The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its annual meeting and awards recognition at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, and Carter Bank and Trust was named the Business of the Year.
The Chamber was back in person this year with Ross Mecham, consultant with Deloitte, serving as the master of ceremonies. More than 400 people attended
Board Chair Henry Bass, owner and president of Automation Creations, Inc., reported that the chamber will end the year with a 99.8 percent completion rate of its ambitious 2021 program of work (210 objectives). This completion rate was achieved through committee work and board support.
Accelerating the economy was Bass’s theme for 2021. “While 2020 was difficult, 2021 had its challenges,” Bass said, “2021 made us think and behave differently. And this is what we are doing: accelerating the forward movement to think and act differently to ensure the success of our business community.”
The following businesses and individuals were recognized at the meeting for their contributions to improving the business climate and quality of life and the local community:
Business of the Year; Carter Bank and Trust
Small Business of the Year: Pest Management Services, Inc.
Minority Business of the Year: Freedom Support Services, Inc.
Distinguished Business Person of the Year: Alan Fabian, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
Distinguished Gov’t Leader Co. Gov’t: Craig Meadows, Montgomery Co. Administrator
Distinguished Board Member: Terry Vangelos, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS
Marianne Washington, Movement Mortgage
Outstanding Community Service Individual: Amy Slone
Outstanding Community Service Organization: Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS
Outstanding New Member: Halwa Bakery & Café, Deal Insurance Group, LLC Allstate.
Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Anita Lilly, Baseline Solar Solutions
Deanna Dickerson, Freedom First Credit Union
Green or Sustainability Award: Inmotion
Non-Profit of the Year (small): Rotary Club of Blacksburg
Non-Profit of the Year (large): Hope to Walk
Distinguished Non-Profit Leader: Terri Mitchell, The Virginia Tech Foundation
Technology Company of the Year: Card Isle
Leadership NRV Sparkplug: Lindsay Tomsheck, Baseline Solar Solutions
The nomination process was open to members and non-members from April through October. The nominees are vetted by a committee composed of previous award winners.
The 2021 awards committee was chaired by board member Terry Vangelos, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS of Christiansburg.
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce serves Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Montgomery County, supporting approximately 600 local businesses through business advocacy, education, marketing, and networking opportunities. For more membership information, visit the chamber website at www.montgomerycc.org, or call The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at 540.382.3020.