ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce handed out awards and honored its members Thursday, Jan. 21 in a socially-distanced awards program at its 46th annual banquet at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale.
While the event normally draws about 375 guests, tickets were limited for this year’s event to ensure proper health and safety guidelines are followed, said Chamber President/CEO Gail Quezada.
“Businesses have overcome so much over the last year, from Coronavirus to Hurricane Sally and beyond,” said Chamber President/CEO Gail Quezada, “and they certainly deserve to be recognized for that.”
The event kicked off with a silent auction. Presentation of Colors was presented by the RHS NJROTC with the National Anthem by Logan Anthony and invocation by Loxley Town Council member Jeff Knight.
Followed dinner, catered by L.A. BBQ and Catering of Summerdale, the presenting sponsor message was this year presented virtually by Mark Ingram of Baldwin EMC.
Awards were presented including the Fell-Gilbert-Mack-Pearson Founders Award which went this year to local attorney and Silverhill Mayor Jared Lyles.
Other awards handed out during the Jan. 21 meeting were:
Emerging Small Business of the Year: Robertsdale Urgent Care.
Generations Award: Furniture City.
Small Business of the Year: Stastka Insurance.
Volunteer of the Year: Roma Kerby.
Good Government Award: Donna Givens.
Each of the four municipalities also presented “Business of the Year” awards during Thursday night’s event. Award winners included:
Robertsdale: Purdy Thangs Boutique.
Loxley: Piggly Wiggly.
Silverhill: Silverhill Furniture and Decor.
Summerdale: Summerdale Saddle Shop.
The program concluded with the ceremonial passing of the gavel from 2020 Chairman of the Board Jeff Windham of Hamm Enterprises, to 2021 Chairman Baldwin County Probate Judge Harry D’Olive. Jenny Buck of Baldwin Land Title in Robertsdale will be the chairman-elect for 2022.
The chamber also acknowledged the incoming executive board and board of directors for 2021 and honor and outgoing board members.
Returning directors include Jason Shipp, Adams Stewart Architects; Hayden Kaechele, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center; Kathy Schreiber, Advantage Business Solutions; Tim Hite, Coca Cola Bottling Company United; Michelle Geans, Baldwin EMC; Kat McCaghren, Infirmary Health-Thomas Hospital; Connie Fiddler Glassford, Roberts Brothers Central Baldwin; Rustee Karolyi, city of Robertsdale; Donna Harper, Greer’s CashSaver; Jenni Guerry, Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency.
New directors include Leah Richardson, United Bank; Lloyd Wing, Coastal Alabama Community College; Amy Younce, Robertsdale Urgent Care; Sam Williams, Riviera Utilities; Ashleigh Mooney, State Farm Insurance Agency.
Outgoing directors include Danny Scott, Riviera Utilities; 2019 Board Chairman Sandy Folan, Tug and Barge Solutions; Melissa Santa Cruz, Long’s Human Resources; Todd Hull, Shamrock Properties; and Rebecca Mills, Bryant Bank.
Additional sponsors are: Diamond Sponsors: Coastal Alabama Community College; Mack Funeral Home & Crematory; Power Productions; South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. Gold Sponsors: Baldwin County Cattle & Fair Association; Budweiser-Busch Distributing; Coca Cola Bottling Company United; Pen Air Federal Credit Union; Riviera Utilities. Silver Sponsors: Campbell Hardware & Sporting Goods, Johnson, Slaughter, Driver, & Northcutt P.A. Bronze Sponsors: Advantage Business Solutions; Front Porch Network, Sherry Frost Photography, SSM Real Estate Service LLC, TeamLogic IT, and Bay Images.
“This is a great group and I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of them and hopefully sometime this year we will be able to get back to doing more in-person and networking events,” D’Olive said. “There’s an old saying, ‘There’s strength in numbers,’ and it’s important for us to continue to strengthen our chamber by continuing to increase our numbers.”
