By HEATHER BAUGHMAN

baughman@crescent-news.com

Community leadership by several individuals and numerous businesses were highlighted Thursday evening during the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet and auction.

Chamber president Tim Small hosted the event, which included music, dinner and live and silent auctions at the Knights of Columbus hall.

During the program, the chamber presented the Quality of Life Award to Donna Polce. After 40 years at the Social Security Administration, Polce recently retired, but is not done serving her community.

Polce earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University. She is married to Vince and has three children, Lisa Becher, Erik Olsson and Jackie Olsson, and two grandchildren, Brittani and Sydney.

In 2005, she received the Citation for Excellence, the Social Security Administration's highest honor given for outstanding leadership in public service; and in 2003, she received a regional Citation of Excellence. She has also been recognized by Mayor Bob Armstrong for her long-standing, dedicated service.

Polce is active at St. Mary's Catholic Church and helps as a Eucharistic minister and with the food pantry. She has served on the housing coalition for the homeless, as an officer for the council of social agencies, on the board of United Way of Defiance County and on the welfare advisory board.

She is currently president of the DC Women's Commission, co-chairman of the 2008-09 campaign for DASH and coordinator for front desk volunteers at Defiance Regional Medical Center.

Upon learning of the award, Polce said surely there were others who were more deserving of the award. "I am indeed flattered" to be among the recipients of the Quality of Life Award, Polce said, adding, "People in this community need people like you and I."

Though retired as of Sept. 3, Polce said, "I intend to continue my service to the community" and continue to bring a quality of life to the residents of northwest Ohio.

Honored with the Mike Schultz Leadership Award was not one person, but a family. The award is given to an individual who exhibits exceptional leadership and dedicates his/her time and talents for the betterment of the Defiance Area. The Hench family was honored with the award for their dedication to the Defiance community and all the communities in which their Chief and Rays stores are located.

Founded in 1951, Chief Super-market Inc. now operates 13 stores in northwest and west central Ohio.

"Chief and their associates focus on being a good neighbor in the area of community involvement, volunteerism and a commitment to the communities where their stores are located," said chamber board chairman Kent Beilharz. "Chief and Rays supermarkets are deeply involved in the communities where their stores are located. The continued success of the company is linked to the vitality of the areas in which they operate. Chief Supermarkets want the communities they serve to be the best they can be, for the benefit of their associates and their customers."

Today, the store remains family-owned by founder Ted Hench's sons, Mark and Eric Hench.

Mark Hench accepted the award for the family, saying the award was "quite an honor." He said it was because of the values that his parents, Ted and Sal Hench, instilled in him that the company is where it is today. "I accept this award for all the citizens who strive to make our community better," he said.

Also during the banquet, numerous companies were recognized with business achievement awards for their years of service and commitment to the Defiance area. Receiving awards were Batt and Stevens Inc., Rurban Financial Corp. and Northwest Mutual Financial Network, 25 years; Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., Defiance Veterinary Clinic, Four County ADAMhs Board, the Laurels of Defiance and Thomas E. Keller Trucking Inc., 30 years; Ken's Furniture, Messerman Machine and Stephen Snavely, Attorney at Law, 35 years; Northwest State Community College, 40 years; Behringer, Herman and Eckhardt DDS, and Weaner, Zimmerman, Bacon, Yoder and Hubbard Ltd., 45 years; Nelson and Bob's Auto Care and Slattery Oil Co. Inc., 50 years; Job 1 USA in Bryan, 55 years; Century 21/Strait Realty, Defiance Regional Medical Center, Duerk Construction, GM Powertrain and Stambaugh Jewelers, 60 years; Kissner's Restaurant, 80 years; Ohio State University Extension Defiance County, 90 years; The Crescent-News, 120 years; and Johns Manville, 150 years.

Retiring officers and board members, Bruce Clevenger, Marc Warncke and Jack Wahl were also recognized for their service to the chamber and Defiance community.