Chamber Awards

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Nominate a Business or Individual for this year's Midland Chamber of Commerce Awards!

We’re thrilled to announce that the Midland Chamber's 2024 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon is just around the corner! This year, we have added awards to expand our recognition and celebration of the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals who significantly impact our community. Your nominations are crucial to helping us honor those who go above and beyond.

Categories for Nominations

Citizen of the Year Award

The Citizen of the Year Award recognizes someone who has significantly enriched our community through exceptional commitment and selflessness. This award celebrates achievements in volunteer work, leadership, advocacy, or acts of kindness from June 30, 2023, to July 1, 2024.

Nominees should demonstrate a passion for improving lives, innovative solutions to local challenges, and the ability to inspire others. They should embody compassion, integrity, and resilience while fostering unity and leaving a lasting legacy.

Nominate for Citizen of the Year Award

Heart of Midland Awards

Heart of Midland Award – Small Business (50 employees or less)

Heart of Midland Award – Large Business (51 employees or more)

The Heart of Midland Award is an honor presented to two distinguished businesses, one large and one small, that exemplify exceptional community support through dedicated action and engagement. This award recognizes organizations that go above and beyond to impact Midland positively.

Nominees for the Heart of Midland Award are businesses that integrate community support into their core values and operations. They actively encourage employees to participate in and contribute to local initiatives, volunteer efforts, and philanthropic activities. Award recipients are characterized by their innovative approaches to community engagement, collaborative efforts with local organizations, and a sustained commitment to enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Nominate for Heart of Midland Award (Small Business)

Nominate for Heart of Midland Award (Large Business)

Wynn Award

The Wynn Award celebrates exceptional and enduring achievements in Midland's community and economic development.

Named for Marvin Wynn, former CEO of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, this award honors individuals who have contributed at least ten years of impactful work to driving economic growth and enhancing community well-being.

Recipients are recognized for their dedication to innovation, collaboration, and sustainable excellence.

Like the award’s namesake, recipients’ leadership and integrity inspire others to advance community and economic development with vision and impact.

Nominate for Wynn Award

Marvin L. Wynn

Biography

For 83 years, family and friends enjoyed the quick wit and good humor, genuine spirit, and energetic camaraderie that Marvin Wynn embodied and shared with all. Marvin was a brilliant mind and quiet leader who was respected and admired for his talents and economic development expertise.

Born on October 11, 1933, in Lexington, Mississippi, Marvin had an infectious and powerfully positive attitude combined with an incredible work ethic that helped him excel in his academic pursuits despite financial challenges. After his graduation from Brandon High School in Brandon, Mississippi, Marvin attended Mississippi Southern College (now University of Southern Mississippi) before graduating with his Bachelor's Degree from Mississippi College in 1963. Marvin would be the first to tell you about the value of an education and a college degree because it helped him overcome the challenges of his impoverished upbringing and provided numerous opportunities.

Marvin's celebrated a 42-year career in economic development, that spanned four communities and three states, started by chance with an economic development position at the Mid-Mississippi Development District in Newton, Mississippi. This led to his qualification for the coveted designation of Certified Economic Developer after being in the first class of the Economic Development Institute at his beloved University of Oklahoma. After serving over 13 years as the Vice President of Economic Development for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and leading Tulsa's efforts to transition from an oil-dependent economy to a more diversified base, Marvin joined a private real estate firm and was soon appointed as a Trustee of Tulsa Industrial Authority.

Marvin went on to be recruited and selected to become the Chief Operating Officer of the Wichita/Sedgwick County Partnership in Wichita, Kansas where it was recognized with the prestigious Excellence in Economic Development Award by the Arthur D. Little Company. Marvin strived to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the communities where he worked in economic development and chamber of commerce management. This passion was recognized by the Midland Chamber of Commerce which brought Marvin on as the President and Chief Executive Officer where he was a behind-the-scenes force in developing the Midland International Airport Terminal, the visitors' center, the Scharbauer Sports Complex, the enactment of the economic development sales tax and the recruitment of major employers to the Tall City.

