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As part of the organization’s 31st Annual Breakfast, North County Incorporated (NCI) recognized several area leaders for making a significant positive impact in North County. Friday, May 9, at the St. Louis Airport Marriott, hundreds of business, civic, and community leaders gathered at NCI’s 31st Annual Breakfast to honor this year’s award recipients.

Terry Proffitt received the prestigious Elmer Belsha Leadership Award, which is presented annually to an individual whose long-term commitment to the North County region and NCI has had a positive impact. Proffit, a 40-year resident of North County, began his career as a teacher in 1968, and then became a principal for the Ferguson-Florissant School District. He was a consultant for numerous educational organization.

NCI’s Business Development Awards were presented to those whose efforts positively affect the economic development and business climate of the North County area. Those honored were: City of Ferguson business owner Farzad Faramarzi, the Route 367 Project under the leadership of Bill Schnell, Assistant District Engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation and HDR Engineering, Inc., and the St. Louis County Economic Council under the leadership of Denny Coleman.

Farzad Faramarzi is helping bring renewal to the City of Ferguson. His family has been in the restaurant business for 23 years. Farzad invested in an old Hardees, completely transforming it into the Thyme Table restaurant, which has become a destination venue that has gained recognition in the gourmet section of several publications.

The Route 367 Project under the leadership of Bill Schnell, Assistant District Engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation and HDR Engineering, Inc. Barry Rolle, Vice President of HDR accepted the award on behalf of HDR Engineering. This project was chosen for the importance of transportation investment in our community and for the public engagement process used by MoDOT and HDR for the project. This past December, the Missouri Department of Transportation officially opened the newly reconstructed Route 367, north of I-270.

Over the past several years, St. Louis County Economic Council under the leadership of Denny Coleman has increased efforts to maintain and create a vital community for businesses and citizens of North County, devoting much of the Council’s energy to development and collaboration in this area. Several projects that the Economic Council played a role in include: the retention of the National Archives and Records Administration Center and its’ 600 jobs, assisting the City of Jennings with the redevelopment of the underutilized Northland site into a retail development that has generated 500 jobs, as well as, an intergovernmental agreement that has made NorthPark one of the largest developments in the State of Missouri, possible.

NCI’s Community Development Awards were presented to those whose efforts positively benefit youth, residents, civic organizations, or others through selfless acts. City of Jennings under the leadership of Mayor Ben Sutphin, Betty Coll, volunteer with Parents Association of Bellefontaine Habilitation Center, and Pat Watson, civic booster and community volunteer, were this year’s Community Development Award recipients.

For more than 43 years, Betty Coll has been an involved with the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center (BHC) in the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors, since the formation of the Parent’s Association in 1965, holding the role as president and vice-president. She has taken a leadership role in the fight to enhance the life of the mentally retarded at BHC and the institutions for the mentally challenged around the State, fighting to keep the center open, volunteering, and fundraising.

Pat Watson has lived in Woodson Terrace, since 1955, starting Airline Parks, which continues to operate after 50 years. She is a charter member of the Woodson Terrace Business Association and actively supports activities that benefit her city, such as the Woodson Terrace Days. The profits from this event help out-of-work residents with utility bills, food and disadvantaged children and their families during the holiday season.

Public Service Awards were presented to outstanding individuals, elected, appointed, or employed by a public body whose long-time service has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body they serve. Councilman Thomas Schneider, City of Florissant, Thomas Zak, City Administrator for the City of Dellwood, and Nancy Otte, Business Representative with the Missouri Career Centers-North County, were given Public Service Awards.

Nancy Otte has been with the State of Missouri for almost 25 years. Since 1990, she has served the public as a business representative with the Missouri Career Center. She provides employment and training related services to businesses at low or no cost; helping businesses become and stay successful. Otte goes out of her way to help the chambers in North County and NCI serve their business members better and build stronger partnerships.

Tom Schneider was elected in 1979 to the City of Florissant’s council and has continued to serve Florissant ever since. Formerly a city engineer, his focus, when first elected, was on preserving and improving the infrastructure of the city. In the 1980s and 90s, he insisted that Florissant participate with MSD to share the cost of storm water improvements, supported a complete bridge and culvert replacement program, and played a role in campaigning for an ambulance tax for the Florissant Valley Fire District. In 1989, Schneider hosted the first of 19 annual Project Lift-Off Holiday Youth D.A.R.E. parties for 5th-8th grade children

Tom Zak is the third 2008 public service award recipient. Zak has been an employee with the City of Dellwood for 25 years, the past 15 as their city administrator. He has identified the city’s “neediest” residents so that immediate action can be taken to assist them in case of a major emergency. Zak has worked diligently on the redevelopment and revitalization efforts in Dellwood’s commercial corridor.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center’s Volunteer Guild, the NCI Inclusion Taskforce under the leadership of Brenda Bobo-Fisher, and EPC E-Scrap received NCI’s 2008 Special Recognition Awards for volunteerism, contributions to civic and charitable organizations, or for their betterment of the community.

Dave Beal, the Vice-President of EPC E-Scrap accepted the NCI Special Recognition award on behalf of E-Scrap. EPC E-Scrap Processing Center is an electronics-recycling center located in Earth City. E-Scrap has been a true leader in the State of Missouri, working with state and local governments to expand awareness of the importance of proper recycling of used electronics.

At the direction of NCI’s Board of Directors, the organization’s Inclusion Taskforce, chaired by Brenda Bobo-Fisher, spent the past two years developing an inclusion statement and principals for the organization, as well as, surveying our members on their inclusion interests and efforts. The statement and principals are now available online at www.NorthStLouisCounty.com and can be used as a guide for other area organizations and businesses.

John Cattanach, Interim Director of the Touhill Performing Arts Center accepted an NCI Special Recognition award on behalf The Touhill Performing Arts Center Volunteer Guild. The Volunteer Guild was established in fall of 2003 and has 105 active volunteers who regularly staff the public performances that take place at the Touhill. They serve as ushers and greeters, welcoming event attendees to experience, appreciate and embrace the power of the performing arts.

North County Incorporated is a regional development organization, which acts as a catalyst to define and advocate economic and community development for North St. Louis County. NCI was established in 1977. The Board is composed of community leaders and business owners. Dr. Mark Tranel is the current president.

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