2017 Free Enterprise Person of the Year announced

By Jessica Vaughn / jessica@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 9/22/17

FOLEY – Charlene Haber, who owns 2 Wolf Bay Lodge locations, was named the 2017 Free Enterprise Person of the Year during the Walton M. Vines Free Enterprise Person of the Year ceremony on Sept. 22 …

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2017 Free Enterprise Person of the Year announced

Posted

FOLEY – Charlene Haber, who owns 2 Wolf Bay Lodge locations, was named the 2017 Free Enterprise Person of the Year during the Walton M. Vines Free Enterprise Person of the Year ceremony on Sept. 22 at the Foley Civic Center.

Haber joins 40 business leaders who came before her in an honor that began back in 1976, with E. Frank Sanders as the first to win the award.

“It is just so remarkable to be put in a league with the people that I see sitting in front of me,” Haber said as she accepted her award. “I work with you, and you eat at the restaurant on a daily basis, which I thank you very much for, but never have I ever been given such an honor.”

Haber has been with the restaurant for years, as her parents, Charlie and Sandra Wrape, purchased the original building in 1973. After a fire destroyed the original building, which was located right on Wolf Bay, Haber found the City of Foley ready and willing to welcome her and Wolf Bay into the community, helping her start again. Haber also cited Skip Davis as a huge help in the hunt for the new building, which now has a location in Foley and one in Orange Beach.

Haber recognized her parents as being a huge inspiration in her life, especially her mother.

“I have to bring up the best leader, and that was my mother,” said Haber. “She taught me three things. One, respect the people that you work with. Two, never ask them to do anything that you would not do yourself. And three, never point your finger at them, get in there and work with them. You will never get just 100 percent, you will get 200 percent. And I’ve kept that up.”

Haber went on to thank her husband, Tom, who has jumped in numerous times to help her out, such as when she lost her mother when their children were young, or when she works long nights at the restaurant.

“He’s hung in there with me, he’s also a part of this award,” Haber stated.

Gary Hellmich, who won the award in 2016 and announced Haber as the 2017 recipient, stated that Haber is a generous person and fantastic business owner, who you can often see working with her employees, some of whom have been employed with Wolf Bay Lodge for more than 43 years.

“She refuses to fall privy to modern day restaurant approaches: cutting supply costs, frozen foods, and premade food,” said Hellmich. “She believes in serving the Gulf Coast, and is still using her mother’s homemade batter at the restaurant.”

In attendance were many of the past recipients, ready to welcome Haber into their ranks and remember what an honor and achievement it is to be named Free Enterprise Person of the Year.

“The spirit of this award, what it means to a business person to be honored by their peers, that’s quite amazing,” said Donna Watts, South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce President/CEO.

All those who have been awarded show strong business and leadership skills, and make contributions to the community on a daily basis.

Tom DeBell, the General Manager and CEO of Riviera Utilities and the Chairman of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, stated that it is free enterprise that is a strong driver of local economies, as local businesses support shopping within a community and keeping the dollars right in the area.

“When I think about free enterprise, I look at it as being the very spirit of what this nation is all about,” DeBell said. “It’s an opportunity for somebody to create a better future for themselves, and also contribute to the future of their local communities.”

WHEP President Clark Stewart was present at the event, and has a recording archived on the WHEP website for anyone interested in listening to the ceremony.

To learn more about the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and their events, you can check their website at www.SouthBaldwinChamber.com.