Marvin maintained state, regional, and national professional economic development association memberships throughout his career. He was elected President of the Southern Economic Development Council and President of the Kansas Industrial Development Association, along with a Board of Directors position, recognition with the Marvin Hurley Award, and ultimately an Honorary Life Membership by the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. Locally, Marvin was an honorary life member of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Directors of the Senior Link Midland, a member of the Midland Downtown Rotary Club, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Midland.It can be debated if Marvin's career as one of the country's leading economic developers took him places or if Marvin took his career places.

Whichever is the case, over the years Marvin encountered three United States presidents, two Russian presidents, an editorial board meeting with the London Times, and a memorable recruitment experience with Hilti Corporation from Liechtenstein. Along the way, Marvin also turned down an appointment as Secretary of Commerce in the State of Delaware. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000, Marvin retired in 2004 to face the challenges of dealing with this debilitating disease. Marvin attributes his accomplished career and his great life to his education and to his wife of 40 years, Susan Gish Wynn, whom he married on September 17, 1976, and was quickly nicknamed "Mister Amazing" by his bride.

While Susan failed to ever teach Marvin to dance, she did teach him to dress, how to relax and have fun, how to shower his grandchildren with affection, and what it means to truly love another. In return, Marvin taught Susan how to properly cheer for his Oklahoma Sooners. Without Susan's devotion, love and caretaking, Marvin would not have been able to deal with the effects of his Parkinson’s disease as easily.

Wynn Award Winners

2023 Wynn Award Winner, A lifetime community volunteer, Hotchkiss has filled her 50-plus years as an engaged Midlander with service on numerous local and state boards. A consistent leader in the community, Hotchkiss served on Midland City Council for six years after dedicating nine years to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission. She was the governor’s appointee to the Texas Workforce Investment Council, serving as vice chair for eight years. She also co-chaired the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Pollution Prevention Oversight Committee. Hotchkiss served on the boards for Keep Midland Beautiful, Keep Texas Beautiful and George W. Bush Childhood Home. She is a past president of the Midland Junior League and was a member of the Midland Reporter-Telegram’s Community Editorial Board. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Midland Downtown Park Conservancy. In 2011, Hotchkiss was the recipient of the Keep America Beautiful Lady Bird Johnson Award for outstanding female volunteer in the nation. She was honored by President George W. Bush in 2008 with the President’s Call to Service Award for her work with Keep Midland Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful. Driven by her love for her community and can-do spirit, Hotchkiss focused on improving the quality of life for Midlanders in both her career and volunteer activities. As the executive director of Keep Midland Beautiful from 1986 to 1991, Hotchkiss partnered with more than 143 community organization and 120 schools and businesses to instill a sense of pride in the city and foster accountability for taking care of the environment. As an elected official, Hotchkiss was instrumental in creating the Tall City Tomorrow comprehensive plan in 2016 that continues to guide Midland’s growth. The nearly 200-page plan outlines a detailed vision of planned growth in housing and neighborhoods, future commercial development, parks and green spaces, transportation, community quality and character, downtown development, infrastructure, and quality of life. Tall City Tomorrow concludes with a plan to ensure it remains a useful roadmap for future generations of Midland leaders. In addition to the months of work collaborating with colleagues and community members to complete the Tall City Tomorrow plan, Hotchkiss engaged in significant discussions and negotiations that shaped the future of the Tall City. During her tenure on City Council, she worked on projects such as the $100 million bond in 2017 for roads, water and wastewater infrastructure the public-private wastewater partnership between the city and Pioneer Natural Resources; the new City of Midland animal shelter; and renovations of Dennis the Menace Park. A Champion for downtown revitalization, Hotchkiss contributed to the development of Bush Convention Center and Centennial Park. She also worked to diversify the local economy with the approval of the spaceport license for Midland International Air and Spaceport. When Sharla and Bart Hotchkiss moved to Midland in 1971, she brought with her a steadfast dedication to giving back to the community. Her talent, perseverance, and decades of service have helped shape the Tall City into a community that takes care of its spaces, its resources, and its people.

