Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce President Kit Dunlap recognized the efforts of outstanding volunteers at the May 13 Annual Meeting and Gala. Recipients of the Greater Hall Chamber’s Silver Shovel Award included:
Attorney Bob Coleman of Coleman and Chambers provided leadership in the development of a series of small business seminars for members. Topics ranged from How to Start a Business to How to Develop and Use a Web Site. The Chamber will continue to offer these seminars to small businesses. Bob has served on the Chamber Board and chaired the Government Affairs Division.
Mimi Collins of The Longstreet Clinic created a working Healthcare Committee for the Chamber this year allowing the Chamber to be very active educating the community on healthcare issues. Mimi led efforts in lobbying the Georgia Legislature for tort reform, and the Chamber will be at it again next year under her leadership. Mimi has served for the past three years on the Board of Directors.
Tommy Howard of The Norton Agency works behind the scenes and provides statistical and research information to foster Chamber economic development initiatives. Tommy has provided the Gainesville & Hall County Economic Development Council with information on Hall County and surrounding counties including land use, industry, retail and much needed housing information. Tommy also served on the Leadership Hall County planning committee this year.
Lisa Jarrard of Georgia Power Company chaired the QUEST Council (Quality Education Strategy Team) this year. QUEST brings business and education together to develop a quality workforce for our community. Partners In Education has over 200 business partners working with every school in Gainesville and Hall County, and 180 students are working in the apprentice, intern and mentoring programs.
Sloan Jones of Gainesville College has chaired the Annual Meeting & Gala for two years. Sloan is always organized, professional and willing to work hard to get the job done. She was in the Leadership Hall County Class of 1996, and she has served as an Associate Director on the Board this year.
Brooke Kalinauskas of Conditioned Air Systems brought the Ambassador Committee to a new level with her participation and leadership. She has won the Ambassador of the Quarter multiple times and sets a high example for all of us in good customer service. She assists Chamber members by promoting all the services and benefits that offered. She serves on the Issues Committee, Ambassadors Council and was in the Leadership Hall County Class of 2003. Brooke will serve on the Chamber Board this year.
Kay Parks of the American Business Women¹s Association attends ribbon cuttings, Business After Hours, seminars and more. This year, she assisted with the Chamber¹s Business Expo and Job Fair ¬ attracting more attendees than ever. Kay also worked on the Hacker¹s Holiday Golf Tournament that was successful in bringing 144 golfers together.
Cindy Wilson of the Economic Development Corporation is Chamber-involved in everything from the Ambassadors Council to Hackers Holiday. Cindy is a leader and team player and served on the Hackers Holiday Golf Tournament Committee. Cindy is the perfect volunteer ¬ when she is involved you don¹t worry about details, as she does it all! Cindy will serve on the Chamber Board next year.
Attorney Kelly Miles, a partner with Smith, Gilliam, Williams & Miles and Mike Freeman of St. Gabriel¹s Episcopal Church provided the leadership and hard work to pass Hall County SPLOST V in March. Through their guidance, the much needed infrastructure SPLOST passed by over 70%. It will provide our community with new and improved roads, a new detention center, a library in South Hall and recreational facilities. Kelly and Mike spent three months leading the SPLOST team and educating our community on the positive results from SPLOST passage. Their dedication and hard work will benefit our community for many, many years.
Richard Hagler, Barron and Brothers Inc.; Denise Deal, Jackson EMC; Rick Boyd, Chattahoochee Marketing; Dr. Martha Nesbitt, Gainesville College; Kate Maine, Riverside Military Academy
These five volunteers worked all year to make the 2004 Northeast Georgia Red Carpet Tour a great success. Forty CEO¹s from across the U.S. and from other countries along with a contingent of 50 economic development leaders from all over Georgia came to Gainesville and Hall County as part of the Red Carpet Tour. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce invited these business folks to Georgia for the opportunity to show them what the state and Northeast Georgia has to offer for. Richard Hagler served as Chairman of our Red Carpet Team and Denise Deal served as Co-Chair. Rick Boyd was chair of the Road Atlanta Venue where our guests took a spin around the track at 130 miles per hour and tested their driving skills on the cones course. Martha Nesbitt chaired the Lake Lanier Olympic Center venue where the guests actually competed in Dragon Board Racing. Kate Maine chaired the Riverside Military Academy experience where guests ended their day on the campus of Riverside with the Blue Ridge Rifle Team performing and some 250 folks were treated to a sumptuous meal, good music and humorous remarks by our Congressman, Nathan Deal. These chairmen and some 500 volunteers made our part of the Red Carpet Tour a memorable experience for our guests. We¹re still receiving letters and calls of thanks daily from our guests. The theme ¬ Southern Expressions… Global Impressions… Northeast Georgia The Best of All Worlds!! ¬ certainly told our story to the guests of why people want to live, to work, to play and to stay in our community.