GREENVILLE, NC (2/9/24) — The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce recognized Dr. Jasper L. Lewis, Jr., and Dr. Ethan Lenker with two prestigious awards during its annual membership celebration on Thursday, February 8 at the Hilton Greenville. Dr. Lewis was honored with the chamber’s Legends Award, and Dr. Lenker was named the chamber’s 2023 Citizen of the Year.
Dr. Lewis is the owner and president of Eastern Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry and has been practicing dentistry in Greenville for half a century. He has an impressive background with a strong connection to Pitt County and eastern North Carolina. His journey from Wake Forest University, to earning his D.D.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to serving in the Air Force has contributed to his esteemed reputation in dentistry.
Dr. Lewis joins a distinguished list of just ten other individuals who have received the chamber’s Legends Award, which is only given on occasion. The award honors a citizen whose service to the community has been so significant over a sustained period that the history of Pitt County could not be written without their inclusion.
Dr. Lenker is the Superintendent of Pitt County Schools and has spent over 36 years working in the field of education, with more than 19 years of superintendent experience. Dr. Lenker earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and obtained his doctorate in education from East Carolina University. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, emphasizing his commitment to excellence in education.
Dr. Lenker is the 56th recipient of the chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award, presented annually to honor an individual who has contributed to the growth, stability and overall advancement of Greenville and Pitt County.
Additional awards presented during the celebration included the 2023 Ambassador of the Year and Young Professional of the Year.
Doug Rifenburg, marketing manager for 5th Street Hardware Restaurant & Taproom, was named the 2023 Ambassador of the Year, as voted on by his peers in the chamber’s Ambassador Program. Rifenburg became an ambassador at the beginning of 2023 and is the thirteenth recipient of the award.
Carly Moore, business manager III at Thermo Fisher Scientific, was named the 2023 Young Professional of the Year. This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates dedication to not only the Young Professionals organization, but to Pitt County through strong leadership, teamwork, and integrity. Moore was chosen as the 2024 Young Professionals Chair and is the eighth recipient of the award.
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For more information, contact:
Lauren Phillips
lauren@greenvillenc.org
(252) 752-4101 ext. 2228
