Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce
53 Herm Towne Road Gouverneur, NY 13642
Gouverneur Tribune Press, April 22, 2022 by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet is back - and will be held on Wednesday, May 4, at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, located at 1419 US Highway 11, Gouverneur. The event will start at 6 pm. (cocktail hour) and the turkey dinner will be served at 7 p.m. With the awards ceremony to follow.
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The 2022 Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit Recipients are Blevins Ford and Team Blevins in Gouverneur. The Award of Merit is annually presented to a Chamber member (business or businessperson) who has been active in the community over a long period of time, or has a notable record of accomplishments in civic activities.
The Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce has listed a record of past recipients since 1991, which include the following: Eldon B. Conklin (1991), Robert A. Porter (1992), Gale Ferguson (1993), Dr. Alexander Dodds {1994), Eleanor Jackson (1995), Korleen Spilman (1996), E.J. Noble Hospital Auxiliary (1997), Ice Storm Community Leaders ( 1998), Joe Laurenza ( 1999), Della Evans (2000), Gouverneur Rotary Club (2001 ), Dr. Tim Monroe (2002), Kinney Drugs. Inc. (2003), Dale & Kay Bush (2004), Fred Easton (2005), Cives Steel Co. (2006), Nancy J. Cappellino (2007), Judy Peck (2008), Dr. Robert Saide] (2009), Joe & Carolyn Pistolesi (2010), Harland Brown (2011 ), Dick & Brad Conklin (2012), Spilman's Garage (2013), Gouverneur Auto Parts (2014), Casablanca Restaurant (2015). Fun Unlimited (2016 . Newvlne's Auto Parts (2017), New York Pizzeria (2018), Wilson & Glenda Bickford (2019). and 2020-2021 - Hometown Heroes.
​Blevins Ford and Team Blevins will receive the honor at the 2022 Chamber Banquet on Wednesday, May 4 as the community gathers to recognize their decades of dedication to serving the Gouverneur-area community and beyond.
With the recent retirement of Dave Blevins and Lynn Blevins, the Blevins dealerships and service centers in Gouverneur recently underwent a transfer of ownership to Mike Blevins, Steve Blevins, and Dan Beachard.
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In an interview with the Team Blevins Owner Mike Blevins and Blevins Ford General Manager Dan Beachard, told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that Blevins has become a household name eYer since it was founded in 1969 - more than 50 years ago - by Leland Blevins, the owner of Blevins Motors in Potsdam. Leland's children - Paul, Dave, and Lynn - all went to work together for the family business. The Blevins children eventually found their own enterprising interests and out of that came Blevins Bros. in Ogdensburg, Blevins Ford in Gouverneur and Team Blevins in Gouverneur, and Blevins Seaway in Massena. "We're separate. We're separate entities with some common ownership here and there,” Mr. Blevins said.
Blevins Ford, Inc. opened in Gouverneur by Dave Blevins and Lynn Blevins in 1990. The business was located at the former Dodds Motors Co., currently the location of Kinney Drugs (Clinton St. location) in Gouverneur. The business moved in 1993-94 to their current location at 1136 US Highway 11, Gouverneur, offering both auto sales and service. The business saw its latest renovation in 2014 when Blevins Ford un\'eiled a sparkling new showroom.
In 2006, Dave Blevins and Lynn Blevins acquired Team Blevins (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram dealership), which was located 1213 US Highway 11, Gouverneur. A decade later, in 2016, the Blevins' acquired and moved into the former Gouverneur Bowl, Inc. location at 1151 US Highway 11, Gouverneur.
The former location at 1213 US Highway 11, Gouverneur, was later transformed into the Gouverneur Collision & Car Wash Center a one-stop shop for motorists' auto body needs. "An auto body show was needed because we were sending all the cars to Potsdam before.” Mr. Beached said. “We were sending a lot of people back and forth… and that building was vacant, and so it was a no-brainer to put one there.”
The Blevins family of auto dealerships and service centers — Blevins Ford, Team Blevins and the Gouverneur Collision and Car Wash Center, Inc. — has a loyal customer base through out the North Country. "We're fortunate to be in a good area with a lot of loyal people," Mr. Blevins said. The businesses together employ about 30-35 local residents. Mr. Blevins and Mr. Beachard told the Gouverneur Tribune Press this week that the businesses also hire on a seasonal basis, including local students during the summer months who lend their skills, talents and elbow grease to yard work, sweeping and more.
The auto dealerships and service centers in Gouverneur remain dedicated to providing the best service to the North Country residents — just as it has for decades.
When the Gouverneur Tribune Press asked about the 2022 Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce's Award of Merit, Mr. Blevins said the following: "It's a big honor. You look at it, there's a lot of very good, strong companies that win it every year. So, to get the recognition, is definitely an honor."
In addition to the Award of Merit presentation, the Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce has invited Honorary Lifetime Chamber Director Curran Wade to be the guest speak.er for the evening. Mr. Wade, former Village of Gouverneur Mayor and current Gouverneur Town Councilman, will give a presentation on the history of the LifeSavers monument and its installation in the Gouverneur Village Park.
The 2022 Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet is certainly one that Gouverneurians will not want to miss. All those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. The 2022 Gouverneur Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held on Wednesday, May 4 at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge. Tickets cost $25 per person and are available online through the Chamber website, at gouverneurchamber.net or they can be purchased by contacting the Chamber office at 315-287-0331 or any Chamber director.