Affton Chamber of Commerce honors Jake Baretich & Larry Stone

The following honorees will be recognized at the January 25, 2014 Awards & Auction Banquet.  This is our 21st Annual Combined Event so make your plans to attend.  This year the event will be held at Royale Orleans Banquet Center (2801 Telegraph) and the cost is $35 per person for a buffet dinner, open bar, and an auction bid number.  The theme of the auction portion of the evening is Hidden Treasurers, so join us and find some hidden treasures you may want to purchase. Reservation forms can be found on the Forms page of the Affton Chamber web site.  The general public is invited, but paid reservations must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 21.  Cash, checks, or credit cards are acceptable. Checks & attendee’s names can be mailed to the Chamber at 9815 Mackenzie Rd., Affton, MO 63123. For more information or to pay by credit card, call 314-631-3100.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:   Larry Stone was selected as 2013 Citizen of the Year honoring his countless hours he has contributed to the Affton Community Improvement Association (ACIA).

             Larry, a thirty-year Affton resident, is currently serving his sixth consecutive term as president of ACIA. The mission of ACIA, co-sponsored by Saint Dominic Savio and Seven Holy Founders Catholic Churches, is “Addressing Community Concerns Through Faith-Based Involvement.” A staunch believer in community betterment, he began his career as a neighborhood organizer and administrative assistant to a St. Louis City mayor. He went on to serve as a community relations director for the former Incarnate Word Hospital, and then for the multi-county Mid-East Area Agency on Aging. Thereafter he served as vice-president of administration of Abbott Ambulance.

            Larry is an active participant of the Affton Chamber as he represents St. Clare Health Center where he currently works as a Community Relations Liaison and Concierge. He is exceptionally proud of his four adult children, 3 sons and 1 daughter, all of whom reside in the St. Louis area.

            Before asking Larry about the benefits of residing or owning a business in Affton, be sure you have more than a few minutes! This is one community activist who is sold on Affton and is deeply committed to assuring it has a positive future.

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR:   Jake Baretich, Owner of J & J Construction & Remodeling St. Louis, was selected as the 2013 Business Person of the Year. 

            Jake established his business in 1993 and has been an active Affton Chamber member since 2009 and served as President in 2013. Jake has been on the board of the Affton Chamber since 2010 and is a member of the following committees: Spring Barbeque, Community & Business Expo, Affton Community Days, Mouse Races, and the Ambassadors. He co-chairs or has co-chaired several of those committees and can be found volunteering at most Chamber events. Jake is a staple in the community as a volunteer and business leader.

            Before donating his time and talent to Affton he was involved for 12 years with the St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Athletic Association and the South County CYC. Jake resides in Affton with his current wife, Carol Jo,  of almost 18 years and is the father of Tony and Beth and has two granddaughters.

Harold O. Kessler Beautification Awards

Commercial New Construction--Award for construction privately funded.

Courtesy Diner, 8000 Laclede Station Road

Larry Rugg, Owner

Courtesy Diner is pleased to be a member of the Affton Community. They strive to contribute to and serve the community to the utmost standard. Courtesy Diner is located in 63123 in the Village of Marlborough. Courtesy Diner has long been a St. Louis tradition. The diner, complete with vinyl seats and checkerboard tiles, is famous for its Slinger, which is considered a St. Louis original by many. This is the 3rd Courtesy Diner owned by Mr. Rugg.

River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Boulevard.

Neil Walkoff, Executive V-P of Operations, Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

            The completion of the $82-million expansion to the River City Complex unveiled an elegant 200-room hotel, a 14,000 square foot Event Center, a covered 1,600-space parking garage and completed an extensive two-year investment commitment to St. Louis County.

           Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, the 7-story hotel offers 193 elegant guest rooms, six spacious 2-bay suites and a luxurious Presidential suite—all just steps away from the casino’s award winning restaurants. This complex is now truly a destination point in the St. Louis area of South County.

SharpShooter Pit & Grill, 8135 Gravois Road

Keith Brooks, Owner

            The SharpShooter Pit & Grill adjoins the largest indoor shooting range & training center built by Keith Brooks, owner of South Side Jewelry & Loan at 8101 Gravois Road. The restaurant includes a 52-seat full service eatery serving smoked meat and barbeque—fresh daily. Brooks has hired 23 new employees to staff the new facilities. Keith has been in business over 22 years starting with South Side Pawn.

          The investment in this new combination venture was $2.75 million and is expected to attract more interest in this area of Affton, as seen with the major renovation of Essex Industries last year and this year’s renovations at St. Louis Bone and Joint Center, described below.

Commercial Renovation--Award for renovation privately financed.

Saint Louis Bone and Joint Center, LLC, 8000 Gravois Road

Dr. Eric W. Werner

            Dr. Werner purchased Morris Family Chiropractic in August 2012, shortly after graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic. While the configuration of the office space was already comfortable & pleasant, Dr. Werner decided to make some changes to the aesthetics of the office to reflect his taste and enhance patient flow. Changes were made to the reception area and the main treatment room was given a more modern and open look.

            The second treatment room was converted to a massage therapy suite for the recently hired massage therapist creating a relaxing spa-type setting.

            Dr. Werner and his Dad personally made these changes to the practice and the resulting ambience provides a great deal of pride to Dr. Werner. You could say the office is now very “well adjusted!”

State Farm Agency, 9907 Gravois Road

Dane Huxel, Agent

            For two months, the space at 9907 Gravois underwent a huge gutting and renovating of the space. Huxel opened the new office in January of 2013 with a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate and show off the new office. The newly renovated space now provides an office for Huxel, cubicles for his employees, an employee kitchen and an open waiting room with a TV. The office is brightly decorated to match the cheerfulness of his staff.

          This is a two-story office building with the entrance to the State Farm Agency on Gravois. The State Farm wrapped vehicle attracts much attention as drivers pass by the building.

          When in the area of any of these beautification projects, stop by and thank them for investing money in the area.