Every year the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce honors a small band of deserving individuals who have made a positive impact on the community.
Selflessly giving of their time, energy and talents to improve Oxford, the winners of the chamber’s Community Awards personify the good in all of us and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Joe Young, Chris Lamphear, Kevin Wisely, Alberto Pimentel, and Mary Lou and Jim Bielak will be recognized for their contributions at the chamber’s annual awards banquet 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Boulder Pointe Conference Center. Let’s meet this year’s winners:
Citizen of the Year: Joe Young
Although he’s only been here for a short time, Oxford Village Manager Joe Young has impressed many with his ability to get things done, willingness to work with others and friendly, helpful demeanor.
‘I feel very honored and humbled and flattered,? said Young of his award. ‘This is way beyond anything I’ve ever imagined.?
‘I’m very thankful for the opportunity to help make a difference.?
Young began working for the village in June 2004.
‘I think in those two years a lot of good things have happened,? he said. ‘We’ve got a lot of great people here that really want to move things forward, make it the best community possible.?
One of the things Young enjoys most about his job is ‘matching? people with problems to people with solutions, people with needs to people with means.
From helping a downtown landlord find a tenant to opening the lines of communication when no one’s talking, the village manager’s always on the move, always ready to lend a hand.
‘Sometimes it’s just a matter of making a phone call,? Young said. ‘I like to help facilitate, move things forward, from simple things to big development.?
‘If we just talk and work together, imagine how much more we could accomplish,? he added.
It’s funny, but the two things Young’s well known for around town, balloon animals and cookies, have nothing to do with his managerial duties, but say a lot about him as a person.
Almost every Thursday evening during the summer months, a smiling Joe Young can be found in Centennial Park making free balloon animals for kids during the weekly concerts.
‘I enjoy it,? he said. ‘It’s always a joy to make others happy.?
‘If something as little as that brightens someone’s day, that’s wonderful,? Young noted.
While the kids like the balloons, the adults all clamor for Young’s fresh-baked cookies, which are always in high demand.
‘I didn’t realize they were so popular,? he said. Young brings his cookies to village meetings, to the village offices and even to downtown businesses.
‘It’s just those little things in life that can make a difference,? he said.
Although being named Citizen of the Year is certainly a big honor, Young is looking forward to another new title ? husband. The village manager is getting married to Carol Johnston at the end of June, most likely in Centennial Park’s gazebo.
Young said they’ve been dating for ‘eight wonderful months? and ‘she’s a great lady.?

Adult Youth Volunteer:
Chris Lamphear
The only thing that could take Chris Lamphear away from his volunteer work with local youth is a stunning set of triplets.
After six years of volunteering with Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance, Lamphear stepped down as the group’s chairman when his wife Michelle gave birth to triplets (Cameron, Grayson and Ava) March 10.
But OAYA’s Board of Directors couldn’t let all of Lamphear’s hard work go unrecognized, so they nominated him for the Adult Youth Volunteer award.
‘Chris Lamphear truly exemplifies the best in all of us,? the board wrote.
‘I never expected any kind of attention for doing it,? Lamphear said. ‘It’s not something I ever sought . . . I always thought of it as something that was no big deal, something I just needed to do.?
Lamphear, along with his wife, began volunteering with OAYA in 2000.
‘I’ve always wanted to give to the community,? he said. ‘I really think it’s everybody’s obligation to try to make the lives of people around them a little better.?
Impressed with his abilities and enthusiasm, Lamphear was elected chairman of the OAYA Board of Directors in 2001.
‘It wasn’t long before we noted that his leadership skills were always sincere, positive and effective,? the board wrote. ‘Under his constructive leadership, we were able to continue to provide the same level of programs and services for our youth and their families despite having fewer available volunteers.?
Under Lamphear’s stewardship, new OAYA programs were inaugurated such as the Children’s Community Garden, which allows kids working with adult volunteers to plant and tend a garden that yield baskets of fresh vegetable for area senior citizens.
‘I’ve always felt that helping kids was one of the most influential things you could do,? Lamphear said.
Helping at-risk youth ‘get over a rough patch today? can instill in them a desire to give back and help others when they’re older. ‘Your contribution to them today pays dividends years into the future,? Lamphear said.
Given Lamphear’s devotion to youth, it’s fitting that his reason for stepping down as OAYA chairman is to spend time raising his own children, which includes 5-year-old son Ian and now the triplets.
Just because he’s no longer chairman, don’t look for Lamphear to completely disappear from the scene.
‘Even though I’m no longer on the board, I’ve told them I remain committed and I will continue to do things as much as I can,? he said. ‘Once I have more free time, I’ll try to do more with the group again.?

