The Moab Chamber of Commerce presented its 2022 awards for citizen, nonprofit, and business of the year at its annual Black & White Banquet at Red Cliffs Lodge on Oct. 29.
Rob Walker was named Citizen of the Year for his “dedication to the wellbeing of our community,” according to an announcement from the Chamber. Walker moved to Moab after a career in the investment industry and dedicated himself to giving back. He has volunteered on local boards including the Moab Area Community Land Trust and Moab Charter School, Grand County Covid Economic Impact Task Force and the Rapid Response Business Relief Committee. He is currently the chair of Moab Community Childcare and serves on the Grand County Economic Development Advisory Board. He was instrumental in forming Moab Community Childcare, a nonprofit with the mission to improve the availability of high-quality, affordable childcare in the Moab Valley. “The Moab Chamber wants to thank him for investing so much into the Moab Community,” members wrote.
The Nonprofit of the Year award went to Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness in Moab. USARA’s Moab staff is Lanette Denton and Heidi Fuger, who “use their lived experience to empower, encourage, support, and inspire others in the community to recover from substance use disorder and improve their quality of life,” wrote the Chamber. USARA holds 8 different group support meetings, helps create personalized recovery management plans, and holds public events to raise awareness of overdose risks. “The Moab Chamber values USARA for their knowledge, wisdom, and successful efforts in supporting such a complex issue that touches so many lives in our community,” the award announcement said.
The Moab Chamber of Commerce awarded its Business of the Year award to the Moab Adventure Center as “a great example of community involvement, leadership, problem solving, and supporting their employees in various ways.” The Moab Adventure Center has invested in its employees through education and professional development, as well as prioritizing employee housing provisions. “Their commitment and love for our community is evident in numerous ways,” wrote Chamber officials. The center contributes to activities and programs at Grand County High School, as well as giving of their time through organized trail clean-up days during the off-season. According to award documentation, staff members serve on the state Utah Office of Tourism board, the Utah Tourism Industry Association board, the local EMS board, Canyonlands Regional Airport Board, the Moab Area Travel Council, the Moab Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Grand County Economic Development Advisory Board. “For these reasons, and so many more, we are proud to present Moab Adventure Center with the 2022 Business of the Year award,” the announcement read.
