Board of Ed member Jim Merryman Receives Distinguished Service Award

LBCC Board of Education member Jim Merryman received the Albany Chamber 2018 Distinguished Service Award.

The award was presented to Merryman at the chamber's annual Distinguished Service Awards banquet, held March 9 at the Albany Boys & Girls Club.

Merryman, president and CEO of OFD Foods in Albany, was recognized for his many years of contributions to the Albany community.

"I love this community," Merryman told the more than 350 people in attendance. "I love everything about it. We control our own destiny. All of us are working hard to control the destiny of this community."

In comments after the banquet published in the Albany Democrat-Herald, Merryman spoke of the importance of service: "It's an obligation that you give back to the community," he said. "There always are choices that we make. Giving back allows you to free up time. When you give back, people give to you too."

Merryman has served on the LBCC Board of Education since 2013. He also serves on the boards of Samaritan Health Plans and the Albany chamber, among others. Merryman was instrumental in the creation of the Pipeline project, which seeks to connect high school students to job opportunities that don't necessarily require four-year college degrees.