After weeks of receiving nominations, the final selection has been made for Citizens of the Year and Businesses of the Year by the Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce.

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These special citizens and businesses will be honored during the Chamber’s annual banquet, which will be held on Friday, November 6, at the Douglas Country Club.  Cost of tickets are only $25 and can be purchased from Chamber Board members or at the Douglas Dispatch.

Keynote speaker during the event will be Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.

Selected as Man and Woman of the Year  are Edward Page and Cathy Keiser.

The Large Business of the Year is Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Small Business is Roy Clark and Baxter Plumbing, while the New Business of the Year is the ACCT Call Center.

This year, the Chamber also awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards to Jesus “Chuy” Escarcega and Bob Fernandez.

Small Business of the Year-Baxter Plumbing

Roy Clark and baxter Plumbing has been serving the community since 1989 as owner of the company.

Born in Bisbee in 1953, his father worked for Phelps  Dodge. When he was five years old,, the family moved to Douglas, and Roy Clark attended Douglas schools until graduation in 1971. He started working for Bud Baxter in 1972, until Bud Baxter decided to retire and Roy Clark purchased the business.

Raleigh Fullen continued to work for the company until he retired in 2002.

Baxter Plumbing does repair and drain cleaning, as well as work on water heaters, furnaces, coolers and gas service.

Large Business - Chiricahua Community Health Center

The Large Business of the year is the Jennifer "Ginger" Ryan Clinic, located at 1100 F Avenue in Douglas.

Located in historic downtown Douglas, the Jennifer "Ginger" Ryan Clinic is Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. largest clinic. Opened in January 2001, we quickly outgrew our original site and in 2005 purchased a larger facility. This facility is home to our two board certified pediatricians as well as ten additional providers.

Services include:

Preventive Medicine, Chronic Disease Management Program -Diabetes Education, Women's Health, Prenatal Care, Well Child Check Ups, Immunizations, Patient Assistance Program, Physicals (Sports, CDL's, DOT and Pre-employment), Laboratory, Referral Service, AHCCCS Eligibility Assistance, Transportation and Pediatric Care.

New Business - Advanced Call Center Technologies

Ever since it opened in mid 2008, Advanced Call Center Technologies, located on 10th Street, has  had a dramatic impact on the Douglas economy.

It now has more than 300 employees and is one of the largest employers in the area. It’s impact has been felt countywide, in that it is positively affecting the overall unemployment rate for the county and make the Douglas rate among the lowest in the area.

The center grew out of a partnership between the city and ACCT and has the potential to employ 800.

Founded in Georgia in 1996, ACT began delivering a full range of CRM services.  ACT is a privately held corporation headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.