If you don’t know the story of Mark Rogers, here’s a quick summary. He was the president of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Abilene and, in my opinion, perfectly embodied what it means to be a leader and a servant to the community. I was fortunate to have Mark on my show several times to talk about Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I was always impressed by his positive attitude and his commitment to making a difference.

After Mark passed away, I was devastated. However, I was touched to find out that our incredible Abilene Chamber of Commerce changed the name of the "Young Professionals Award" to honor Mark's memory with the “Mark Rogers Young Professional of the Year Award.” This award recognizes a young professional in Abilene and the Big Country who embodies Mark’s spirit and makes a difference in our community.

On Monday morning, I opened my email to find The Abilene Chamber's "Monday Morning Memo" by Cameron Sloan, encouraging us to nominate young professionals from our community, much like Mark Rogers was back in 2021 when he received this award.

KEAN 105 logo
Get our free mobile app

What an honor it would be to be nominated for this incredible award. One young professional in our community will receive this award from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce during the 'Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting and Awards Celebration' on September 19, 2024. The event will also honor the 'Citizen of the Year.'

If you would like to nominate a young professional who possesses the same traits, qualities, and characteristics as Mark Rogers, and who gives back to our community as he did, now is the time. Click here to view the nomination form from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

The most recent winners of the Young Professional of the Year award are listed below, and one young professional is honored every year. The next time you hear about the 'Mark Rogers Young Professional of the Year Award,' I hope you’ll take some time to remember the man it was named for and congratulate this year's recipient.

LOOK: Abilene Area Veteran-Owned Businesses

Gallery Credit: Chaz

7 Steps to Opening a Business in Texas

If you want to open your own business in Texas here are the 7 steps necessary to make it happen.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

11 of Your Favorite Businesses Created in Texas

There are so many successful businesses that got started in Texas here is a look at 11 of them.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins

More From KEAN 105