By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Nicole Caldwell, Jason F. White and Kelli J. Thesier have different careers and north country experiences, but the three all will receive Young Professionals Awards from the Greater Watertown Jaycees on Thursday.
“All three of them were very active in their careers and professions, but were also really active in their communities,” said Janelle G. Bossuot, a Jaycees member who was on the selection committee. “These are the next generation, being groomed to be leaders for tomorrow, so I think it’s important to recognize them and award them for their achievements so far.”
The awards will be given at a noon luncheon Thursday at Ramada Inn, Route 3. Kenneth J. Eysaman, editor of NNY Business, will speak. Tickets are $20 and registration is by email through jbossuot@shsny.com.
Ms. Caldwell is executive director of Better Farms LLC and betterArts, an organic farm and a nonprofit to increase access to arts for people through artist residence programs, gallery openings and workshops.The New Jersey native moved to the north country after her uncle left his house and land in Redwood to her.
“He started a commune here in 1970, so the people in Redwood still call it the old hippie farm,” Ms. Caldwell said. “The farm overall has the goal to merge the creative spirit and live closer to the earth.”
She began her “huge labor of love and grand experiment” in summer 2009 and saw its programs blossom through this past summer, including college internships for those working on the organic farming aspect and resident artists, who created art for gallery openings and also worked on the farm. A barn renovation was recently finished and betterArts is raising money to offer free workshops and private music and art lessons there, in addition to gallery openings.
Dr. White, a physician with Internal Medicine of NNY, was selected based on his leadership and volunteer work in the community.
He is a native of Watertown who graduated from Watertown High School, Cornell University, Ithaca and Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, and returned to Watertown after completing his residency in Pennsylvania.
“I wanted to come back and make a difference,” he said. “I like the people here and I wanted to raise my family here.”
In addition to professional membership in the Jefferson Physician Organization’s Rewarding Physician Excellence Clinical Committee, Dr. White is active in many downtown revitalization organizations. He is a board member of Neighbors of Watertown Inc., and active in Tree Watertown, Advantage
Watertown and the Black River Committee for Advantage Watertown and the city.
“I think the history of the city was kind of rich in its heyday and I think that a lot of people want to improve the downtown and the core of the city,” he said. “I think there’s kind of a silent majority and we need more leaders who show they care and are willing to spearhead getting involved in those activities.”
He is also a 2006 graduate of Jefferson Leadership Institute.
Ms. Thesier, a chiropractor, owns and operates Carthage Family Chiropractic Care. She is a Carthage native and graduated from Carthage Central High School.
“It’s been my goal since I decided what I wanted to do that I should go to college, become a chiropractor and come back home,” she said. “This is where I was born and raised; I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
She bought the business three years ago. Her business was nominated for the 2010 New Business Venture Award through the Jefferson County Job Development Corporation and was a recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Excellence in Small Business Award in 2009.
“In this type of small business, the most rewarding thing is helping people,” Ms. Thesier said. “Being in a service industry, that’s why I did it.”
Article originally appeared on the Watertown Daily Times website.
Dr. White, a physician with Internal Medicine of NNY, was selected based on his leadership and volunteer work in the community.
He is a native of Watertown who graduated from Watertown High School, Cornell University, Ithaca and Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, and returned to Watertown after completing his residency in Pennsylvania.
“I wanted to come back and make a difference,” he said. “I like the people here and I wanted to raise my family here.”
In addition to professional membership in the Jefferson Physician Organization’s Rewarding Physician Excellence Clinical Committee, Dr. White is active in many downtown revitalization organizations. He is a board member of Neighbors of Watertown Inc., and active in Tree Watertown, Advantage
Watertown and the Black River Committee for Advantage Watertown and the city.
“I think the history of the city was kind of rich in its heyday and I think that a lot of people want to improve the downtown and the core of the city,” he said. “I think there’s kind of a silent majority and we need more leaders who show they care and are willing to spearhead getting involved in those activities.”
He is also a 2006 graduate of Jefferson Leadership Institute.
Ms. Thesier, a chiropractor, owns and operates Carthage Family Chiropractic Care. She is a Carthage native and graduated from Carthage Central High School.
“It’s been my goal since I decided what I wanted to do that I should go to college, become a chiropractor and come back home,” she said. “This is where I was born and raised; I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
She bought the business three years ago. Her business was nominated for the 2010 New Business Venture Award through the Jefferson County Job Development Corporation and was a recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Excellence in Small Business Award in 2009.
“In this type of small business, the most rewarding thing is helping people,” Ms. Thesier said. “Being in a service industry, that’s why I did it.”
Article originally appeared on the Watertown Daily Times website.