By: Brad McEwen, The Albany Herald
ALBANY — Business and community leaders turned out in force Thursday to honor some of Southwest Georgia’s best and brightest young leaders as the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and The Albany Herald presented this year’s 40 Under Forty class.
This year’s reception was held at Chehaw park’s Creekside Center where winners and their guests were treated to a formal lunch and given plaques commemorating their achievement.
The annual 40 Under Forty is designed to recognize members of the Southwest Georgia community who are 40 years old or younger and are having a significant impact in the workplace and in their community.
Albany Herald General Manager Ken Boler, who led the presentation of the awards, praised the recipients saying that their achievement was important to the future success of Southwest Georgia because the winners represent the future leadership of the area who can bring about important change for the region.
“You guys are changing this community,” Boler told the recipients. “You read a lot of things in the newspaper from time to time and it’s not all good. We get that. But then this is the kind of news that can change those things. You’re positioned well to make some changes in Southwest Georgia and we need you.”
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce interim President Barbara Rivera Holmes added to Boler’s comments saying that the 40 Under Forty winners possess the necessary traits of determination, innovation and leadership that make them vital members of the community.
“This year’s 40 Under Forty recipients exemplify these characteristics, “Holmes said. “We’re so proud of them and of their positive impact on their work places and, our community and our region.”
Before presenting the awards, Boler also praised this year’s selection committee made up of voting members Coldwell Banker/Walden and Kirkland Realtor Patsy Martin, McDonald’s of Albany owner/operator Michael Harris, Chamber board member Bobby McKinney, Chamber board member Pam Jackson, and Robert Cross Middle School Principal Thelma Chunn. Boler and Albany Herald Inside Sales Manager Amber Jeffcoat are also part of the committee, but do not vote on the candidates.
Boler explained that the selection committee reviews nomination packets from a number of possible candidates and narrows the selections down to the final award recipients. In fact, Boler said, the criteria used each year places high standards on the selection of winners, and just 32 individuals were selected this year.
“We couldn’t bring this program together without the (selection) committee,” said Boler. “Every packet we received we sent to them and they scored them and we wanted to make sure we held the criteria at a high level. We had some people that were there that didn’t make the cut. Just because we got the packet doesn’t mean that they made the cut. You can rest assured that the award you’re getting here today, you earned it.”
Those who did receive 40 Under Forty recognition this year included Egbert Bacon Jr., Valerie Bowron, Clifton Bush, Abbey Carter, Kimberly Carter, Jessica Castle, Matt Dalrymple, Deondra Dukes, Jim Edge, Chiquita Green, Kimberly Guthrie, Courtland Harris, Chase Harvard, Reedi Hawkins, Shalonda Heard, Erin Hutchins, Erica Jackson, Jasmine Jackson, April James, V’Ashley Joyner, Melissa Kennedy, Jeremy McKinley, Kyle Nichols, Alan Parhams, Demetria Redding, Heather Shivers, Teresa Smith, William Usher, Dorian Williams, Nicole Williams, Nicki Wilson, and Jocelyn Yates
Tags: 40 Under Forty, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Albany Herald, Southwest Georgia
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