Chamber Celebrates Success, Leadership at Annual Membership Meeting
Staff Report From Valdosta CEO
Friday, January 30th, 2015
The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber hosted its 103rd Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the Rainwater Conference Center. There were more than 350 in attendance for the event, which celebrated the chamber’s successes in 2014, highlighted 2015 goals, and honored chamber members and community leaders.
“The theme of the 2014 luncheon, Behind Every Great Community is a Strong Chamber, couldn’t ring more true,” remarked 2014 Chairman of the Board, Carl Holley. “By extension, a great chamber can lead to a great community, and the Valdosta community believes in this chamber.”
Among those recognized at the event was Elton Dixon, owner of Enay Coaching, LLC, and winner of the 2015 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition. Dixon received a $10,000 start-up capital prize from Southwest Georgia Bank, along with a robust package of in-kind services donated by chamber members that will assist in the success of his business. Jud Mortiz, the Valdosta market president for Southwest Georgia Bank, presented the award.
The chamber also presented its prestigious A.L. Girardin Award to Lee McArthur of Voya Financial and Beverly Edwards of Southwest Georgia Bank. Each year, the chamber staff selects a member(s) who has gone above and beyond in their contributions to the chamber and the local business community to receive this honor.
The program concluded with Holley ceremoniously welcoming Ron Borders as the 2015 Chairman of the Board. Borders highlighted top priorities for 2015 including protecting Moody Air Force Base, keeping college graduates in Valdosta, supporting Invest Georgia, and encouraging visionary leadership and community collaboration.
“In order to build a vibrant, dynamic community where we prosper and ensure a high quality of life for our families and our children, we have to work together,” said Borders. “It’s not enough that we build our individual businesses, we have to help one another build their businesses as well.”
Nominations for the 2016 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition will open on Jan. 30, 2015. Details will be available on the SEEDS Business Resource Center website. For more information about the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber, visit www.ValdostaChamber.com.
*High resolution images of Carl Holley, Ron Borders, Elton Dixon and the A.L. Girardin Award winners are available here: http://bit.ly/18A1YQl.
