The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce highlighted the successes of the 2025-2026 year and presented its Annual Business Awards at the 118th Annual Meeting & Gala on May 7th at The Boathouse at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville. The program and awards were presented by Chamber Chairman Tim McDonald, Lanier Technical College, Chair-Elect Melissa Tymchuk, Northeast Georgia Health System, and Tim Evans, Greater Hall Chamber President and CEO.
2025-2026 Annual Business Awards:
Small Business of the Year
Murray Plastics
Bill Hall, CEO
Led by CEO Bill Hall, Murray Plastics is a custom plastic injection molding company, known for precision, innovation, and quality. Founded in Gainesville in 1998, the experienced team at Murray Plastics creates intricate plastic components using advanced injection molding techniques and consistently delivers excellence to meet diverse client needs. Their staple product – reels – are used in packaging electronic components. Bill and his team of 30 experts strive to promote manufacturing in America and in Georgia specifically. They are active supporters of the Greater Hall Chamber, particularly the Industry Roundtable, and are recipients of the Chamber Industry of the Year Award, as well as the Workforce Development Recognition Award. Bill is a founding member of the Workforce Development Council and advocates for the advancement of existing employees through completion of Lanier Technical College’s 2-year apprenticeship program, as well as offering work-based learning for high school juniors and seniors. Several years ago, the company implemented a GED testing program that led to one of their employees being accepted into the apprenticeship program. They are dedicated to making sure their employees grow both personally and in their careers. Murray Plastics is a prime example of how a small company can have a big impact on workforce development and the community.
Family Business of the Year
LaserCraft Technologies
Rodney Greene, Founder & CEO
LaserCraft Technologies is a major player in custom metal fabrication and machining, specializing in high-precision work for various industries like agriculture, mining, food service, and power transmission. In 1996, LaserCraft Technologies opens its doors in Lilburn, as founder and CEO Rodney Greene took delivery of his first laser. In 1999, his brother Jody Greene, initially an investor in the company, joined the company as CFO. To address growth and expansion, the company relocated from Lilburn to Gainesville that same year. LaserCraft has grown from a one-man show to a powerhouse of 130 employees. They combine an experienced workforce with cutting-edge technology to produce unparalleled fabrication of carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum parts for a wide range of industrial clients. Rodney is a long-time Chamber supporter, serving on the Industry Roundtable and with community service as a focus, formed an invaluable alliance with the Georgia Mountain Food Bank in 2013. Through the years, Rodney has encouraged LaserCraft employees to volunteer and has assisted with the implementation of several programs including food delivery across Northeast Georgia, sponsoring the annual Empty Bowl Luncheon since 2020, and raising awareness and funds for the food bank’s LET’S GROW expansion campaign that is now underway.
Community Service Award
Georgia Mountain Food Bank
The Georgia Mountain Food Bank is closing the hunger gap in North Georgia by providing access to nutritious food for those in need. An affiliate of Feeding America, the Food Bank provides a vital link between sources of food supplies and the 60+ community-based partner agencies who help get the food into the hands of families and individuals in need. The Boomershine Family Logistics Center opened in 2012 and is a 20,000 square foot facility funded through a donation by Walter Boomershine and family and built on land donated by Jim Walters. In 2025, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank served 88,000 people and provided 8.5 million meals. Since 2008, the food bank has distributed over 94 million pounds of food to our community. Serving a five-county area, the food they distribute comes through a partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank along with goods donated locally from retailers, manufacturers, distributors and food drives. Volunteers and advocates are the backbone of the operation. It takes a community to feed the 1 in 8 food insecure people in our area. The Georgia Mountain Food Bank is committed to engaging and inspiring the community to end hunger. Connecting residents, businesses, and organizations through volunteer opportunities and donations is fostering a strong sense of shared responsibility and compassion.
Distinguished Citizen
Glennis Barnes
The recipient of this year’s Distinguished Citizen Award is TRULY distinguished. He was recently recognized as Man of the Year by the Rotary Club of Gainesville for achievements, leadership, and service to the Gainesville and Hall County community in the last year as well as over the course of his lifetime. The club award was presented to Barnes as he embodied the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” Glennis serves as Georgia Power’s area manager for Hall, Dawson, Lumpkin, and Jackson Counties. A Mississippi native, Barnes began his community service there, coaching youth football, mentoring young people, and graduating from Leadership Gulf Coast. Glennis moved to Georgia in 2001 and then to Hall County in 2017. As a newcomer to Hall County, he immediately became involved with the Greater Hall Chamber. Over the past decade, he has earned the Silver Shovel Award and W.G. Mealor Award, served as Chair of the Economic Development Council, and then led the Chamber as Chairman last year. He continued serving the Chamber and our community as Chair of the successful SPLOST IX Campaign and now Chair of the E-SPLOST campaign. He is also the Past-Chair of the Northeast Georgia Health System Advisory Council and serves on the University of North Georgia Board of Trustees, Junior Achievement’s Board, Northeast Georgia Health System Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Gainesville and Hall County Hospital Authority, the Gainesville-Hall Development Authority and the Gainesville-Hall County Land Bank Authority.
WG Mealor | Chairman’s Choice Award
Doug Carter, Don Carter Realty
Gainesville native Doug Carter and wife, Sandy, own and operate the second -generation family business Don Carter Realty. Instilled in Doug by his parent’s Don and Lucile, he has served in numerous capacities in Gainesville/Hall County and the State of Georgia. He is a former Chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Georgia, and served for ten years on The Technical College System of Georgia. He served as Chairman from 2020-2022. Locally, Doug was a graduate of Leadership Hall and served as a Chair of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. He has previously chaired Northeast Georgia Medical Center Board for six years, served as Chairman of the North Georgia Community Foundation, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, and has served as Chair for the past eleven years for the Planning and Appeals Board for the City of Gainesville. He serves on the Gainesville-Hall Land Bank Authority and the Economic Development Council. He is currently serving as senior advisor for the Greater Hall Chamber Board. Doug was a Jaycee Young Man of the Year, received the Rotary Man of the Year Award in 2017, recipient of two Silver Shovels from the Greater Hall Chamber, and was awarded the Frederick Kerr Award for Alumni from Leadership Georgia. He has chaired two of the community SPLOST Campaigns.