Thacker chamber citizen of the year

As part of its 75th Community Recognition Awards, the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce honored the memory of 2012 Citizen of the Year Bill Henderson.

Henderson died of pancreatic cancer in September.

Wife Dawn and daughter Lindsay attended Saturday’s gala at the Carson Valley Inn, where Henderson worked for 35 years before his death.

“He left an indelible mark on so many, whether working side-by-side with us at the Carson Valley Inn or in volunteering at one of the many organizations in which he served we were all impacted by his commitment to our community,” the dedication read.

The citizen of the year award was renamed for Henderson and was awarded to Douglas High School basketball coach Corey Thacker.

Thacker has coached at Douglas High School since 2008.

“He also coaches the Carson Valley Basketball Association, a youth club basketball program for players third-grade through high school,” the nomination read. Thacker and his family live in Minden.

Volunteer of the year is Kathi Rittenhouse, who volunteers with Project Santa Claus, Minden-Tahoe Airport, Kids Fishing Derby, Genoa Candy Dance and the chamber of commerce.

“She continues a program founded by her mom over 50 years ago, hosting international students at Stanford University,” her nomination said. “She is often the first one to events and the last to leave.”

The nonprofit of the year was the Douglas County Historical Society, which operates both the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Gardnerville and the Genoa Courthouse Museum.

The chamber found the employee of the year in Nevada’s oldest town, honoring Genoa Town Manager JT Chevallier.

Chevallier has served as manager since January 2019.

Service club of the year was the Carson Valley Sertoma Club.

“Like many clubs their fundraising event have been curtailed but that hasn’t kept then from their efforts to ensure they provided scholarships to students, clothes and food to the underserved and funding to other organizations.”

Business of the year is Eddy Street Vintage Market in Gardnerville.

“What started out as a one-weekend event turned into an ongoing business,” the nomination said. “Meredith Fischer gathers friends and family to sell unique gifts and antiques once a month. The pop-up vintage market changes its theme each opening.”