The Greater Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce held its annual December gala to present excellence awards to local businesses, leaders and volunteers.

The event held earlier this month also served as a changeover to thank past board members and welcome next year’s leadership team. This year, the night ended with words of wisdom from former Idaho Central Credit Union CEO Kent Oram.

Chamber board President Nayeli Morales welcomed the audience of leaders in businesses, nonprofits, the city of Blackfoot, Bingham County and the state Legislature. She said the chamber has 183 members, including 24 new members this year. The chamber also held eight ribbon cuttings, five business tours, 10 networking luncheons and 10 community events and legislative meetings.

In addition to this support for the community, the chamber maintains a business directory of its members, spotlights businesses every month and helps businesses market their events and services through a monthly newsletter, social media and marquee signs.

Morales awarded the President Award to Chamber Director Jamie Popejoy, who described the vision of the chamber as “making Blackfoot the best community to live, work and grow up in.” Jamie Popejoy’s assistant, Dalicia Talavera, and Volunteer of the Year Josh Popejoy have helped her in this mission. Both Popejoys are committed to the success of the chamber and the greater Blackfoot community.

Jamie Popejoy thanked outgoing past President Emma Forrey and board member Valerie Jewett, who is becoming an ex-officio board member.

To begin the next year, Jamie Popejoy welcomed new President Scott Smith and new board members Kenyon Martin of Elite Restoration and Nicholas Buell of the Families of the Fallen. In this reshaping of the board, Morales becomes the past president, Tiffany Olsen becomes the vice president and Preston Simpson becomes the treasurer. One board seat remains vacant.

In an interview this week, Smith said his goal is to keep building and growing the chamber, refining events as needed. He invites the community to get involved. His vision is that the chamber isn’t only for businesses — it is also another way to serve the greater Blackfoot community.

After dinner, the chamber gave eight yearly awards. Idaho Central Credit Union received the Business of the Year Award, and the Candy Jar won the Small Business of the Year award. The Community Dinner Table won the nonprofit organization of the year award, and Hayden Lee of Spot on Solutions earned Volunteer of the Year. The Spirit of the Chamber Award went to board member Cindy Reese, and the Best Foot Forward Award went to Morales, the outgoing board president. Reese also received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The chamber established a new award this year — the Gary Baumgartner Community Legacy Award. A pillar in the Blackfoot community and previous chamber president, Baumgartner died earlier this year. He also served on the Bingham Healthcare Board and owned Blackfoot Paint and Glass. His niece, newly installed Vice President Olsen, presented the award to his family.

Keynote speaker Oram echoed Smith’s focus on community involvement when he traced his own rise in Idaho Central Credit Union leadership through community outreach programs. Along the way, he learned that it is “hard work being a soft manager,” and he shared more than 20 of his insights with the room of leaders.

Among his insights were common-sense admonitions — to lead with integrity, keep your eyes on your vision, be accountable, be grateful, give more than you take, and not only set goals but celebrate achieving them, too.

Less common lessons he learned were to give people the benefit of the doubt and find out their story before making judgments, hire smarter than yourself, offer protection and don’t pressure those you lead. He also spoke about showing passion instead of anger, and, “listen, listen, listen, and learn, learn, learn.”

Oram challenged everyone to learn something new every day. The breadth of his admonitions showed that he practices what he preaches and has been learning daily for decades. When asked, he listed at least a dozen books he would recommend.

Another lesson he highlighted is to trust those around you and delegate responsibilities to them. Some of that lesson came after a “life-defining moment” when he was nearly killed in a car accident — a crash that left him in chronic pain as he slowly heals.

Through his loss and healing and after a lifetime of many achievements, his humble perspective remains, “My best days are before me,” an appropriately fitting message to start the new year with.