After a banner year, the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 33rd Annual Awards Banquet. On Monday, May 7, the Chamber hosted the banquet at Rock Eagle 4-H Center banquet hall. Business leaders from the area enjoyed a full meal catered by the 4-H Center, as well as fellowship with other business owners in the community.

The Annual Awards Banquet is a true celebration of the economic impact these business leaders have shared with the community. For a community to remain strong, its businesses must provide quality service, products and a deep-rooted desire to improve the community on a daily basis. The Annual Awards Banquet honored those in the community and Chamber partners who have excelled in several categories including: Business Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Edward Rice Youth in Excellence. All were nominated and voted on by a selection committee made up of community members and Chamber members.

Chamber President Roddie Anne Blackwell presented the President’s Award to Mike Rowland, the outgoing chairman. Rowland has given superior support to the Chamber this past year and he will be missed greatly. His commitment to service and the community encourages others to make their mark as well. The Chamber also recognized the Ambassador that has earned the most points, thus going above and beyond, as the Ambassador of the Year. Becky Needham, Membership Manager of the Chamber presented Burton Ayres of Allgood Pest Control with his Ambassador of the Year award saying, “He is a friend to so many members. As a new resident to our community, he exemplifies how the Chamber creates connections that reinforce relationships to form friendships that last a lifetime. He is proof that even though Ambassadors do some dirty jobs, the rewards reaped make the hard work pay off in the end.”

James (Jim) Jenkins received Business Person of the Year for 2012. Jenkins is the owner of Skyline Construction Services, Inc. and Georgia Vinyl Distributors, Inc. Jenkins is a devoted father, grandfather and husband of 40 years. His dedication to the community and his generous nature set him apart. Skyline gives annually to Gatewood Schools, Little League & Girls travel softball in Putnam County and supports football teams at Baldwin County Recreation Department. Skyline also recently donated, manufactured and installed the metal roof on the “Extreme Home Makeover House” in Madison, Georgia.

Shelagh Fagan received the Volunteer of the Year award for 2012. Her work with the Better Hometown/Mainstreet program and later her work with the Historic Preservation Commission helped to define The Plaza District as Local Historic District. She correctly listed 350 properties and produced all of the necessary reports to define the street as historic. She worked with a consultant in 2002, but still managed to do 90 percent of the work herself. In 2008, Fagan worked to gather more information about homes in another area and a second district was embraced as a Historic district because of her efforts. This year, Fagan will step down as chair of Eatonton Mainstreet but her efforts have inspired others to become more involved in the betterment of the Eatonton community.  

Michael Rountree, owner of Rountree’s IGA and Sears at Lake Oconee garnered the Citizen of the Year award for 2012. Rountree’s IGA supports numerous functions throughout the year for both profit and non-profit organizations including allowing schools to bag groceries for donations to cooking hamburgers and hotdogs for sports teams. Rountree is active in both civic and religious organizations and has been a true advocate of Eatonton and the lake area during uneasy economic times. The grocery store has maintained loyal customers for more than 50 years and he continues to be a pillar of strength in the community.

Demetrius L. Woods “Trey” is a junior at Putnam County High School and the recipient of the Edward Rice Youth in Excellence award. His activities include acting as President for the Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA recorder, a Science and Math Academy third-year member, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 34, Mothers Against Crime Junior Member and a member of Brown Chapel AME Church, and participates in choir for St. John AME Church. He is also a third year Varsity starting pitcher for the baseball team and a third year Cross Country runner. Woods serves as an independent contractor for his father’s appraisal company as well as maintains excellent grades and participates in Advanced Placement studies.

Local businesses donated each table arrangement, and lucky guests who had a name highlighted on the back of their program received the table arrangement highlighted. Arrangements ranged from beautiful and unique floral arrangements to baskets full of giveaways. Businesses who participated in the centerpieces include: Allgood Pest Solutions, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Eatonton Chiropractic Center, Putnam County Farm Bureau, Farmers & Merchants Bank, FERST Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Fowler Flemister Concrete, The Gailey Law Firm, Lake Oconee Dentistry, Long Shots Sports Bar, Maggie Lane, Neighborhood Cleaners, PeachState Cleaning and Restoration, The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System, Putnam General Hospital, Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Rountrees IGA, Salon 195, Sears at Lake Oconee, Serenity Hospice Care, LLC, SERVPRO of Baldwin, Putnam and Jones Counties, and Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.

The Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors that help make this event possible: AT&T, Central Georgia Technical College, Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Georgia Power Company, The Peoples Bank, Putnam County Charter School System, Putnam General Hospital and Smith Communications.

The Chamber is grateful for the continued support of the community and is looking forward to a prosperous 2012-2013 season.