Contributed by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce
Each year the Auburn Chamber Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of the Auburn business community and an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, applaud outstanding area businesses and look forward to the year ahead. This year’s meeting, held at The Hotel at Auburn University, featured remarks by the following: Rod Carter, 2020 chair of the Auburn Chamber; Dr. Cory Smith, Auburn United Methodist Church; Stacy Williams Jordan, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate; Anna Hovey, Auburn Chamber; Mayor Ron Anders, City of Auburn; and Elliott MacIsaac, 2021 chair of the Auburn Chamber. The meeting was presented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate and sponsored by Alabama Power, CenterState Bank, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, Prewett Pest Control and The Hotel at Auburn University.
The awards presented at this year’s Annual Meeting are as follows:
Eagle Awards – Eagle Awards are presented to businesses or individuals who have made broad contributions to the Auburn community. Recipients must be members of the Auburn Chamber and in business in Auburn for no less than five years.
Recipients have made an impact in our community through at least one of the following categories: educational growth for employees and community, job opportunities, charitable contributions, civic contributions or aesthetic contribution via building and landscaping. The winners are as follows:
Allstate-Prewett Insurance Group
Auburn City Schools’ Career Technical Program
Auburn United Methodist Church Volunteer Management at Vaccine Site
B&B Beverage Management
Backpack International
Bailey-Harris Construction.
Auburn Chamber & Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau Tourism Partnership Award – B&B Beverage Management
This award was created to recognize a business, person or project that has been an excellent partner in tourism or instrumental in developing or driving tourism in our area.
Young Business Person of the Year – Eloise Stewart, Eloise Design Co.
Initiated in 1994 this award recognizes a young business person for his or her achievement early in business.
Norm Caldwell Excellence in Industry Award – Aptar CSP Technologies
Created in 2002, the Norm Caldwell Excellence in Industry Award recognizes and honors an invaluable leader in industry.
Teague Award (Volunteer of the Year) – John Atkinson, East Alabama Medical Center
The Teague Award, created in 1991, is named for Sam Teague, past chair, a chamber diplomat, member of the board of directors and the ultimate volunteer. This award serves as the chamber’s “Volunteer of the Year” award and is presented annually to an outstanding volunteer.
Diplomat of the Year (Sponsored by AuburnBank) – Alexa Cole Wiggins, Prewett-Allstate Insurance Group
The Diplomats serve as the Auburn Chamber’s core group of volunteers and make everything we do possible. Our volunteers are our hosts, our helpers and our representatives.
Spirit of Auburn Awards
The Spirit of Auburn award was established in 2002 to honor individuals or groups for his or her special contribution to the community. The winners are as follows:
Dr. Cristen Herring, Auburn City Schools
Dr. Stan Cox, Lee-Scott Academy
Laura Grill, East Alabama Medical Center.
Chairman’s Award – Bobby Abrams
The Chairman’s Award is the Auburn Chamber’s highest honor and is presented to an individual based on his/her outstanding achievement, leadership, loyalty and dedication to the Auburn community.
Best of Small Business Awards
In late spring, after a community-wide vote, we announced the Best of Small Business in five different categories – emerging (operating less than five years), 1-10 employees, 11-50 employees, 51-100 employees and Retailer of the Year. The winners are as follows:
Emerging: Lucy’s
1-10 employees: Hornsby Farms
11-50 employees: Tacorita
51-100 employees: Niffer’s Place and
Retailer of the Year: The Potting Shed.
Customer Service Crown
Each quarter of 2020, the Auburn Chamber presented individuals with Customer Service Crowns, an award that honors the hard-working service professionals who make our lives happier and easier. The winners are as follows:
Sherri and Chris Manner of Simplified Transitions
Monica Townsend of Bow and Arrow
Kimberly Hyde of The Hotel at Auburn University and
Robin Heavlin of Therapy Boutique.
Auburn Young Professionals Awards
Presented this year by River Bank & Trust, the Auburn Young Professionals program continues to engage and develop area young leaders. Several 2020 standout members were recently honored:
Jay James of Auburn University, received the Engage Award
Ryan Roberts of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices received the Develop Award and
Marlye Lee of Build a Bride Auburn received the Connect Award.
The ceremonial gavel was passed from current chair Rod Cater of Alabama Power to Elliott MacIsaac with VCOM. Congratulations to all of the winners!