“Andrew Halverson has provided this community with unparalleled leadership and vision during his time as Mayor of the City of Stevens Point.”

City Times Staff

The Portage Co. Business Council (PCBC) has announced it will present former Mayor Andrew Halverson with its 2014 President’s Award.

The PCBC made the announcement in its January newsletter.

The selection was made by PCBC President Keith Pilger. According to the announcement Halverson was chosen because of his dedication to the Portage County Business Council.

“Andrew Halverson has provided this community with unparalleled leadership and vision during his time as Mayor of the City of Stevens Point,” Pilger said in the announcement. “He has been a vocal member of the Board of Directors of the Portage County Business Council and has provided valuable insight as both an entrepreneur and a public official.”

Pilger also said Halverson’s “record with respect to promoting economic development speaks for itself,” calling him a “dynamic partner” for the PCBC.

The PCBC functions in part as the city’s Chamber of Commerce and receives over $100,000 in taxpayer funds from the City of Stevens Point, Village of Plover and Portage County. The organization is well-known for social networking events like Business After Hours, an annual agricultural appreciation dinner and the “Wines of the World” event each year.

In December Halverson left public office five month early for a job as the Vice President of Business Affairs at Ellis Stone Construction Company, Inc., a member of the PCBC.

According to city documents, Stevens Point awarded more than $17 million in city contracts to Ellis Stone under Halverson’s administration since 2008. Projects included a $4.7 million contract for the city’s new transit office and $9.5 million for municipal well #11 on the city’s east side.

Halverson will receive the President’s Award at the PCBC annual dinner on Jan. 27. The dinner is billed as “a celebration and recognition of the current and past accomplishments of the Portage County Business Council.”