Peter Pronko, master horologist and co-owner of Proper Time watch and jewelry store in Wellington, received the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce “Member of the Year” award for 2013 during the chamber’s annual dinner on Oct. 10.
Pronko, who owns Proper Time with with his wife Diana, was active in the Wellington map project and has been working with former Wellington trustee Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca in spearheading the Department of Local Affairs effort to revitalize Wellington through the Main Street project. Pronko heads the project’s economic restructuring committee. He also organized a downtown development seminar in the past year.
“It was unexpected,” Pronko said of his award. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the Chamber of Commerce on the Main Street project.”
Walter Lamia, chair of the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the award and praised Pronko for “epitomizing the cooperative attitude we are striving to foster in the Chamber of Commerce.”
The North Forty News was recognized as the “Business of the Year” for 2013. The paper moved from LaPorte to Wellington in July 2012. “LaPorte’s loss was our gain,” Lamia said. “The paper prioritizes Wellington in their editorial content and the advertising pages allow local businesses to promote their products and services.”
Doug Conarroe, the paper’s publisher, has been an active participant on the chamber board and its committees.