Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
A local contractor was awarded the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce’s highest yearly honor Wednesday during the Chamber’s annual meeting. Dave Clausen was described as a major contributor to the community’s economy, development and general improvement. “To many in the industry, this man is a machine,” Chamber Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg said about Clausen before presenting him with the 2009 North Star Award. “I’m a little surprised,” Clausen said in a short acceptance speech. He spread the honor for the award with his workers and other businesses he works with, saying those are what has built the success of his company, Clausen and Sons Inc. “I hold that mostly to our company and the partners we work with,” Clausen said, adding, “It’s nice to be a part of this community and I thank you guys.” In introducing the award, Vandeberg read off a list of projects Clausen has participated in, both as a private contractor and in working with the Chamber. Some of those included the construction of the Applied Technology Center at Montana State University-Northern, construction of new facilities for Triangle Communications-Hill County Electric, new offices for Devon Energy Corp., the Coca-Cola distribution center, the offices and distribution center for Schwan Food Co., and work on the AmericInn Lodge and Suites which earned him a spot on the AmericInn National Building Committee, Vandeberg said. She also commended him for his work on the Town Square in downtown Havre, “A project that became a reality while he was on board,” Vandeberg said.
