Chamber holds the 2022 Civitas Awards – Beaufort, South Carolina The Island News

According to staff reports

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual Civitas Awards for Business Excellence on Thursday, October 13 on the rooftop of the Old Bay Marketplace in downtown Beaufort, and Gy.Sgt. Sean Kaspar, winner of the Sentinel Award presented to a military man, was the highlight of the event.

A native of Illinois, Kaspar has served in the United States Marine Corps since 2005, according to the House account. He deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2008 where he oversaw the Afghan National Police and led more than 25 maritime combat patrols.

While serving as lead vehicle commander on patrol in June of that year, Kaspar and his Marines were ambushed and he was wounded by enemy RPG and mortar fire. His injuries led to his emergency evacuation and eventually required 18 surgeries, three skin grafts, one bone graft, and constant speech and physical therapy. He received the Purple Heart.

Kaspar was told he probably wouldn’t be able to serve in the Marines again. He didn’t listen.

Instead, after much re-education and hard work, Kaspar is currently Deputy Chief of Staff for Recruitment at MCRD Parris Island. Since arriving in the Lowcountry in 2020, he has completed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service with Operation Patriot: Forward Operating Base (OPFOB), a Ridgeland-based organization that provides support to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and helps service members readjust after deployment.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill Prokop. Prokop, who became Beaufort city manager in 2015, will retire in January.

Here are this year’s other finalists, companies and individuals, with the winners in italics:

Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence

1. Alpha Charts

2. Brunson Construction

3. The Island News/Lowcountry Weekly

Torchbearer Award for Regional Impact

1. 303 associates

2. Eat local Beaufort

3. Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort

Trailblazer Investment/Innovation Award

1. Magnus Development Partners

2. Safe Port

3. Shell Ring Ale works

Guardian Award for Nonprofit Organizations

1. Beaufort Dragon Boat

2. Low Country Habitat for Humanity

3. Beaufort Junior Service League

Sentinel Award for Military Citizen

1. Gy.Sgt. Sean Kaspar

2. Sergeant. Gabriel Georges

3. Sergeant. Justin A. Hoey

Pillar Award for Community Leadership

1. Jonah Gadson

2. Bennett Schiller

3. Courtney Worrell

Buzzworthy Award for a Budding Professional

1. Blaire Lent

2. Mike Ponder

3. Charlie Stone