Mike and Shannon Yager of Spotlight Sport and Corporate Wear accepted the Marketing Award at last night's Mark of Excellence Awards. For a company that provides marketing and branding solutions for hundreds of clients, it was clear that the owners of the small community-based company are masters of strategic marketing. The Yager's also represent an operation that has done much to support the community in the wake of a monumental tragedy.

The Yager's have prided themselves on finding the right merchandising tools and strategies to support their clients. The ever-changing arsenal of marketing tools and apparel, with strong visual appeals, has led to the company's success. 

Mike Yager was both sincerely appreciative at being selected from among Humboldt's business community. He says, "Honoured -- very honoured. There's a huge amount of worthy businesses out there. Humboldt is a big community with lots of entrepreneurs and a great business background. For us to be awarded at this level, we are very humbled and very honoured."

In the day's following the crash, the world reached out to Humboldt in an unprecedented show of compassion. People from near and far wanted to share their love, but somehow sought to both support the community, and somehow, become a part of it.  Mike and Shannon began the daunting task of producing t-shirts and gear for distribution, with the funds going to the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation. The pair and their staff worked tirelessly to meet the growing demand for clothing and mementoes. The result was a remarkable total of over $300,000 raised for the support charity.

Mike Yager recalls those days, "What we're grateful for is the amount of support that people gave us, the amount of support worldwide."

It was their knowledge and understand or marketing, and more importantly their compassion, that allowed the world, in some fashion, to share in the strength of Humboldt.