Chamber honors community contributions with awards

The Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the community contributions of Kohler Credit Union, K Komfort Heating & Cooling Owner and Vice President Slava Kroll and Grafton School District vocal music teacher Doug Arendt next week.

The Chamber will award Kroll the 2024 Outstanding Businesspersons Award at the awards reception on Thursday, May 23, in recognition of his business and community leadership.

Kroll is an immigrant from Belarus, where he earned a master’s degree in logistics before repeating his education at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Joining the Grafton Lions Club in 2017,  Kroll was eventually named first vice district governor and is now district governor. He is known for supporting Grafton High School and many Ozaukee County nonprofit organizations, and can often be found at chicken roasts, state bowling tournaments and beer tastings.

Arendt will be recognized as this year’s Outstanding Career Educator for two decades of music education at John Long Middle School and Grafton High School.

In addition to teaching vocal music and the middle and high schools, Arendt has taught instrument and general music.

He has also served as interim principal, lead teacher and associate principal during his time at John Long Middle School.

This year, Arendt coached middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball, adding to his 14 years of coaching wresting. He has also coached volleyball for 12 years and track for 11.

He is also the organizer of the Grafton High School Varsity Football “Chain Gang” and has been the adviser for the Grafton High School’s Graftonics a capella club.

Under Arendt’s direction, the high school Chamber Singers have performed at the community’s tree lighting events.

Kohler Credit Union will receive the 2024 Outstanding Business Award in recognition of its financial support and employee involvement in Grafton organizations.

In the last year, Kohler provided a total of $7,015 to local organizations, including $5,000 to the Grafton Education Foundation Color Blast, $1,000 to the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center, $500 to the Celebrate Grafton Parade, $390 to the Cedarburg Grafton Rotary Club and $125 to the Grafton Chamber Golf Outing.

In addition, Kohler employees have volunteered with the Grafton Education Foundation Color Blast, the Grafton Holiday Parade, Illuminate Ozaukee and John Long Middle School Reality Day.

Employees have served on the Grafton Chamber Holiday, Celebrate Grafton and Ozaukee Nonprofit Center committees.

The Chamber will host the awards reception on Thursday, May 23, at the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres starting at 5 p.m. and the program commencing at 6 p.m.

Tickets cost $45 and must be reserved  by May 17. They can be obtained by visiting www.grafton-wi.org or by calling (262) 377-1650.