Wyandotte Businesswoman Honored as 'True Champion of Downriver'

Anita Twardesky, the marketing and community outreach manager at Wyandotte's Riverside Kayak Connection, was honored Thursday by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber.

Twardesky, who also co-manages the Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative, received the chamber's Image Award at the group's annual member tribute held at the Downriver Italian-American Hall in Wyandotte. 

The Image Award "recognizes an individual or a business that actively promotes a positive image of Southern Wayne County to both the internal and external public."

"Anita is a true champion of Downriver wherever she goes, speaking at conference across the state and nation and working to bring conferences and meetings to experience the natural and cultural assets of Downriver," the chamber said in a written statement.

Four other awards also were handed out:

• The Corporate Citizen Award was presented to DTE Energy.  
• The Community Service Award was presented to Steve Szatmari, owner of the Hungarian Rhapsody restaurant in Southgate.  
• The Greening Downriver Award was presented to Special Tree Rehabilitation System, a Michigan specialty provider of neurological treatment services with two locations Downriver. 
• The Ambassador of the Year was presented to E. Suzan Maxey of Sumac Communications.

"The staff and Board of Directors of the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber congratulate all of our awardees and thank them for all they do to make Downriver a better place to live, work and play," the chamber said.