Midwest Partnership has named the recipient of its 2014 Guy Powell Award, and it is Lake Panorama resident Dale Grotjohn.

Grotjohn has been a staple in the Guthrie County community for more than 40 years, and he currently sits on the board of directors for Panora Telco, Lake Panorama RIZ, the Panora Area Development Group (PRIDE), Guthrie County Historical Village and the Guthrie County Hospital Foundation according to his nominator Andrew Randol, General Manager of Panora Telco.

Grotjohn says he is “humbled and honored” to receive this year’s award, especially considering he had a close relationship with Guy Powell himself.

“Before it was Midwest Partnership it was the I-80 Development.  We were on the Board together for many years and I just got to know him and enjoyed being around him very much.  He was a nice person.”

Grotjohn and his wife moved to Lake Panorama in 1970, and he says he’s as involved as he is in the local area because he simply finds it “enjoyable and rewarding” to help with Guthrie County’s growth.

And while Grotjohn’s presence has meant a lot to the county, he admits that the local area has meant a lot to him too.

“It’s been a very great experience–the Lake, the community, the whole county has been very enlightening.  The lake, when we moved here I think we were probably the sixth house built and now there’s over a thousand… it’s just seeing someof the things that are happening–it’s a good experience.  It’s nice to see everything moving forward.”

Midwest Partnership Executive Director Chad Schreck says the essence of the Guy Powell Award is to honor someone who has had a “particularly significant economic impact” on the local area.

Dale Grotjohn certainly fits that billing.