Congratulations 2010 Annual Award Winners!

GREENVILLE, SC – February 12, 2011 – The Greenville Chamber’s highly anticipated 122nd Annual Meeting featuring keynote speaker Gary Kelly from Southwest Airlines was held last night at the Carolina First Center. We celebrated 2010 accomplishments and announced the year’s award winners. Thanks to all who attended and please join us in congratulating the following award winners!   

Small Business of the Year: Immedion

This year marks the 34th year in which the Chamber has recognized the spirit of entrepreneurship by presenting the Small Business of the Year Award. The winner, Immedion was founded in 2006 with the objective of providing Upstate area businesses with an enterprise-class data center facility far superior to anything else available to them. With two fully redundant data centers operating in South Carolina, this company is now the area’s largest and most reliable data center and managed services provider.
   

Minority Business of the Year: Michael M. Simpson & Associates,Inc.

The Minority Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Bank of America, is presented to a local independently- and minority-owned company that has been in business for a minimum of three years. The 2010 award was presented to Michael M. Simpson & Associates, Inc.
   
   
Young Professional of the Year: Elizabeth Garrison

The Young Professional of the Year Award, sponsored by BB&T, is designed to recognize an individual between the ages of 22 and 39 for his or her involvement in the community. The 2010 award was presented to Elizabeth Garrison of Ever-Green Recycling

   
Arts Leadership Award: TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank

The Arts Leadership Award was created to recognize exemplary leadership in promoting and advocating the arts on behalf of the Greenville community. The award is presented to an artist, philanthropist, arts executive, volunteer or corporation each year. The 2010 award, sponsored by The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, was presented to TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank.   
 
   
ATHENA® Award Winners: Diane Smock and Susan Hoag

The ATHENA® Award honors individuals who assist women in reaching their full leadership potential; demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession; and, provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community. The 2010 ATHENA Award, sponsored by the Past Athena Award Recipients, was presented to both Diane Smock and Susan Hoag.   

Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award:
Allen Temple Community Economic Development Corporation

The Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award is given annually to an organization that has shown exemplary efforts toward neighborhood improvement and empowerment. The award is named in honor of former Greenville mayor Max Heller, who spearheaded numerous efforts over the years to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Greenville County. The 2010 award, sponsored by Smith Moore Leatherwood, was presented to Allen Temple Community Economic Development Corporation.
   

Special Chairman’s Award for Leadership Development: Terence Brooks

In a special award category the Chamber recognized a significant contribution in leadership development. The Special Chairman’s Award for Leadership Development, sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, was presented to Terence Brooks, Captain in the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.   
   

Chairman’s Award: Minor Shaw, Dave Edwards, Sam Konduros & Joe Erwin

The annual Chairman’s Award, sponsored by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., recognized a team of outstanding individuals this year for their hard work and dedication to bringing Southwest Airlines to the Upstate. The 2010 Chairman’s Award was presented to Minor Shaw, Chair of the Greenville/Spartanburg Airport Commission; Dave Edwards, Executive Director of the Greenville/Spartanburg Airport Commission; Sam Konduros, Incoming Chair of the Greenville Chamber; and Joe Erwin with Erwin-Penland Advertising.   

Buck Mickel Leadership Award:
In Honor & Memory of South Carolina Representative Bill Wylie

The Buck Mickel Leadership Award, sponsored by AT&T, is given to an individual who has personally or under the auspices of a business had a dramatic impact on the community by playing a leadership role in solving critical community issues, strengthening the community or providing visionary leadership to a major community development project. The 2010 Buck Mickel Leadership Award recognized and honored the memory of South Carolina Representative Bill Wylie. Bill’s wife Janie accepted the award in his honor.

Learn more about the Greenville Chamber’s 2010 Award Winners at http://www.greenvillechamber.org/2010-annual-award-winners.php