Mike Patrick accepted the 2008 Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award on behalf of Taylor Lumber Company at the chamber's annual banquet in Cedarville Wednesday, November 5. Taylor Lumber Company was named the 2008 Business of the Year at the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Wednesday, November 5.

"I was surprised," manager Mike Patrick said. "There's other businesses out there that could've as easily won this."

Mr. Patrick accepted the award on behalf of the lumber company at the banquet at Ang-Gio's Restaurant in Cedarville. Taylor Lumber in Cedarville is owned by Brien Hanna and has 10 employees: Kirsten Bohn, Jon Clegg, Mike Gay, Jared Hanna, Ron Hill, Tim Miller, Mr. Patrick, Laurie Reid, Lisa Strait, and Barb Waybrant.

"We have a lot of good people in our company that do a lot of good work," Mr. Patrick said. "They really love this community."

Mr. Hanna also owns Pickford Building Center in Pickford, Straits Building Center in St. Ignace, and DeTour-Drummond Building Center in DeTour Township.

The Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce board of directors are (front, from left) Dan Autore, vice president, Diane Patrick, president, Joanne Waybrant, secretary and treasurer, Dana Torsky; (back) Denis Fox, Jon Steinbach, Shannon Thon, Stacy Honnila, and Amy Polk, coordinator. Not pictured is Mike Schaeffer. Taylor Lumber was chosen because it is a contributor to community growth and has supplied steady employment for many years, said Joanne Waybrant, chamber secretary and treasurer. Taylor Lumber opened in the 1940s as a sawmill.

Chamber members were asked to nominate companies and rate them based on eight criteria, including contribution to community, great presentation, commitment to community, good service provider, good role model, good business networking, products and service to the community, and regular business hours. The winner was chosen based on the cumulative score of all categories.

"When ballots were tallied, one business received several nominations and scored favorably in all eight categories," Ms. Waybrant said in announcing the winner. Taylor Lumber "has consistently been a leader in the Les Cheneaux business community."

Mr. Patrick said his wife, Diane Patrick, who is the chamber president, did not give him any clue as to which company was to be chosen as business of the year.

Past businesses of the year include Cedar Pantry (2007) and Cedarville Foods (2006).