10-26-2015 1:44am

Gallery: An Evening to Celebrate Saline's Best Businesses

The 20th Annual Business Enterprise Awards Dinner was held at Stonebridge Golf Club on Thursday night, October 22. This year Dan Kolander, owner of Dan’s Downtown Tavern, and Steve Jedele, owner of Steve’s Custom Signs, were honored by the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce.

The event started with time for social interaction and beverages. Gary Mull provided music on the keyboard.

Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Director Art Trapp officially kicked of the event talking of the significance of the award.

“The Business Enterprise Award is widely recognized as one of the most meaningful and prestigious tributes to business that can be received in the city of Saline,” Trapp said. “In a sense, the annual Business Enterprise Award has come to represent the most important recognition our chamber can give.”

The main course of the dinner was a choice of prime rib or grilled chicken breasts. This was complimented by potatoes and other vegetable delights.

After the dinner, Christine Houk of Key Bank rose to speak. Key Bank is the financial sponsor of the dinner.

Houk congratulated the two winners. When she mentioned Dan’s Tavern, Kolander’s exuberant daughter Danielle shouted, ‘Hey!” while the crowd laughed and applauded. It was not the only time she upstaged her dad at the event.

For each winner, a parade of dignitaries rose to offer their congratulations. These included Dustin Krasny, representing Congressman Tim Walberg, Brian Merlos, representing Representative Gretchen Driskell and Mayor Brian Marl representing both County Commissioner Alicia Ping and himself.

Steve Jedele received the small business award, “small” meaning twenty employees or less. He expressed his gratitude for being chosen.

“We’ve come a long way in the last 15 years,” Jedele said. “I’m not sure why when an 18-year-old comes up to his parents and says I want to open a sign shop in their house they say yes, but it happened.”

After a brief political message supporting his boss, Krasny spoke of having attended high school with Steve. He said Steve was the same lovable guy now as he was then.

Saline’s mayor offered his congratulations.

“On behalf of the city of Saline,” Marl said. “I have to say that we are impressed and really amazed at how your business has grown and matured and prospered in the past 15 years. It’s a testament to your work ethic, your determination and also the way that you treat your customers.”

After the tributes, Jim Haessler, last year’s winner of the award, came up to pass the winner’s cup to Jedele.

Dan Kolander received the large business award. When he began his tavern in 1996, he had three employees, but now he has 41. He has also expanded into three buildings.

Kolander, accompanied by daughter Danielle, thanked his parents, wife, family and customers.

“Without the customers we are nothing,” Kolander said. “Customers are number one.”

As he did with Jedele, Krasny had a special connection to Kolander. Krasny was one of Kolander’s early employees, flipping burgers on the grill.

“So thanks Dan for giving me my start and adding to my resume,” Krasny said.

Mayor Marl presented Kolander with a key to the city. Marl said that keys are only presented to “the best and the brightest” of those who make Saline a special place.

“Of all of our businesses, especially the businesses in our downtown, Dan you really have an eclectic clientele: from business types at lunch to families in the evening to a more traditional beer crowd – of which I’m a part,” Marl said.

After the tributes, Key Bank’s Christine Houk, last year’s recipient, reluctantly handed over the winner’s cup to Kolander.

“I can come visit it, right?” Houk asked.

The awards presentation was followed by the dessert course. The happy winners posed with friends and family.