By Bryan Corliss
Herald Writer
LYNNWOOD – What do you call someone who is active in the Chamber of Commerce, local schools, hospital foundation, workforce training and Rotary Club?
Call him John Knutsen, and make him the recipient of the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce’s John Fluke Sr. Community Service Award for 2001.
The Lynnwood resident will receive the award, the chamber’s highest honor, at the group’s annual dinner on Friday. The award goes each year to someone who exemplifies a “commitment to community service.”
Knutsen certainly does that, according to Howard Chermak, president of the Stevens Hospital Foundation Board and one of those who nominated Knutsen for the award.
“I consider John a leader in every sense of the word,” he told the nominating committee. “I wonder how he has time for all the commitments he makes.”
Knutsen’s commitments are wide-ranging.
He is former chairman of the South Snohomish Chamber and creator of the organization’s Business Excellence Award. He is a former president of the Stevens Hospital Foundation Board, chairman of the Edmonds School District business advisory group, and a member of the Snohomish County Workforce Development executive committee.
He is president-elect of the Alderwood Rotary Club, and a current member of the club’s executive committee. He’s the business representative for the Edmonds School District’s share accountability committee and the Edmonds Community College accreditation committee. And he’s a board member for Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and for the Shoreline Community College technology advisory board.
And he’s co-owner of Express Personnel Services in Lynnwood.
Larry Hanson, The Herald’s publisher emeritus, was among several people who nominated Knutsen for the award. He praised Knutsen’s “energy, talent and clear vision.”
Knutsen’s success starts with his business, Hanson said. “He knows that if he is successful there, he can help his business and the greater community by volunteering and providing leadership in vital community activities.”
Others praised Knutsen’s ability to communicate.
“The most significant contribution John has made to our organization is in relation to his strong presentation and training skills,” said Dave Surface, executive director of Camp Fire USA’s Snohomish County council. Knutsen has a “positive, upbeat and entertaining communication style,” he said.
Dr. Bob Wilson, Rotary’s district governor, agreed, noting that Knutsen gave a “most imaginative and informative presentation last spring at our district conference.”
Knutsen has been actively involved with local community colleges and career training programs.
He also helped organize the Edmonds School District’s career fair and is active in programs that put students in contact with potential employers, Wilson said.
And on the workforce development committee, he has been “instrumental in cutting through the complexities of the federal and state requirements to help us focus on what needs to happen,” Hanson said.
The award is named for John Fluke Sr., whose community involvement was legendary, Hanson said. And if Fluke were alive today, “he would be one of John Knutsen’s biggest fans.”
He was an easy choice for the award, said Jean Hales, the chamber’s executive director. “It would be hard to beat this guy,” she said. “Besides everything else, he’s just a really nice guy.”
You can call Herald Writer Bryan Corliss at 425-339-3454
or send e-mail to corliss@heraldnet.com.
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