Page 57 - 2024 Community Profile

CHAMBER

Mover and Shaker Award Winners

The Chamber unveiled a new honor worked many volunteer hours to plan Leadership Crawford
at its 2023 Annual Meeting in June. the park from inception to completion,”
The Mover and Shaker Award, as the said Clifford Lyon, President of the Van County, Class of 2022 -
name implies, recognizes an individual Buren Lions Club. “It is because of his Special Project Team 4
or group of people who demonstrate commitment to this park that it is here Theresa Bell, Misty Evans,
dissatisfaction with the status quo and today for the young kids to enjoy.”
Phillip Faucette, Heather
a willingness to do what’s necessary The late Gene Bell’s four daughters
Hoffsommer, Kyle Pierce,
to move projects forward for the agreed. “He was the one that was
and Zach Throneberry
betterment of the community. instrumental in getting the planning and
Each year, the Leadership Crawford
development going for the park,” wrote
County (LCC) class is divided into teams
the sisters in their nomination. “He is a
very hard worker for the future of Van and tasked with identifying a special
project that can meet a community need.
Buren.”
Team four of the 2022 LCC Class chose a
In addition to his work on the park,
project that is now under construction in
McDaniel has served on the boards of
City Park – a skate and dog park.
both Keep Van Buren Beautiful and the
Lions Club. John Pope, Director of Keep “They wanted a location that is a
main attraction for kids, parents and
Van Buren Beautiful, put it simply – “If
visitors, and proposed turning an old
you want to get something done, SEE
memory – City Pool – into a new reality
JOE.”
for the next generation,” explained

Joe McDaniel receives his Mover and Shaker Fast.
Award from Mayor Joe Hurst at the Annual
Meeting. Photo courtesy of The Chamber.
Reliable.
Joe McDaniel
McDaniel was nominated by several
of his fellow Lions Club members, who Local.
all recognized him as the personification
of the term “Mover and Shaker.” He
is credited with coming up with the EXPERIENCE THE
idea to build a park on the site that
formerly housed the Van Buren Police DOBSON CONNECTION.
Department at the corner of 11th and
Chester Streets. High-Speed
Mayor Gene Bell Lions Club Park Fiber Internet &
was dedicated in January 2023, and Phone Systems
serves a neighborhood containing
approximately 600 residential units that dobson.net | 479.242.2000
house over 200 children under the age
of ten. McDaniel’s tireless efforts to work
with the City of Van Buren, the business
community, and the Lions Club to get
the project designed, funded, and built
were outlined on all of the nominations.
“Joe was the driving force who
vanburenchamber.org Van Buren Chamber 2024 Directory 57