Second Siebert awarded annual President's Community Excellence Award from Jasper Chamber

Outgoing Jasper Chamber President Jolee Moffett presented John Siebert with the President's Community Excellence Award at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting. — Outgoing Jasper Chamber President Jolee Moffett presented John Siebert with the President’s Community Excellence Award at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.

The Jasper Chamber of Commerce held the 59th Annual Chamber Meeting Tuesday and awarded John Siebert the President’s Community Excellence Award.

Siebert is a lifelong resident of Jasper and among many accomplishments, was instrumental in starting the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Siebert is also a local court appointed special advocate (CASA) for children that have been abused or neglected. Siebert’s role as an advocate is to help the child through the troubled times and work with the courts to hopefully reunite the child with the parents. The CASA also acts as the voice of the child during the court proceedings. (On a side note, after the Chamber meeting, John met with a previous “client” for a day spent at the mall in Evansville, talking and shopping.)

Siebert is a 1975 graduate of Jasper High School. He graduated from Indiana University Business School with a degree in Business Management in 1979. Besides his work with children, he volunteers for the Jasper Action Team, sits on the NE Dubois County School Board and operates Siebert Realty LLC. He is the second recipient of the award in his family; his father, Bob Siebert, won the award as well.

The Chamber meeting included Calbert Cheaney as the keynote speaker. Cheaney, of basketball fame, is the director of Basketball Operations at Indiana University. Cheaney with Jasper Police Chief Michael Bennett.

The Chamber Board of Directors presented Jasper Chamber Director Nancy Eckerle with a plaque and clock in recognition of her 25 years of service. Outgoing President Jolee Moffett recognized Eckerle’s continued contributions to the Chamber and community. “Everyone who has had the chance to serve on the Board of Directors knows just how hard this woman works,” Moffett said in her remarks. “The chamber wouldn’t be half of what it is if it weren’t for Nancy and her tireless efforts.”

Moffett spoke of the Chamber’s achievements over the past year. Those included the current process of rewriting Jasper’s sign ordinance to clarify it for prospective and current businesses.; a new campaign “Jasper Means Business” to promote engagement in the local economy; the Chamber’s beautification committee, Patoka 2000, efforts to make Jasper a Tree City USA participant; and the upcoming Buy Indiana Expo with Crane Naval Base to be held on October 23.

The annual meeting also includes the announcement of the new Chamber Board of Directors President, Nancy Wilson. Wilson is the Vice President, Human Resources and Safety at Indiana Furniture.