Voting is now open for the 2025 Community Spotlight Awards
Your nominations are in, and we have landed on our picks for this year’s Community Spotlight Awards.
Drum roll, please …
Civic & Community Leader
Jonny Lu
Bellevue Planning Commission
A longtime Bellevue-ite and dedicated Planning Commissioner, Jonny Lu has been taking the lead in discussions on middle housing here in Bellevue, using his professional expertise and strategy alongside his passion for our City and its people.
He is not only willing, but eager to hear from all perspectives on these major development issues, maintaining a common sense stance and collaborative energy with the Chamber and its partners throughout the engagement process — which is exactly what we need in our civil servants.
Putter Bert
KidsQuest Children's Museum
Having great energy and a good head on your shoulders isn’t all you need to make a children’s museum lively, profitable, and accessible, but boy oh boy does Putter Bert make it seem so.
She has been showing up for Bellevue for more than 25 years, and is a mainstay when it comes to the intersection between business, government, education, and community.
Priti Bhat
Sea Dental Care
Beyond her dental expertise and business savvy nature, Dr. Priti Bhat is using her dental practice as a means to champion preventive care, health education, and equitable access for underserved populations locally.
She is an active member of the American Dental Association and Washington State Dental Association, a tireless supporter of Indian American health services, and is constantly thinking of how she can better serve her patients’ needs.
Phillip Peters
Renewal Food Bank
Phillip Peters is a nonprofit enthusiast currently serving as the Executive Director at Renewal Food Bank here in Bellevue, as well as a board member of Babies of Homelessness.
Having worked in nonprofit leadership for nearly 15 years, Phillip is tremendously passionate about affordable housing, food justice, and the convergence of the two, and has been making great headway in community connections for the rapidly-growing food bank.
Keri Pravitz
Amazon
Keri Pravitz is one of those names that always pops up when discussing doing good on the Eastside, as her roots in community support, hyperlocal advocacy, and strategic work have been a visible asset during her last three years as Manager of Community Engagement at Amazon.
She has helped provide our region with the resources necessary to execute countless projects, including those with affordable housing, the light rail extension, and nonprofit aid, which has only been possible due to her prioritization of the issues facing Eastside residents. 
Rep. Amy Walen
48th District
As a former Kirkland City Council member and Mayor, as well as a small business owner, Rep. Amy Walen has done everything but forget her roots. Representing the 48th district since 2019, Rep. Walen leads with compassion and understanding, while also having a deep understanding of the roadblocks to making our region as great as it can be.
This past legislative session, specifically, she led the charge on the non-profit property tax exemption effort, as well as opposing the slew of taxes targeting business and commerce.