Tori Fugate 2ccFUGATE PERFORMING WITH KC SMPHONY CHORUS- El Dorado Springs native, Tori Fugate, the daughter of Harold and Robin Fugate is performing with the Kansas City Symphony chorus during the 20126 – 2017 season. The KC Symphony Chorus lead by Grammy Award-winning Chorus Director Charles Bruffy, is a 160 voice ensemble that continues ia long tradition of excellence serving as ”The choral voice of the Kansas City Symphony.’”

Selection into the Symphony Chorus is done through rigorous auditions and musicians are volunteers from the Kansas City metro area and beyond. Tori will sing Alto 1 in the chorus performing in up  to four concerts including Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and War and Remembrance with Britten. The Symphony Chorus performs in select concerts with the Kansas City Symphony at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, one of the regions most esteemed performance halls.

Tori is a resident of Kansas City, MO and is currently the Director of Marketing and Development for KC Pet Project,  a No Kill animal shelter that cares for over 10,000 pets a year.

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2016 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR – Cedar County Memorial Hospital. Hospital CEO Jana Witt received the Award. Opening its doors in Nov. 1960, Cedar County Memorial Hospital is in its 56th year of serving El Dorado Springs and the surrounding communities.

CCMH has been and continues to be vital to our community, not only because of the essential services provided by the hospital but because of the hospital’s positive impact on the local economy through the creation of jobs and the generated flow of funds back into the community. They employ approximately 150 people and invest about $6.7 million annually in payroll and benefits , much of which goes back in to the local economy.

Other nominees were Shelter Insurance, Casey’s General Store, Joy Dobbs Insurance and A1 Body Shop.

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2016 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – City Manager Bruce Rogers. Bruce has been the El Dorado Springs City Manager for 25 years. He has a pretty thankless job some days. He only hears from folks when something is wrong or they disagree with and ordinance. Nobody gets excited over a new sewer line. Some of the more recent projects Bruce has been involved in are refinancing outstanding bonds, saving $825,000 over 10 years. Working with SCRG writing the grant for downtown improvements and he directed the building of the new civic center though a Park sales tax.

Other nominees were Gary Hardison and James Edwards

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2016 CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR – Shannon Mays/ Shannon and Associates. Shannon has been a valuable asset to our community and chamber. She is known as a go-getter and takes charge of all she is involved in. Shannon led the formation of the  “Resuscitation” Group, about 15 citizens that are passionate about El Dorado Springs. The group includes facets of tourism, business development, the arts and more. Shannon is on the Chamber’s Ambassadors Club.

Other nominees were Toshua McCormick/ State Farm Insurance and Lalan Cole/ LCN Graphics.

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2016 CLUB/ ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR – Nine Wonders Optimist Club. The award was accepted by Kama Duchane. The Nine Wonders Optimist Club is indeed a “Friend of Youth.” They sponsor milk tickets, school supplies and contests for children; host breakfast with the Easter Bunny, the puzzle night fundraiser and more. They’re most know for their After Prom event.

Other nominees were Land O’ Lakes Youth Fair,  Friends of the Library, Fraternal Order of Eagles and West Central Missouri Community Action Agency.

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CHAMBER EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR – Toshua McCormick. In her first year as chamber president she as taken up the torch and carried it brilliantly. She has a passion for community betterment, been instrumental in several projects ad has an eye toward the future of our chamber.

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RETIRING BOARD MEMBERS – Lance Hedrick (pictured) – six years, Stephanie Quinlan seven years and Todd Leonard – 14 years.

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MORE AWARDS – State Representative Warren Love and State Senator and candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson presented the El Dorado Springs Chamber of Commerce with resolutions from their respective branches of government recognizing the chamber’s achievement in being recognized as the Small Market Chamber of the Year for the State of Missouri.

Pictured are (from left) Chamber President Toshua Mc Cormick, Chamber Executive Director Jackson Tough, Rep. Love, Sen. Parson and Assistant Executive Director Peggy Snodgrass.