service and is known for saying “it’s only money” when encouraging bidders at charity events. He’s been donating his time and talents for more than 20 years for auctions for various causes and organizations in the Chanute area. He’s been auctioneer for the Safari Museum since 2004 for its fundraisers. He also supports Chanute FFA causes and is organizing the first Chanute FFA alumni auction. Bilby said Petersen is always available to help in the community.

“God has given me a gift and the talent that I’m able to use for the betterment of my community and the other communities around me,” Petersen said.

“I think anybody would be hard pressed to find a more supportive community than Chanute, Kansas. One thing we do here is we support other people. We have supported so many community events, and the support I’ve seen you give to those in need is beyond measure for the love and support you’ve shown to Big Nate and Carly, two of our own kids whose lives were taken too soon. To our world-renowned Safari Museum, our highly respected hospital,” he said.

He said he was struck silent when he heard he would receive the award, “which my wife says was a miracle within itself, and it is because I don’t get silent too often. I cannot tell you how much this means to me and how much it touches my heart because I know there are countless others who are deserving of this award.

“Between your support and my ability to talk a lot, we will continue to make this community a great place for anybody to live and raise a family,” he said.

He said in closing that he thinks back to all of his report cards during his school career that noted the he talked too much.

“Well, all I have to say to all those teachers is ‘Look at me now,’” he said.