Forks Chamber Honors Community Leaders at Annual Awards
Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 23, 2026
The Forks Chamber of Commerce recognized outstanding community members and organizations during its Best of 2025 Awards ceremony held last Wednesday at Blakeslee’s Bar & Grill.
Awards presented included Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Business of the Year, along with the Inez Halverson Community Service Award and the Chamber’s Cornerstone Award, which honors an entity that serves as a foundation of the community.
Susan Shane was named Volunteer of the Year, recognized as a driving force behind the Rainforest Council for the Arts, as well as for her compassion, leadership, and commitment to healthcare in the community.
The Citizen of the Year award went to Trent Thurman, honored for his willingness to step in and help wherever needed. His contributions include volunteering at the community center and other local efforts. Thurman also previously served as president of the Chamber.
Pacific Forest Management, owned by Jeff and Linda McGinley, was recognized as Business of the Year. The company was acknowledged for its continued role as a liaison between the timber industry and local landowners, along with its ongoing support of nonprofit organizations throughout the area.
The Inez Halverson Community Service Award was presented to the Forks Logger’s Memorial and its dedicated volunteers, JoMarie Miller and Martha Paul. Chamber Director Lissy Andros noted the memorial’s importance to the community.
“This memorial holds deep significance for our community and keeps the memory of loved ones who worked and/or were lost while working in the timber industry alive in our hearts and minds,” Andros said, adding that log truck drivers frequently sound their horns in tribute as they pass. She also highlighted recent improvements to the memorial, including enhanced landscaping and ongoing care.
The Chamber’s Cornerstone Award was presented to the Lloyd J. Allen Charitable Trust for its lasting impact across the community. Accepting on behalf of the Trust was Mary Ulin.
“The Allen Trust has been extraordinarily generous to many organizations throughout Forks,” Andros said, citing support for projects such as playground equipment, pickleball courts, the Forks Timber Museum, the FTF Collection, the ODT Bridge, Feeding 5000, FOFA spay and neuter clinics, scholarships, and more. “It stands as a powerful tribute to Lloyd Allen’s legacy and his lasting commitment to the well-being of this community.”
Andros also thanked Chamber staff and volunteers, highlighting a year of strong engagement and growth. The popular Logging and Mill Tour, led by Randy Mesenbrink and Jim Strong, hosted 100 participants last summer. In 2025, Visitor Center staff welcomed a record-setting 90,489 guests and continues to break monthly attendance records. Additionally, 31,656 visitors were welcomed to the FTF Collection downtown in 2025. Since opening the Collection has seen 141,000 visitors year-to-date.
The Chamber would like to thanks those who submitted nominations and all who were nominated.
