Mandeville feted with chamber’s top yearly honor

ABSAROKEE - Recognizing community service was the theme of the annual Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce banquet held last Thursday evening.
Approximately 111 people attended the function at the Anipro Arena, that included a silent auction and a catered dinner.

Business Person of the Year
Webb Mandeville was named the 2015 recipient of this award. A cursory look at his professional and personal life reveals a long history of hard work, achievement and a consistent commitment to community service.
The Mandeville name is a long-standing one in Stillwater County. Webb’s grandparents arrived in Columbus in 1910 and went into the grocery business. After World War II, Webb’s father returned from service and entered the real estate/tax/insurance field. Webb joined his father there in 1975 and three years later, bought the business from him. In 2010, the name was changed to the Mandeville Insurance Agency, Inc.
Webb has distinguished himself in the community with two Columbus mayoral terms, 20 years at the Columbus Volunteer Fire Department, service on the county Economic Development Committee and Planning Board, 20 years with the chamber of commerce, memberships in the Kiwanis and Jaycees, the Adopt-A-Highway program and a long-term board member at the Columbus Evangelical Church.
He has also distinguished himself in his field by serving as the president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Montana and being awarded the Rickey Mart Memorial Agent Appreciation award by the Montana Association of Counties.
Upon receiving the award last Thursday, Mandeville was quick to give others credit for his success, as he had each one of his employees stand as he told the audience a bit about them. He also recognized his son, grandchildren and siblings - noting specifically that his wife June is who makes what he does possible.
The Stillwater Republican Women nominated Mandeville for the award and he was introduced by SRW member Shirlee Keffer, who said Mandeville gets a “five star rating” as he shines the light for others to follow in leadership and community service.
Also noted by Keffer are Mandeville’s loyalty to his country, the Columbus Cougars and the Montana State University Bobcats, as evidenced by the flags at his home.

Volunteer of the Year
Charlotte Van Oosten was named volunteer of the year. Nominated by Project Hope Executive Director Marcia Spano, Van Oosten was chosen for her dedication, dependability and generosity as a voluntary board member and treasurer for more than a decade. Van Oosten refuses to accept compensation for handling Project Hope’s finances and records. Beyond those duties, Van Oosten promptly fills in wherever there is a need -- hauling something to or picking up something in Billings, working in the sorting room, recycling boxes, making baked good for volunteers and often cooking for the annual fundraiser.
“We often joke that we don’t know when Charlotte sleeps, because in addition to her service to her church, her neighbors, and Project Hope, she finds the time to help run a large ranch, and to travel to the Bitterroot Valley to visit her daughter’s family, where I’m sure she helps out as well,” Spano wrote in her nomination letter.
“Charlotte is generous, supportive, dependable and fun to work with. I’ve never known her to complain, or say she’s too busy to do something. In fact, I have the feeling that nothing would be too much to ask of Charlotte when it involves an opportunity to help someone,” wrote Spano.

Youth Volunteer of the Year
Absarokee High School senior Ty Pfingsten was named the youth volunteer of the year.
Nominated by Stillwater County Extension Agent Lisa Terry, Pfingston is a long-time member of the county 4-H program, having served as a 4-H ambassador for the past two years.
“Ty loves to give back to his community, school and church. He has such a strong work ethic, he recently received a ‘workhorse’ award from his local FFA chapter in Absarokee,” wrote Terry in her nomination letter.
Perhaps most impressive is the number of hours the high school senior has spent in various kinds of volunteer work:
•4-H community service: 500 hours
•FFA community service: 350 hours
•Nye Goes Nuts: 80 hours
•Quick Draw: 40 hours
Additionally, the teenager is a football player, an honor roll member since 2013, held the offices of class treasurer, vice president and president, held FFA offices and is the recipient of several awards from the FFA.

Recipients are nominated and then the winners are chosen by a chamber subcommittee based on contributions as a business or as a volunteer, said Chamber Administrator Janet Overhuls.
The mission of the chamber is to service “its members and community by creating a positive climate through promotion, growth and leadership.”
The purpose of the chamber is “foster good will among its members, to promote any worthy enterprise that will benefit the communities of Stillwater County, and to enter with and support such area development that will in turn assure better living within these communities.”