The annual Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner was held last night at the Audrain County 4-H Center in Mexico. The night centered around honoring the COL C.R. Stribling Community Service Award Winner, Alice Leonatti.
Leonatti’s service record is both extensive and deeply rooted. A devoted member of St. Brendan Catholic Church, she has served as a lector, communion minister, member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, School Advisory Council member, Meals on Wheels volunteer, and educator at St. Brendan School from 1988 to 2004.
Her civic leadership spans more than 50 years with the Mexico/Audrain County League of Women Voters, where she served as President and long-time Voter Service Chair. She has also held leadership roles with the Mexico Women’s Club (GFWC President, 1978–1979), Wednesday Club, Mexico High School PTSA (Co-President), and contributed to Walk Back in Time.
Leonatti has served on the A+ for Mexico Education Board since 2005, currently serving as Grant Co-Chairman.
Her statewide influence is notable as well: involved with the Miss Missouri Board since approximately 2000, she now serves as Executive Director, a role she assumed in 2021. Her dedication to education has been recognized with honors including Walmart Educator of the Year. Outside her community service, Leonatti enjoys genealogy, sports, and reading.
Her civic leadership spans more than 50 years with the Mexico/Audrain County League of Women Voters, where she served as President and long-time Voter Service Chair. She has also held leadership roles with the Mexico Women’s Club (GFWC President, 1978–1979), Wednesday Club, Mexico High School PTSA (Co-President), and contributed to Walk Back in Time.
Leonatti has served on the A+ for Mexico Education Board since 2005, currently serving as Grant Co-Chairman.
Her statewide influence is notable as well: involved with the Miss Missouri Board since approximately 2000, she now serves as Executive Director, a role she assumed in 2021. Her dedication to education has been recognized with honors including Walmart Educator of the Year. Outside her community service, Leonatti enjoys genealogy, sports, and reading.
Leonatti deflected praise for her work saying that she was just continuing the work that many others before her did to set up the community with a strong foundation.
However, multiple awards were given out on the night including Tourism Awards to Summit Events and John Graham.Summit Events, was founded by Paul and Theresa Ridgway, and established with a vision of bringing high-quality live music experiences to the Mexico community. Inspired by their own love of concerts, the Ridgway’s set out to create memorable events close to home, an effort that quickly gained momentum. Their first concert in 2024 was a resounding success, followed by multiple well-attended events in 2025.
Beyond entertainment, Summit Events is deeply committed to giving back. Through sponsorships, they have consistently supported local organizations including Pet Pals Humane Society and the local homeless shelter, making each event a benefit to both audiences and the community at large. Summit Events looks ahead with enthusiasm, including a country music concert scheduled for June 6,
2026, featuring Grand Ole Opry member James Caruthers. Their work continues to elevate Mexico as a destination for shared experiences and community pride.
John Graham, owner of Callaway Fields, LLC and J. Marshall in downtown Mexico, Missouri, has been a driving force in tourism development and economic growth for the region. With more than 20 years in business and nearly nine years of presence in Mexico, Callaway Fields has evolved into a cornerstone destination, drawing visitors from across Missouri and generating meaningful new revenue for the local economy.
Under Graham’s leadership, Callaway Fields has expanded the visitor experience well beyond traditional offerings. Through a wide variety of classes, workshops, and seasonal events, the business provides engaging opportunities that encourage repeat visits while enhancing Mexico’s reputation for culture, creativity, and hospitality. These experiences have helped position the community as a welcoming destination where visitors can connect with both place and people.
Graham’s impact extends into the heart of downtown through J. Marshall, a distinctive retail destination that contributes to revitalization efforts and strengthens Mexico’s overall appeal. Together, his businesses reflect a thoughtful approach to tourism—one that blends entrepreneurship, placemaking, and community pride.
Through innovation, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to community growth, John Graham exemplifies how locally owned businesses can elevate tourism while fostering long-term economic vitality. His leadership continues to position Mexico, Missouri, as a flourishing destination with lasting impact.
