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Marysville honors local businesses at first council-hosted Business Awards
Summary
Marysville presented historic business, obstacle-overcomer and community-champion awards to Windermir Real Estate, Hope Hills Northwest and Symmetria Integrative Medical; winners described community service, recovery housing and free school health services, and the council introduced new utilities director Eric Johnston.
Marysville’s City Council used its June 1 work session to present the city’s Business Awards and to introduce the new utilities and maintenance services director.
Council President Stevens said the city launched the awards to recognize businesses that go beyond everyday operations to make measurable community contributions. The historic business award went to Windermir Real Estate; the council noted several decades of service and more than $44,000 in contributions to the Marysville Community Food Bank over four years.
Owner Jim Rowley accepted the award and emphasized multigenerational ties to Marysville, citing family history on the city’s first council and thanking his staff: "It's a team. It isn't me," he said.
The obstacle-overcomer award recognized Hope Hills Northwest for operating structured sober-living homes for women and expanding peer-based recovery supports. Kira Dragitch, who helped found the program three years ago, said Hope Hills operates two women’s houses in Marysville with 21 beds and recent additions of case-management staff who are program graduates; she credited the homes’ approach—"we lead with empathy"—for helping residents obtain IDs, jobs and housing.
The community-champion award honored Symmetria Integrative Medical for outreach including free sports physicals at schools, toy and clothing drives, wellness seminars, and other community programs. Representatives said the clinic’s outreach aims to remove barriers to care and support local families.
Mayor Nearing also introduced Eric Johnston as the city’s new utilities and maintenance services director; Johnston said he had completed his fourth day on the job and thanked staff for a warm welcome. Council members congratulated award winners, thanked staff for organizing the event and noted appreciation for businesses’ volunteerism across local nonprofits and schools.
No formal council action was taken on the awards beyond recognition; the meeting then moved to a detailed discussion of a memorial-sign program presented by city staff.
