Also names outstanding Member Business
This year the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Bill Brown the Patton award winner. Bill Brown is a respected name in the insurance industry and has been a life long member of the St. Johns community. He has been employed as an insurance agent at Mckenzie Crosby Insurance Agency for more than 20 years.
Bill Brown and his wife Charlene, Ambassador Dean Hartenburg and children of William Patton Tom Patton, Linda Patton and Mary Beth Moldenhauer
He and his wife Charlene have been married for 46 years. He is a devoted father of 4 musically inclined daughters and 6 grandchildren. Bill loves music and is a performer himself playing the guitar and singing mostly country and gospel favorites. He offers his talent performing at the senior center, nursing homes and local churches and sometimes performs with his daughters for local charity events.
Above and foremost he has a true devotion and love of God, his country and his family. He loves the community in which he was born and raised and lives each day to give back to that community and help make it a better place to live and work. Bill likes to joke around and has a great sense of humor. He is a former EMT and past president of the Downtown Business Association, past Deacon at the Seventh Day Adventist Church as well as a former member of the Cemetery Board.
For more than 25 years he has opened his heart and gave of his time in December sharing Christmas music with the inmates at the Clinton County Jail on Christmas Eve. Bill has offered his talent as a fundraiser for many different organizations including 25 years with the Clinton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Clinton Capers. He has performed for benefits with Habitat for Humanity and helped raise money for auditorium seating in the Home Grown Productions at the Wilson Center. He has participated in several local Jerry Lewis Telethons and even provided guest performances at Chamber of Commerce Christmas luncheons. His talent and enthusiasm for music and life in general earned him the induction into the Western Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bill Brown exemplifies all the great qualities of a Christian business man, much like William Patton.
In the late 1980’s the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce developed an award to honor a highly respected businessman in the community Mr. William Patton. The award each year is passed on to someone that confirms to the same high standard of conduct and honor that Mr. Patton lived by in regards to community service, professionalism, religious involvement and highest standard of moral character and conduct.
The Chamber also presented their Outstanding Member Business Award to Alan Nelson of The Cellular Connection. The criteria that is used to select the Outstanding Member Business of the Year is that the business much be located in Clinton County for at least 3 years, be innovative, committed to the community, committed to diversity, demonstrate perseverance and support the mission of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce.
Alan Nelson with employees and Chamber President Ed Bruun and Chamber Ambassador Dean Hartenburg
This year’s recipient starting serving the local community in 2005. They opened under the name of Sunfire Wireless, but changed the name to “The Cellular Connection” I order to become an exclusive Premier Retailer for Verizon Wireless. Alan Nelson, the owner of The Cellular Connection has been very supportive of the community supporting causes such as Multiple Sclerosis Research, The Backpack Giveaway, the St. Johns High School Sea Lions and many other school initiatives such as Culture of Good – Teachers Rock. He is a member of the St. Johns Public Schools Board of Education and a staunch supporter of the St. John’s Fallen Hero’s Program that honors those we have lost due to the war on terror. Recognizing that not everyone can shop 9-5, the Cellular Connection is open for the community until 8 pm Monday through Friday and open on Saturday’s from 10 am to 6 pm.
If you have any questions about the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, please contact them at 989-224-7248.