MOUNT VERNON – The latest recipient of Knox County’s Lifetime Achievement Award has beginnings as a farm girl and a career driven by hands-on self-education.
Marsha Rinehart, the 2022 recipient, is perhaps best known for her decades-long career with Kokosing Construction, although construction had not always been her intended career. Rinehart switched from retail purchasing to construction in 1983, working alongside her father, Bill Burgett, who founded Kokosing.
In her acceptance speech at the Knox County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony Thursday, Rinehart recalled attending the ceremony when her father received the same award.
“You never achieve anything on your own,” said Rinehart, thanking her family, past co-workers and other community members who have supported her over the years.
Rinehart was quick to enact change when she switched careers in the 1980s, establishing the risk management and human resource sector of Kokosing within two years. She has since grown the company’s focus on education and employee well-being, separating Kokosing from its industry peers.
Rinehart’s non-engineering perspective has also set her and the work she has done for Kokosing apart. Rather than approaching sectors such as risk management and safety from a strictly quantitative approach, she placed the human perspective at the forefront.
Rinehart currently serves on Kokosing’s board of directors, following her retirement as executive vice president in 2016. She is also chair of the Knox County Foundation and the Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Board.
Rinehart was one of 12 award winners at the Chamber’s annual awards ceremony Thursday, for which approximately 600 attendees gathered in the Kenyon Athletic Center.
The event has grown since its inception in 1983, when the Chamber solely gave out the Heart Award.
Member businesses voted for most of the winners Thursday — aside from the lifetime achievement award, which is selected by Chamber ambassadors, and ambassador of the year, which is selected by Chamber staff.
The awards as presented at the ceremony on March 10, hosted by master of ceremonies Nick Clark:
The Judy Klavins Ambassador of the Year Award: Wendi Fowler
This award is selected by the Chamber staff based on a person’s volunteerism and attendance at meetings and Chamber events throughout the year.
The 2022 recipient, Fowler, is assistant vice president and trust officer of Park National Bank. Fowler was selected because of her faithful participation in Chamber events and attentiveness in welcoming businesses to the community.
The Environmental Sustainability Award: Brown Family Environmental Center at Kenyon College
This award honors the Knox County business/organization that has done most during the past year to introduce sustainable practices into its operations or to promote awareness of sustainable practices and encourage their use.
The recipient, Brown Family Environmental Center, is a 600-acre preserve serving as a community nature center for the county and as an outdoor laboratory for Kenyon College. The focus of the center is environmental education, such as through school field trips, and the conservation of natural ecosystems.
Heart Award: 4H Ramser Activity Center/OSU Extension Office
This award is given to a Chamber member business recognized for achieving and maintaining architectural design that complements the community.
Mark Ramser donated 10.4 acres in 2018 to create the activity center, specifically to complement the county’s 4-H program. The building now provides meeting space for more than 290 people, with the priority to allow 4-H clubs to conduct meetings.
Quality of Life Award: Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities
This award is given to a non-profit Chamber member business whose work has enriched the lives of Knox County residents.
The recipient, Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has been in the county for more than 55 years with the mission to help families and individuals with developmental disabilities design and direct their future, receive services and be active participants in the community.
Volunteer of the Year Award: Tonya Boucher
This award is given to a person whose business has been a Chamber member for at least two years, who consistently volunteers for both Chamber and community projects and has contributed to a single unique project in the county within the past two years.
Boucher has volunteered with the Chamber through both positions, such as ambassador chair, as well as for events, such as the annual awards dinner, golf outing and ribbon cuttings. Boucher has served on several boards including the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities, City of Mount Vernon Zoning and Appeals, Home Selection Committee for Knox County Habitat for Humanity, New Directions, among others.
Investor in the Future Award: Marsha Rinehart
This award is given to a Chamber member who has demonstrated an investment in the future of Knox County and/or has spearheaded a significant contribution or investment in the county’s youth.
Rinehart, who also received the lifetime achievement award this year, contributed to the remodeling of the Fredericktown Interchurch store.
Women in Business Leadership Award: Jane Marlow
This award is given to a Chamber member who serves as a role model encouraging women to achieve their full leadership potential.
Marlow is director of Knox Technical Center and a current member of the executive committee of the post secondary adult career education professional organization, which is part of the Ohio Association of Career Technical Education. Marlow has also served on other local boards over the years, including United Way, the Chamber of Commerce and WorkDev.
Leadership Knox Alumni Award: Nick Clark
This award is presented annually to a graduate of the Leadership Knox program who exemplifies the essence of leadership. Selection criteria include nominee’s past leadership roles, organization participation and significant contributions that have enhanced the quality the quality of life in the county.
Clark is a Leadership Knox alumni of 2007 who currently serves on several committees and service organizations, such as Knox Health Planning Partnership, Knox Substance Abuse Action Team, Get Healthy Knox and Kiwanis. Clark has worked at the YMCA of Mount Vernon for more than 15 years and as executive director for 12 years.
Entrepreneur Spirit Award: Mazza’s Restaurant
This award recognizes a business who is a new Chamber member that has been open and operational for less than five years and displays a desire to contribute to the financial health and well-being of the community. The recipient should also be active in local community and Chamber activities and events and should demonstrate their commitment to being a good neighbor.
Mazza’s Restaurant reopened in 2018, after being originally established in 1939. The restaurant has received numerous other recent accolades, such as a four-time recipient of the Top 10 Diners’ Choice Awards, Best Italian Restaurant in the Greater Columbus Area by Open Table’s Diners Choice Awards, Best Takeaway Food in Mount Vernon, three-time recipient of Recommendation Badge, among others.
Small Business of the Year Award: Flappers Bar and Grille
This award is given to a Chamber member business with fewer than 50 employees that has been in operation for more than five years, consistently constructed to both Chamber and community projects, has a reputation for integrity and fair business practice and has demonstrated management or product innovation as well as successful solutions to business issues.
Flappers Bar and Grille, a bar and restaurant purchased in January 2016, gives back to the community through sponsorships, donations as well as fundraisers and benefit dinners.
Business of the Year Award: Knox County Career Center
This award is given to a Chamber member with more than 50 employees that has been in operation for more than five years, consistently contributes to both Chamber and community projects, has a reputation for integrity and fair business practice, and has demonstrated management or product innovation as well as successful solutions to business issues.
KCCC began serving the community in 1968. KCCC provides education programs, credentials and student work placements. It serves preschool students through adults.
