Ozarks Technical Community College will present its 2012 Excellence in Business Award to Jack and Peter Herschend, co-founders and co-owners of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp.
The March 9 award ceremony at the Hickory Hills Country Club also will feature a conversation with the Herschends led by Jim Anderson, president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, according to an OTC news release.
OTC selects honorees for the Excellence in Business Award based on:
- leadership in Ozarks business;
- entrepreneurial success;
- innovative business growth;
- the ability to overcome challenges;
- support of education;
- customer quality; and
- community achievement.
HFE owns, operates and manages 26 themed properties, including Silver Dollar City in Branson, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, N.J., Classic Cable Car Sightseeing in San Francisco, and Norcross, Ga.-based Ride the Ducks.
Jack Herschend is chairman emeritus of the HFE Board of Directors and has previously served as chairman, president and CEO of the company. His brother, Peter, was executive vice president of the company for 20 years and served as vice chairman of the board until he retired from that position in 2006.
Jack Herschend also serves on the boards of Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, Kids Across America and the National Institute of Marriage. He received the
1999 Lawrence Enersen Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for his conversation work and for the creation of the nonprofit Gift of Green, which was created with the intention of replacing trees lost in the growth expansion of the Branson area.
Peter Herschend serves as chairman of the board of the Upper White River Basin Foundation, aka Ozarks Water Watch, and serves on the boards for Camp Barnabas and the Missouri State Board of Education. He recently was named Education Supporter of the Year by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. He also has been involved with the boards of the Missouri Attractions Association, Travel Industry Association of America, International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, and the Ozark Marketing Council, according to the release.
Past honorees of the award include John Q. Hammons, members of the O'Reilly family, Jack Stack, Bill Turner, Carol Jones and Sam Hamra.[[In-content Ad]]
