Chamber of Commerce Awards Its Businesses of the Year

Photos by Expressions Photography

Above: Wade Giles (L) receives the plaque from Russell Starns for Southern Power's Large Business of the Year award.

Above: Chairman Tim Lazaroe (L) awards the Medium Business of the Year plaque to Mike Breaux of PODS.

Above: Tim Lazaroe presents the Small Business of the Year award to Wayne and Diane Leader of AA Mini Storage and Central Super Suds.

Above: Morgan Hutchinson and Chris and Brockwell Bone of Bone Marketing receive the New Business of the Year award from Chairman Tim Lazaroe (R).

The Central Chamber of Commerce held its first annual Awards & Installations Banquet on January 13th. At the banquet, the new Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board were introduced, and outgoing Board members were honored. The new Chairman of the Chamber Board is Tim Lazaroe, replacing outgoing Chairman Russell Starns. The Chamber of Commerce Board also selected the Chamber Businesses of the Year, featuring large, medium, small, and new business categories. Congratulations to these businesses, representatives of which are pictured above.

Above: Tim Lazaroe (L) presents the Chamber Ambassador of the Year award to Juanita Ross.

The Chamber had other awards to present, as well. Mrs. Juanita Ross was given the Chamber Ambassador of the Year award at the banquet. The Chamber Board chose to honor her based on her many hours of service to the Chamber as an Ambassador. The CCCC Ambassadors Council is a select committee of volunteer professionals who support the development and growth of the Chamber by enhancing public relations and communication endeavors, retaining membership, attracting new membership, and serving as business liaisons to members of the City of Central Chamber of Commerce.

Also recognized at the banquet was CentralSpeaks.com, awarded the Chamber Member of the Year for recruiting nearly 40 new Chamber members and for the fundraising work done through the Chamber of Commerce Directory & Phone Book.