The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce highlighted the 2021-2022 year and presented its Annual Business Awards at the 114th Annual Meeting & Gala on May 12th at the Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville. The program and awards were presented by Chamber Chairman Phil Sutton, Kubota Manufacturing of America, Chairman-Elect William Bagwell, Homestead Investments, and Kit Dunlap, Chamber President and CEO.
2021-2022 Annual Business Awards:
Small Businesses of the Year
Skyline Contracting (Wes Hall)
Southern Baked Pie Co. (Amanda Wilbanks)
Family Businesses of the Year
Mountain Fresh Creamery (Scott & Jennifer Glover)
Wayne Capital (Alan, Alex and Daren Wayne)
Community Service Award
Rhonda Samples, Hall County Schools
Distinguished Citizen Award
Bob Swoszowski, McDonald’s NEGA
WG Mealor Award
Philip Wilheit, Sr., Wilheit Packaging
Phil Sutton, vice president of administration, Kubota Manufacturing of America, took over as Chamber Chairman of the Board on July 1, 2021. Governor Nathan Deal appointed Phil to the State Board for the Technical College System of Georgia and State Board for Workforce Development. Phil also serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. He is a retired veteran of the United States Air Force where he served in various capacities in his 20 year career including, Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, Antiterrorism and Public Affairs. Phil is a graduate of the 187th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Under Sutton’s leadership, the Greater Hall Chamber has seen much success – even following the trying times of a world-wide pandemic. From small business development, job creation and leadership programs to increased public art and the pursuit of building a world class workforce, the Chamber continues to make Gainesville-Hall County the best place to live, work and play.
William Bagwell officially takes over the position as Chairman of the Board on July 1, 2022. Bagwell is the managing member of Gainesville-based Homestead Investments and a fourth generation Hall County resident. William serves on the Board of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is a past Board chair of that Board as well as the North Georgia Mountains Authority. He is Vice Chair of the Gainesville and Hall County Development Authority and a member of the Gainesville and Hall County Economic Development Council.