Recognizing local business leaders

January is a good time of year to recognize and support businesseses in the local community.

Both the Mantorville and Kasson Chambers of Commerce have recently held their annual meetings and yearly banquets.

Mantorville Chamber members and friends gathered on January 19 at the Hubbell House while the Kasson Chamber had its annual meeting last Thursday, also at the Hubbell House. In both cases members celebrated the accomplishments of the past year and looked ahead to the future.

In the case of Kasson, two annual awards were given out to two deserving recipients.

John Buckingham was named the Businessperson of the Year and Ping and Mei Zheng of Buffet King were named recipients of the Legacy Award.

Buckingham has been a Kasson resident since 1973, when he moved to the community and shortly thereafter began building and remodeling homes. He is currently a broker and associated with Buckingham Home Team of Keller Williams. Beyond his professional duties, he has been involved with a variety of civic organizations including bell ringing for the Salvation Army, donating to Ready Set Learn and local daycares and others as well as with the Chamber of Commerce.

Ping and Mei Zheng are immigrants from China and opened the Buffet King restaurant in Kasson in 2004. Ping arrived in the United States in the early 1990s and Mei came later. They lived in Kasson since opening their restaurant and raised their two children here, both attending Kasson-Mantorville schools.

The couple recently retired and have passed the torch to the new owners of the newly renamed Haku Asian.

Buckingham and Ping and Mei are all deserving of their awards.

In honoring these business people, it is good to remember that Kasson, Mantorville, Byron and the surrounding counties are thriving communities. Though they are not immune from the economic challenges that are facing all communities and individuals this area is continuing to grow.

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s awards.