The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Saline Citizen of the Year
Ragland praised for range of volunteer work
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 15, 2007
If for a retailer, the secret to success is location, location, location, the secret to success for Saline's 2007 Citizen of the Year is relationships, relationships, relationships.
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Karen Ragland, a founding partner in the Saline-based marketing firm DesignHub, said she was shocked when she learned that she had been named the Saline Salutes Citizen of the Year.
"I was numb," she said. "I was like, 'Are you sure?' I was just surprised and delighted."
Ragland was recognized for her volunteer work with community events such as Summerfest, the Firehouse Chili Cook-off and the Celtic Festival, as well as with fund-raising efforts such as the Saline Cystic Fibrosis Party for Breath and Saline Katrina Relief.
"Karen is not the kind of person who waits for a pat on the back or formal thank you for her amazing volunteer work," said Sue Collins, who worked with Ragland on Saline Katrina Relief, which raised more than $30,000 for Habitat for Humanity. "She deserves our appreciation for the creativity and dedication she gives to so many events in Saline."
Ragland does not see the Citizen of the Year award as a personal recognition but prefers to spread the limelight and credit among her partners at DesignHub, Chris Kochmanski and Ted Chesky.
"It's really about the firm," Ragland said. "I'm fortunate that I have the business partners I do. When I say 'yes' to something, I'm really involving them, too."
Ragland, who moved to Saline in 1997 after completing a yearlong road trip across the country with her family, partnered with Chesky in 1999 to start the marketing company. A year later, Ragland and DesignHub's relationship with the Celtic Festival began, signaling the beginning of the company's long string of civic involvement.
"I blame it all on Pat Little," said Ragland with a laugh.
Little was chairman of the Celtic Festival Committee and a driving force behind the fledging popular event. He approached Ragland about designing a log for the festival –– gratis, of course. That single request led to DesignHub creating an array of marketing materials for the festival, including a Web site.
Later came posters, brochures, ads and Web sites for the Cystic Fibrosis Party for Breath, and Summerfest, and the Firehouse Chili Cook-Off.
"She never charged us one penny for all her hard work," said Janet Loader, chairwoman for the chili cook-off. "Besides working the day of the event and attending nearly every meeting, she worked a lot of long hours for us."
Her husband, Donald Ragland, known to most as "Rags," is a substitute teacher in Saline and volunteered to decorate the UAW Hall for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fund-raiser.
"I drag my family into the events, as well," Ragland said.
Ragland said it's always a balance act between volunteering her firm's talents and running a business.
"If we can, we say 'yes,'" she said. "And people know that if we say 'yes,' we mean 'yes.' We are very dedicated to quality."
DesignHub recently received four awards from the Ann Arbor Ad Club for press kits created for DaimlerChrysler AG and a product catalog for Motawi Tileworks.
Ragland said it's inspiring to volunteer because she so often works with other people who say "yes" when they can.
"Every time I get involved with something, I keep reaching out to other people," she said. "The community of Saline is almost unbelievable. What's nice about Saline is nobody says 'no.'"
The 2007 awards will be presented March 8 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. The event includes entertainment, an awards program, buffet dinner and dessert.
To make a reservation, call the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce at 429-4494.
Tickets are $19 per person before March 1 and $22 per person afterward.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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