The Chamber Civic Award was presented to Jaye Jackson. A lifelong resident of Mexico, Missouri, Jackson has dedicated her career and service to education, leadership, and community development. Employed by Ameren Missouri since 1984, Jackson has spent more than four decades building leadership skills and fostering growth both professionally and personally.
An accomplished educator, Jackson earned degrees in business education and educational leadership, and she devoted many years to teaching and mentoring students. Her commitment to children led her to found The Next Step, an after-school reading and math program that began in her home in 1985 and later became part of the Mexico Public School system, serving students for more than three decades.
Jackson’s civic engagement extends through her faith and community involvement. A lifelong member of St. Paul C.M.E. Church, she has held numerous leadership roles and remains deeply involved in outreach and youth development. She has also served with organizations including the League of Women Voters, Delta Kappa Gamma, the YMCA, Mexico Tourism, and the Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is reflected in her leadership of meaningful community celebrations
and her unwavering dedication to building a stronger, more inclusive Mexico.
Jackson spoke of working year after year and wondering if anyone noticed and how big of an honor it was for the city to take notice of her work and to be recognized.
The Chamber Educator of the Year is Michelle Crawford. Crawford has devoted more than 21 years to shaping young learners, serving as a kindergarten teacher at North Callaway and St. Brendan School. Known for her warmth, creativity, and unwavering commitment to students, Crawford brings energy and heart into every classroom she leads.With a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, she continually incorporates best practices and innovative strategies to create engaging, meaningful lessons. She celebrates every student’s progress, big or small, and maintains strong partnerships with families through consistent encouragement and communication. Crawford is also a mentor to new educators, supporting cadet and first-year teachers and helping foster the next generation of educators.
Through collaboration with colleagues, hands-on learning, and a deep belief in each child’s potential, Michelle Crawford exemplifies the very best of the teaching profession and the lasting impact of a dedicated educator.
Crawford, a Kindergarten teacher at St. Brendan’s Catholic School, gave a very emotional speech about the long hours teachers spend in preparation for teaching and thanked several educators that came to celebrate with her
The Chamber Philanthropic Award Winner is Jim Hickman. For decades, Jim Hickman has been a pillar of generosity and service in the Mexico community. Carrying forward a family legacy that began in 1959, Hickman dedicated his career as a grocer to supporting families while quietly and consistently giving back to causes that uplift children and neighbors.
In recognition of his impact, the YMCA proudly named the YCafe in his honor. Today, the YCafe serves as a gathering place and vital resource, providing free lunches to children under 18 during the summer months. In partnership with Tyronn Lue’s C2C initiative, the program expanded in 2024 to include free after-school meals. In less than a year, more than 7,000 meals have been served. This is an enduring testament to Hickman’s compassion and commitment to meeting community needs.
The Chamber’s G. Andy Runge Ambassador Award Winer is Jake Clayton. A native of Mexico, Missouri, Jake Clayton discovered his passion for music at an early age and quickly became known for his extraordinary talent across multiple instruments. As a teenager, he was already performing at regional Opry houses and opening for touring artists, setting the stage for a remarkable career.Clayton’s journey led him to Nashville, where he has spent more than 15 years touring the world as a utility musician with some of the biggest names in country music, including Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, and Tanya Tucker. He has performed on legendary stages such as the Grand Ole Opry, Madison Square Garden, and Red Rocks, and appeared on major national television programs and award shows.
In addition to touring, Clayton is an accomplished recording artist, songwriter, and producer, with multiple albums, chart-topping credits, and hundreds of studio recordings. Whether on the world’s biggest stages or back home representing his roots, Jake Clayton serves as an outstanding ambassador for Mexico, Missouri, sharing its story through music and excellence.
Clayton was honored to be recognized and recanted that he still retains his original cell phone number and that when he gets a people call he routinely let’s it go to voice mail and calls them back just so that they can see the call is coming from Mexico, Missouri.
Additionally, the 2025 chamber president, Matt Gowin was recognized with the President’s Award by incoming
President Logan Ray.