The Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce announced that their 2015 “Business Leaders of the Future” Award was presented to JCF’s Executive Director and Co-Founder Chris Pendleton. Colene Martin, the Chamber CEO said, “Each year the chamber recognizes the success of business and personal contributions to the community. We are pleased to let you know that you (Chris Pendleton) have been selected to receive this prestigious award”. The award was presented at an Awards Dinner held January 30, 2016.
“I am excited to receive this award recognizing all that the JCF students and the Board of Directors have accomplished in improving the quality of life for all residents of Josephine County”, said Chris Pendleton in accepting the award.
Pendleton graduated from Hidden Valley High School and returned to the school as a business teacher. During his 20-year tenure at Hidden Valley, he started the local Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter. That chapter has won the Oregon State championship for last 14 years and has had many 1st and 2nd place winners at the National level. In 2011, he and others founded JCF as an organization with the mission of making the residents of the County well-educated, healthy, and prosperous. The student team that presented a business plan to create JCF at the FBLA National competition in 2012 won first place in the nation!
“The tremendous success of JCF in educating students about non-profits and community service is largely due to the day-to-day guidance and hard work of Chris”, said Frank Ault, JCF Board Chairman and Co-Founder.
