Throughout the next several weeks, Niles and Buchanan will celebrate its business community at the respective chambers’ annual awards galas.
Various area businesses will be recognized for longevity, leadership, community service and growth, among a number of other categories. New this year, the organizations will recognize a topic near and dear to my heart: the young leaders focused on making the places they live prosper.
I make it a habit to frequent as many local businesses as I can, not only because I work and live here or because I believe in celebrating the opportunities right in my backyard, but because the people who take the risk to run these businesses are generally pretty great individuals.
I have spent many a lunch chatting with the servers and owner at the Nuggett Bar and Grill.
I enjoy visiting Tina and Sandy at Bella’s to see what cool things they have found to sell in Niles, especially considering the fact that the gift shop’s goods are not easily found anywhere else.
At least once a week I visit Shelton’s to buy meat, produce or yummy snacks from the cheese department that I cannot find at big box stores.
I try to make a point of talking with the people who work at any of the places I shop and dine because there are so many people with wonderful idea, who, for whatever reason, have chosen to work (and, in many cases, live) in southwest Michigan.
For the past year or so I have been meeting with a group of individuals like these, all of whom are dedicated to bettering the business community in the City of Four Flags. At least once a month, this group gathers to discuss where we see Niles headed, what the community may be missing, and how we can best help the city grow.
Similar groups in Dowagiac and South Bend have been successful in revitalizing their respective communities, blending a fresh, youthful perspective with the knowledge and experience of older, more seasoned business people.
We recognize the Niles and Buchanan communities do a lot of things right. Businesses like Shelton’s and Veni’s that have been around for decades are proof that with the right formula of customer service, products and services, marketing and the like, businesses can transcend generations. But we also recognize that ways to accomplish those goals are constantly changing, as are the people who make up any given market.
There are so many young people in this community with talents and skills that could help the next generation of business owners, who desire to make their hometowns even better than they already are.
The group of young leaders I’ve been meeting with this year is so passionate about this core group of individuals — people dedicated to the same vision — that we want to recognize them for their hard work.
At the Buchanan and Niles chamber dinners April 20 and May 18, respectively, we want to recognize a superstar of the next generation — and we’d love your input.
If you know an individual under the age of 40 who shines in Niles or Buchanan, shoot me an email and tell me about him or her. Maybe this person takes on a leadership role in his or her company. Perhaps they go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure their organization thrives. Or maybe they have a ton of cool new ideas they love to share with their peers.
Send me a quick note with the person’s name and occupation, and list a couple of sentences about why they should be recognized.
Check back the Monday after the dinners to find out who the next leaders of your community are. We can’t wait to share!

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com