New Business of the Year: Casa Real
Since opening in December 2005, Casa Real (21 South Washington Street) has spiced up downtown Oxford with its authentic Mexican dishes, festive mariachi bands and hot salsa dancing.
‘Everything we’re doing is for them, for our customers,? said owner Alberto Pimentel.
Pimentel said winning the chamber award is a ‘wonderful experience? and he’s dedicating it to his hard-working staff and customers. ‘I just want to thank the whole community for their business,? he said.
Despite the rave reviews and a parking lot constantly filled to capacity, Pimentel isn’t ready to rest on his laurels.
Over the next two or three months, Casa Real will be making improvements to its decor along with adding special dessert and drink menus. ‘We’re still working on a couple of details,? Pimentel said.
According to Pimentel, most everything the restaurant does is in response to customer comments, requests and suggestions. ‘We’re learning a lot from our customers,? he said. ‘We listen to our customers and we try to do our best for them. They’re like the owners of this place.?

Business Person of the Year:
Kevin Wisely
Dollars and cents are his business, but Kevin Wisely knows the bottom line is really people.
‘Personally, I believe you have to give back to the community that you live in and work in,? said Wisely, Oxford branch manager for T&C Federal Credit Union.
Over the years, Wisely has been involved in a number of charitable causes including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency’s Walk for Warmth and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Clarkston.
Wisely, a Clarkston resident since 1995, also teaches financial education courses
at Gleaners Food Bank of Oakland County and packs holiday food boxes for the Baldwin Center in Pontiac.
Locally, he’s a member of the Oxford Business Networking Group, Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and works as a committee volunteer for Celebrate Oxford.
Participating in charity and community events is ‘part of our corporate culture? at T&C Federal Credit Union, according to Wisely. ‘It’s expected that people are involved,? he said.
Last year, T&C Federal Credit Union employees donated more than 1,600 hours to charitable causes. ‘It’s something that we take great pride in,? Wisely said.
Of course, Wisely admitted he couldn’t do all his volunteer work without his wife of 18 years, Virginia (or ‘Ginny?), keeping the home fires burning and taking care of their children, Erin, 13, and Sean, 8.
‘My wife’s wonderful. She’s very supportive,? Wisely said. ‘I know I couldn’t do it without her support.?

Community Enhancement:
Jim and Mary Lou Bielak
Restoring two historic downtown Oxford buildings damaged by fire to their past glory was like having ‘another full-time job,? according to Jim Bielak.
But in the end, it was satisfying experience and winning a chamber Community Award was the icing on the cake.
‘It feels great,? Jim said. ‘It’s like all your hard work paid off.?
‘I’m impressed, overwhelmed,? Mary Lou said. ‘We’ve done a lot of work here. It was worth it.?
The Bielaks own Beadifferent Boutique (7 N. Washington Street) and the vacant building next door to it (5 N. Washington Street). Both buildings suffered damage in a June 2004 fire.
The couple bought the buildings in December 2004 and began the process of gutting and restoring them.
Jim worked ‘every spare minute? and ‘into the wee hours of the morning.?
‘I never saw him,? Mary Lou said. ‘Sometimes he would work through the whole night.?
Although the project went ‘way over budget and way over time,? according to Jim, ultimately everyone was pleased with the results.
‘My customers say, ‘This is the nicest place down here,?? Mary Lou said.
‘We’re glad to be part of the rebirth of the downtown,? Jim said. ‘We’re hoping this is an impetus for other people to maybe do the same.?