Tallmadgeexpress.com - Chamber honors best of 2008

by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- The Chamber of Commerce, for the 25th consecutive year, named its annual business persons and citizen of the year.

Public Service Director Dave Kline was named the 2009 citizen of the year. Ray Tatko, president of Summit Racing Equipment and Sam and Chuck Owen, co-owners of Gionino's Pizzeria, were named business persons of the year. They will be recognized during the Chamber's annual fall banquet, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Tangier Restaurant, 532 W. Market St. in Akron.

The chamber accepts letters of nomination from the community and business members and a committee of members decides who the awards go to, according to Administrative Assistant Barb Hornyak.

Citizen of the year

"I don't accept awards well," Kline said. "It's not the reason I do my job."

Kline is a lifelong resident of Tallmadge and graduated from Tallmadge High School in 1976. His service career within the city started as a volunteer firefighter right out of high school, rising to the post of president of the Tallmadge Fireman's Association in 1984.

Kline has also served as a Ward 3 Councilmember, at-large Councilmember and as City Council president. He has been public service director since 2000.

Kline also served as president of the Tallmadge Rotary Club, coordinator of Our Lady of Victory's Catholic Youth Organization and basketball coach, Tallmadge Little League president and coach and was inducted into the Tallmadge High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2007.

According to Chamber Executive Director Mary Cea, "the citizen of the year award is given for outstanding volunteer service to Tallmadge through participation and support of civic and professional groups, government or school councils, and involvement with local or regional projects for the benefit of the local residents."

Kline "always gives 100 percent plus, to any project he is involved with," and to his family -- wife Susan and three children: Michael, Michelle and Stephanie," Cea said.

Business persons of the year

Tatko served as general manager of Summit Racing, 1200 Southeast Ave., in 1988 and was appointed president in 2003. He is responsible for strategic and operational planning as well as overseeing daily operations and administration, according to Chamber information.

Tatko was a past president of the Tallmadge Rotary Club and is currently a member of the Tallmadge Community Education and Enrichment Foundation.

Brothers Sam and Chuck Owen started their pizza business, located at 676 Eastwood Ave., in 1989 and has since opened 30 franchise locations. According to the Owen brothers, "more stores are on the way."

The Owen brothers said the stores, and the award, would not have been possible without their late father.

"Without his faith in us and his generosity to provide the initial start-up funds, we would never have had this opportunity," they said.

The Owen brothers also give credit to their mother for her "old world style recipes."

Gionino's has sponsored many local sports teams, community events and school functions, according to Cea.

The banquet is open to the public and seats and tables are still available, said Hornyak. To reserve a seat, call the Chamber at 330-633-5417.

Tickets are $90 a couple and $48 for a single ticket and live entertainment will also be at the event, she added.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911