Chamber hosts annual gathering, presents awards
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Some members of the Coosa County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors pictured with Sen. Clyde Chambliss, front center. Photo by Lydia Waters
Chamber Board Chair Travis Milhan, right, presents the 2022 Business of the Year award to Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. Photo by Lydia Waters.
Photo 3: Lynn Anne Castleberry, director of BridgeWays in Rockford, accepts the award for 2022 Non-profit Business of the Year for BridgeWays. Photo by Lydia Waters.
Sharonna Hayes, director of the Goodwater Youth Development Center, is awarded the chamber’s 2022 Person of the Year. She is pictured with Chamber Board Chair Travis Milhan. Photo by Lydia Waters.
Pete Blank, guest speaker for the annual event, speaks to guests about the importance of relationships, competition versus cooperation and the necessity for change. Photos by Lydia Waters
Photos by Lydia Waters
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The Coosa County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual gathering and supper Tuesday evening at Triple R Cafe in Rockford.
Approximately 30 people attended the event this year, enjoying a time of food and fellowship with other chamber members and the Chamber Board of Directors. The event also served as a time for networking with other entrepreneurs and Coosa County citizens.
Following the welcome by Board Chair Travis Milhan, members of the Board of Directors were recognized and introduced. Those included Milhan, Vice Chair Scott White, Joe Chastain, Kathy Fulmer, Spencer Hardy, Lynn Anne Castleberry, Sharon Haynes, Cornelia Tuck, Christa Jennings, Niesha Whetstone, and Taminko Kelley.
Chamber members who were guests for the event also had the opportunity to introduce themselves and talk about themselves and their businesses.
Board Member Kathy Fulmer introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Pete Blank, who has 15 years of experience working with Disney and currently conducts leadership training for local government in Jefferson County.
Blank spoke about social relationships and building relationships, including extroverts versus introverts and knowing who is who.
He also discussed competition versus cooperation, stating that when people cooperate the whole county succeeds.
Blank said that while change used to be optional, it is now essential and that change “has to happen.” He added that change is good if people make good changes.
Following Blank’s speech, the chamber presented the 2022 awards for Business of the Year, Non-profit of the Year and Person of the Year.
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative was awarded the Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business of the Year. BridgeWays Inc. was awarded the chamber’s 2022 Non-profit of the Year.
The Chamber of Commerce 2022 Person of the Year was awarded to Sharonna Hayes, director of the Goodwater Youth Development Center.
Some attendees also received door prizes during the event.
The Coosa County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meets the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at its office in the E-911 building in Rockford. To learn more about the chamber or to join, visit www.coosachamber.com.