He’s a big man with plenty to say.

But during the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting Wednesday, its 107th, Rick Rasmussen was momentarily wordless.

“I usually like to talk,” he joked as he choked up, “but I don’t know what to say. I love this community. My dad’s smiling down on me right now.”

Rasmussen, CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital, had just been named Citizen of the Year. The award recognizes commitment to volunteerism, generosity and service.

The annual meeting tends to attract a big crowd. This year, more than 250 people attended at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn. Steve Wilson, who’s retiring as CEO after eight years, said that set a record.

“I’ve been very, very blessed to work with the best people I ever could have hoped for,” Wilson said. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve all of you.”

The lunch was a chance for members to meet Derrell Hartwick, who will assume Wilson’s CEO duties Dec. 1.

“I can truthfully say this is a dream opportunity for me,” Hartwick said. “I am so, so excited to be here.”

The Arkansas native urged chamber growth through new membership, retention and establishing new events, adding the best course he can take right away is to listen and engage with chamber members. “This chamber works for the community,” he said. “We’re not here to reply. We’re here to listen.”

Weaved into his introduction was a story about his father — a chamber executive in his own right — who once applied for a job but was turned away by a CEO because the position his father sought was already filled. Later, while waiting for the bus, his father picked up a scrap of litter and threw it away. It was a scrap of paper 50 other passersby had ignored, but a scrap of paper the CEO happened to observe Hartwick’s father pick up, prompting the executive to call him back into his office.

“That CEO said, ‘We’ll find you a job,’” Hartwick said, “‘because you took the initiative. You took that extra step.’ That’s where the difference is. The difference is you. It’s everybody in this room. The Coeur d’Alene Chamber is going to pick up that paper and take that extra step for you.’”

Extra steps were on display at the luncheon, when several leading citizens were lauded. But the theme this year clearly dealt with a changing of the guard.

“It’s been an honor to serve,” outgoing board chairman Brent Lyles said before being handed the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award. “Thank you for allowing me to serve. I’m confident our new CEO will lead us into a new future that is bound to see change. But change cannot be for the sake of change … I’m excited for the direction our chamber is headed.”

Incoming chairwoman Heidi Rogers foretold a future that includes boosting membership, encouraging member involvement in the community and enjoying what she described as return on relationship. And Wilson closed the day with a smile.

“I think you’re going to be in great shape,” he said.