Three local businesses and a long-time peace officer will take center stage at the Nacogdoches County Chamber’s Sept. 25 annual meeting and banquet.
The Chamber board of directors met in June to review the nominations for the Gary Justice Business Excellence Awards and the Citizen of the Year award, according to Lee Smith, Chamber Chairman of the Board. “These are the highest awards our Chamber extends,” Smith said. “It is the board’s intention to honor those being recognized, and to encourage other businesses and individuals to strive for excellence.”
2012 Citizen of the Year Sgt. Greg Sowell takes charge of the fish fryer at a recent NacogdochesSeniorCenter fundraiser.
Sgt. Greg Sowell, Nacogdoches police officer, has been named 2012 Citizen of the Year. Sowell began his career in the 1980s as a patrolman, and now serves as community service and public information officer. He also oversees the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), a volunteer group he helped create. Behind the scenes, he is a driving force keeping the doors open at the NacogdochesSeniorCenter and Meals on Wheels, where he has served on the board for over a decade and as chairman of the board for several years.
Austin Bank Regional President Francis Spruiell and some of her Nacogdoches team. The bank has been named Medium Business of the Year.
Heart of Texas has been named Small Business of the Year. Austin Bank has been named Medium Business of the Year. Hotel Fredonia has been named Large Business of the Year.
Hotel Fredonia team members gather by the pool. The hotel has been named Large Business of the Year by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce.
The Citizen of the Year award is sponsored by Tipton Ford, Inc. The Medium Business of the Year award is sponsored by Regions Bank; and the Large Business of the Year award is sponsored by R&K Distributors, Inc.
The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce 91st Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet is presented by Andrews & Andrews Attorneys at Law. It is Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the SFA Grand Ballroom. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a raffle and social hour. Dinner is served at 7 p.m.
During the event, chamber award recipients will be honored, the 2012-13 Chamber Board of Directors will be inducted and the annual chamber report will be presented.
The Chamber will release information soon on tickets and event sponsorships. Check the Chamber website, nacogdoches.org and dailysentinel.com in the coming weeks for more information about award recipients and event details. Contact Barbara Holl, 560-5533, to donate items for the raffle.
