Annual Awards
2007-2008 award recipients were recognized at the Greater Hall Chamber Board of Directors Meeting on June 26. Look for more about these awards in the August Business Link.
Silver Shovel Award Recipients
Kurt Hansen, First Century Bank, for outstanding efforts in the 2007 Membership Campaign. Keith McLeod, Northeast Georgia Urological Associates; Steve McNeilly, Northeast Georgia Medical Center; Jullie King, The Longstreet Clinic, and Mark Klein, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, for their efforts on the Healthcare Committee and coordinating the first Get Fit Stay Fit 5K Corporate Challenge. Will Peeples, BB&T, for chairing the 29th Hacker’s Holiday Golf Tournament. Bill Kokaly, Halski Systems, for service as a Chamber Ambassador. Melissa Tymchuk, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, for work with Leadership Hall County. Mary Meadows, United Community Bank, and Phillipa Moss, Gainesville-Hall County Community Center, for implementing the new International Small Business Council’s work with Hispanic businesses. Christy Terrell, Georgia Power, for her work with Partners in Education. Pat Dew, Guilford Immediate Care, for work with the Drugs Don’t Work program. Jim Shuler, Hall County Commission, for his years of service in economic development. David Lee, Jackson EMC, for his leadership in initiating the programs of the South Hall Council.
Small Business of the Year
Morton Vardeman & Carlson, is the oldest and largest advertising and public relations firm in North Georgia with a diversified client base. Located in Downtown Gainesville, the firm gives back to our community in many ways and through philanthropic organizations.
Family Business of the Year
Jaemor Farms, Jimmy Echols and family operate the farm market, located on Highway 365 in Lula, and 100 acres of orchards with the freshest fruits (15 varieties of apples) and vegetables along with unique pine/oak furniture, jams, jellies, relishes, homemade ice cream, gift baskets and a corn maze in the fall!
Distinguished Citizen of the Year
Gordon Sawyer, community leader, historian, writer, and Chamber volunteer serving on the Healthcare Committee, instructor of Chamber marketing class for small businesses and board member of VISION 2030.
Community Service Award
Featherbone Communiversity, founded by Gus Whalen in 2005, the center provides cross-generational learning through an alliance of educational institutions and currently houses Brenau University’s nursing school, Lanier Tech’s Manufacturing Development Center (business incubator space), UGA Small Business Development Center, the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute and Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) children’s museum.
W.G. Mealor Chairman’s Award
Mimi Collins, The Longstreet Clinic, co-founder of the Chamber’s Healthcare Committee that now has some 60 volunteers and coordinates the HealthSmart Expo and Get Fit Stay Fit 5K Corporate Challenge.