Award winners announced | Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce

The Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the 2012 South Kitsap Man of the Year, Woman of the Year and Small Business of the Year. The following individuals and businesses were honored at the chamber’s annual fundraiser Oct. 12.

The Port Orchard Chamber announced Fathoms o’Fun Festival volunteer Bob Morehouse was selected as the 2012 Man of the Year. In 1994, Morehouse was recruited for Fathoms. He has worked for the organization ever since. He handled the carnival for many years. When Fathoms could no longer find a good carnival for the summer festival he developed the three-day Summer Festival Craft and Vendor Show. This replacement event, as well as Fathoms other vendor events – Festival by the Bay during The Cruz and more recently the Murder Mystery Vendor event – has helped to maintain a stream of income so the remainder of Fathoms many year-round events could continue. If Morehouse had not worked so hard for Fathoms in his many capacities, the organization might look very different today.

• Former Chamber Board President and community activist Billi Jean Gurnsey was selected as the 2012 Woman of the Year. Gurnsey’s community activism in the Port Orchard community spans 17 years, but long before she moved here in 1995 she volunteered as a teenager and young adult. When she moved to  Port Orchard in 1995, she was asked to fill in for her marketing director at a Fathoms o’Fun Board meeting. By the end of the meeting she had volunteered to be on the board. Eventually she became Fathoms president in 1998. During the same time she helped with the City Hall grand opening committee. Gurnsey was in soroptimist and served on their board in several positions including treasurer, delegate and president in 2005-2006.  Gurnsey also served as the chamber board president in 2005-06. She ultimately served nine years on the chamber board during which time she worked tirelessly on multiple committee. She started the chamber’s annual business showcase and also chaired Murder Mystery Weekend for several years. In 2006, she joined the United Way of Kitsap Board of Directors. Gurnsey is now sales manager for Wave Business Solutions Seattle region.

• The chamber has awarded Paul Davis Restoration of Olympic Peninsula its 2012 Small Business of the Year award. Paul Davis Restoration is a full service 24-hour, seven days per week mitigation, reconstruction and remodeling business located at the Port of Bremerton in the Olympic View Industrial park. It provides service to Kitsap, Mason and parts of Jefferson counties. Davis’ capabilities include restoration of water and fire damage to residential and commercial buildings accomplished by IICRC certified technicians and project managers.

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