2022 Wynn Award Winner, Donald L. Evans was appointed as the 34th Secretary of the Commerce by President George W. Bush in 2001, where he served until 2005. He was a strong advocate for the free-enterprise system, free and fair trade agreements, and responsible corporate stewardship. To encourage job creation, Evans worked closely with President Bush to reduce taxes, open markets for American goods and services, and promote a level playing field abroad. A trusted friend and advisor for more than three decades, Evans worked on President Bush’s successful Texas gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998 and served as chairman of the 2000 Bush-Cheney Presidential Campaign. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1946, Evans attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1969 and an M.B.A. in 1973. During school breaks, he worked in a Texas steel mill. In 1975, Evans moved to Midland, Texas from Houston and began his career as a “roughneck” working on oil rigs for Tom Brown, Inc., a large independent energy company. Ten years later, he took the helm of the company as CEO, continuing in that position until being tapped by the President to lead the Commerce Department. He also served as the Chairman of Energy Future Holdings Company, formerly TXU Energy, from 2007-2018, and currently he serves as Chairman of The Permian Strategic Partnership. In 1995, Evans was appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents; he was elected chairman in February 1997 and served two consecutive terms. Evans was also a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation for eight years. He was named a University of Texas Distinguished Engineering Alumnus and inducted into the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame in 2002. Currently, Evans serves as the Chairman of the Board of Visitors at MD Anderson and Chairman of the George W. Bush Foundation. Also, he is a senior partner at Quintana Capital Group and senior advisor at Energy Capital Partners. Evans has remained active in his hometown community of Midland, Texas and serves on the Midland Memorial Hospital Board of Governors. His passions in life are his faith, family, and friends. His wife, Susie, of over 50 years passed away April 19, 2021. They have two daughters, one son, and five grandchildren.

2020 Wynn Award Winner, Doug Henson was a key, Midland-born link in the economic development department of the First National Bank that was led by Harry Clark. While Mr. Clark was one of the earliest Certified Industrial Development professionals in the community, Doug, also a Certified Industrial Developer, brought his local knowledge, Texas Tech educational training, and business experience to successfully attract firms to Midland. In his role at the bank, Doug was involved in multiple local development projects. Among them, he managed the bank’s small business lending program to help new entrepreneurs start and grow many businesses. He was at the center of many bank initiatives including expansion of the bank tower from eight to 24 floors, development of the Midland Hilton hotel on the site of the old Scharbauer Hotel, revitalizing Main Street between Wall Street to Illinois Ave, and putting together the “super block” property (that still exists in part) from Big Spring Street to Loraine Street between Missouri and Front. He was integrally involved in most every economic development activity from the late 1960s into the 1980s. After leaving First National Bank of Midland, he provided vision, energy, and direction to the community as a partner with Scharbauer family members in SBC Corporation and the planning and ultimate build-out of Grassland Estates, Grand Ridge, and major commercial areas anchored by Lowes, H-E-B, Scharbauer Sports Complex, Crestview Baptist Church, Chevron, OXY, and EOG. Doug has always worked to make Midland a better place. In addition to having served multiple times on the Board of Directors of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, Doug also served as President of the Texas Industrial Development Council, was a longtime leader of the Southern Industrial Development Council, and graduated from the three-year Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. Locally, Doug served as President of Ranchland Hills Country Club and on the boards of numerous organizations.

How to Nominate

Review the Categories. Choose the category that best fits the nominee’s achievements.
Submit Your Nomination: Click on the link for each award and complete the online form, which will require details about the nominee and why they deserve recognition.
Provide Supporting Information Include any additional documents or evidence that support the nominee’s qualifications.

Why Nominate?

Nominating an individual or business is a powerful way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication. It also allows our community to recognize those who contribute to our local economy and make our area a better place to live and work. Your nomination helps ensure that the deserving individuals and businesses get the recognition they deserve.

Nominations Deadline

Nominations are to be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Don’t miss this opportunity to spotlight the outstanding contributions within our community. We look forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating our area's exceptional talent and commitment!

For any questions or additional information, please get in touch with us at crissy@midland.biz or 432.683.3381.