'No one accomplishes anything alone'

By PAT JENKINS

Editor

Starting as a young girl, Barbara Reid never forgot the example of community service set by her mother and other Red Cross volunteers.

“It’s how you’re raised,” Reid said in explaining her own community involvement that led to her selection as the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year for 2003.

Reid was one of four award winners at the chamber’s annual banquet and auction last Saturday at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club. Bob Wroblewski was named Volunteer of the Year, Pacific Coast Ford was selected as Large Business of the Year, and the Mirror was chosen as Small Business of the Year.

The awards came from the public’s nominations of local citizens and businesses making valuable contributions to the Federal Way community.

Retiring from Boeing in 1993 as an in-house account representative didn’t mean idle time awaited Reid. “I was going to have all these days free. I wasn’t used to doing nothing,” she said.

She served on the city Parks and Recreation Commission for six years, helping the development of Celebration Park and other projects. She also has volunteered heavily with the Federal Way Symphony, handled publicity and other chores for the Festival Days summer community festival, and helped plan a communitywide event in which families spread wildflower seeds along the BPA Trail.

Reid said she “was thrilled” by the award, but she added, “No one accomplishes anything alone. Every project has lots of help from many people.”

Wroblewski, the Volunteer of the Year, was hailed by the chamber as “a quiet leader, personable and a natural mentor. He is the example of a community servant investing time, shared vision, a lot of personal money and commitment to everything he does.”

Wroblewski, director of corporate human resources for Weyerhaeuser, was a founding member of Advancing Leadership, a community-service program started six years ago by the chamber. He also serves on boards of the chamber, the Multi-Service Center and a homeowners association.

Pacific Coast Ford, the Large Business of the Year, has 65 employees and is owned by Floyd Little, a former National Football League star running back. He and the automotive sales and service dealership are known for their community involvement, including sponsorship of Festival Days, the Red, White and Blues Festival and the Federal Way Symphony.

The Mirror was named Small Business of the Year because of its support of numerous non-profit organizations, its efforts to educate and inform the public, and its “positive direction” in overall community involvement, said Tom Pierson, chief executive officer of the chamber.

The black-tie banquet and auction was the chamber’s 51st.

Editor Pat Jenkins: 925-5565, editor@fedwaymirror.com

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