Columbus Chamber makes annual awards at luncheon

Correction: An earlier version of this story had the name of a Schwarze family business incorrect.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting at The Commons Tuesday and presented several annual awards.

John Burnett with the Community Education Coalition received the Community Service award at the annual meeting.

Burnett was cited for his years of service, from becoming director of the coalition in 1997 to his recent semi-retirement. Under his leadership, the Air Park Campus at the Columbus Municipal Airport grew and expanded to its current size, as well as the expansion of programs throughout the region to increase educational attainment.

The community service award is viewed as the most prestigious award the chamber gives and it has been given annually since World War II.

Other award winners included Nexus Park as Community Project of the Year and the Fourth Street Bar and Grill and Fresh Take Kitchen, owned by the late Kurt Schwarze and his wife Kelly Schwarze, received the Business Excellence Award.

Photo: John Burnett receives the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award from Shrikanth Padmanabhan Tuesday.