Pictured above is Dave Kring, accepting the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award surrounded by winners of the Athena Award from 14 various years. During this prestigious ceremony Kring awarded the 20th Athena award from his Chevrolet – Cadillac dealership to Rev. Sherry McGuffin, who is pastor at the Petoskey’s Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Petoskey. The Ceremony was held at the 2011 Breakfast of Champions to a sell-out crowd held on December 6th at the Ovation Hall at the Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey.
There are numerous ways in which one can be a champion for a community and the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce took note of the many things that Dave Kring has done for the area at their annual Breakfast of Champions. The ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Odawa Casino Resort’s Ovation Hall. By awarding Dave Kring, the high-profile Chairman’s Award, which the chamber bestows on a person, business or organization that has had a significant impact on the Petoskey area.
Kring became bookkeeper at the local Chevrolet dealership in 1975, and later purchased it from the owner Budd Tallberg. Kring moved the dealership to its current site on U.S. 31 North in 2005, renaming it Dave Kring Chevrolet- Cadillac at that point.
“That business is now a significant job provider with around 55 people on its payroll,” Petoskey chamber chairman Gary Lewinski said “But beyond that economic impact, through Dave’s leadership, his business supports countless causes in the community including the Manna Food Bank, Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, the 4-H livestock auction and the Petoskey Youth Soccer Association, to name a few.”
Lewinski continued “Dave also gives his personal time – and quietly some of his personal dollars- to many important causes in the community. Most notably, his holds the prestigious position as a trustee on the board of the Little Traverse Conservancy as well as the board of trustees for the North Central Michigan College; this is his second stint on the college board.”
Lewinski also noted Kring’s sponsorship of another high-visibility Breakfast of Champion honor, the annual Athena Award. Although his involvement as a sponsor originally came through a partnership with General Motors, Kring increased his contribution when GM’s corporate sponsorship dried up so the program could continue locally.
Past 20 years of Athena winners took the stage to help present Kring with the Chairman’s Award.
“We’re very proud to be a part of this,” said Woman’s Resource Center executive director Jan Mancinelli, who received the Athena recognition in 1994.
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