Chamber holds Star Awards

The Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce held its Star Awards event, recognizing local achievement, at Dripping Springs Ranch Park on Feb. 7. 

The event recognized achievement in six categories ranging from Non-Profit of the Year to Business of the Year.

“The Star Awards was a great success this year,” Susan Kimball, President of the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce, said. “We had a fun evening celebrating the businesses and people in our Dripping Springs community. Honoring the finalists and winners in each category for their hard work, dedication and success is a highlight of every year.”

This year’s winners were: Foster Village, for Non-Profit of the Year; Cody Reeves for Hometown Hero; Wild Birds Unlimited for Outstanding Customer Service; Suds Monkey Brewing Co. for Up & Coming Business; Dave Niemeyer for Business Person of the Year; and Vintage Soul for Business of the Year.

In addition, Mark Rabe of RMWBH PC received the President’s Award; and Bonnie Humphrey of BitWise Consulting received the Shining Star Award.

Wild Birds Unlimited, which has also been recognized by the City of Dripping Springs for its support of local parks was “delighted” in its win of the Outstanding Customer Service Award. “Our family is so proud to be small business owners here in our hometown of Dripping Springs,” Amanda Pena Bustillos, of Wild Birds Unlimited, said. “We are grateful to our community for supporting our shop and for honoring us with the Outstanding Customer Service award. It meant the world to us.”

Foster Village, which won Non-Profit of the Year, likewise released a statement. “We’re honored and humbled to have Foster Village named non-profit of the year by the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce,” Chrystal Smith of Foster Village said. “‘It takes a village’ to start, run, and sustain the vision of a non-profit... and we are so grateful for the way Dripping Springs has been such incredible champions of ours. What started as a passion project here in our community has grown into a shared mission that is now being replicated to reach children and families nationwide. The continued support is helping to shift the troubling odds for our most vulnerable.”  

Foster Village supports the needs of children and families in the Austin area child welfare system. More information on Foster Village can be found at fostervilllageaustin.org.

The complete list of award nominees was:

Non-Profit of the Year

Austin Zoo

Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead

Foster Village - Winner

PAWS Shelter of Central Texas

Project Connect

Hometown Hero

Renee Harper

Mary Jane Hetrick

DeNae Lee

Cody Reeves- Winner

Walt Smith

Outstanding Customer Service

Family First Chiropractic

LockTite Storage

The Rural Home

Springs Veterinary Care

Wild Birds Unlimited- Winner

Up & Coming Business

Board & Brush

My Happy Place

The Rural Table

Springs Veterinary Care

Suds Monkey Brewing Co.- Winner

Wild Birds Unlimited

Business Person of the Year

Julie Crawford

Kim Fernea

Dee Kelleher

Dave Niemeyer- Winner

Chae Tracy

Business of the Year

Camp Gladiator

Epicure

Mercer Street Dancehall

Treaty Oak Distilling

Vintage Soul- Winner