Highlights of the evening include the 2022 Chairwoman awards presentation and an address by the 2023 Chairman.
The Cobb Chamber celebrated its many accomplishments of 2022 at the 81st Annual Dinner celebration, presented by Wellstar, on Jan. 28 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Over 1,000 business and community leaders attended the black-tie optional dinner affair, including military leaders, economic development partners and elected officials. Atlanta broadcast legend Monica Kaufman Pearson of WGCL/WPCH TV served as the event’s master of ceremonies.
The evening included a robust program, including outgoing Chairwoman, Britt Fleck of Georgia Power, passing the leadership to 2023 Chairman Greg Teague of Croy Engineering. In her address, Fleck celebrated the collective efforts of the Chamber and how it served as a champion for businesses and the community over the past year.
She highlighted:
- The Chamber’s SelectCobb strategy continues to exceed its goals of job recruitment and business expansion. The Chamber’s economic development team organized SelectCobb’s first outbound trade mission to Québec City. The strategy’s Workforce Taskforce launched the HR Roundtable event series and a digital Workforce Resource Guide. The Chamber also supported Kennesaw State University in the relaunch of HatchBridge, a business incubator at the KSU Center.
- The Superior Plumbing VECTR Center was a 2020 advocacy item that after years in the making opened on Chattahoochee Technical College’s Marietta Campus in 2022.
- The Membership Campaign fuels the Cobb Chamber’s mission and the 2022 effort raised over $1M through membership and advertising sales. The 2022 Membership Campaign welcomed 368 new members to the Cobb Chamber.
During the evening, Fleck presented several awards to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of the Chamber’s programming and the quality of life in Cobb.
The 2023 Len Gilbert Award was given to Joyette Holmes of Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers, and Pete Quinones of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service. This award is presented to an outstanding board member who, through his or her leadership, commitment and dedication, achieved new heights for a Chamber initiative, program or event. Holmes and Quinones served as 2022 Strategic Planning Co-Chairs, recruiting a large steering committee, leading thoughtful conversations, and attending multiple focus groups and meetings. The pair helped to facilitate a process to develop a five-year plan that addresses the county’s most pressing economic and community needs.
The 2023 Chairman’s Award was presented to Sonya Grant of WorkSource Cobb, a dedicated partner to the Chamber and an active member of the SelectCobb Workforce Taskforce, a 2022 committee devoted to finding solutions to address current workforce challenges. The award is presented to an individual for outstanding leadership, dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to the Cobb Chamber. Grant led the ReAlign ReStart Program, a workforce development effort between the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department, WorkSource Cobb, Construction Ready, and the Cobb Chamber. The program trains and prepares inmates for jobs in skilled trades, like construction and welding, and gives these individuals important skills needed to find their next job.
The 2023 Mack Henderson Public Service Award was presented to Dr. Kat Schwaig of Kennesaw State University. This award recognizes an individual who embodies the philanthropic legacy of Mack Henderson through outstanding commitment and dedication to building a better quality of life for the citizens of Cobb County. Under her leadership, Kennesaw State University is helping students find their passion and purpose to experience success. She has placed focused attention on enrollment growth, the University’s research infrastructure, and engaging first-year students. Dr. Schwaig also relaunched a business incubator. HatchBridge welcomes innovators from throughout the community and offers access to courses, funding opportunities, mentors, office space, and networking all tailored to start-ups.
Fleck’s final award of the evening, the 2023 Dr. Robert A. Lipson Award, was presented to Dr. Ron Newcomb of Chattahoochee Technical College, whose critical role in developing the Superior Plumbing VECTR Center were recognized for its significant impact within the Cobb community. The award is presented to someone who is a visionary, a friend, a mentor, and a leader. In addition to his contributions to the success of the Superior Plumbing VECTR Center, Dr. Newcomb has played a critical role in both the launch and growth of the Cobb Workforce Partnership. His passion for technical education and his commitment to Cobb has led to a valuable resource to our veterans for generations to come. Before becoming President of Chattahoochee Technical College in 2012, Newcomb also served as a City Councilman for the City of Smyrna for over 20 years.
The Marietta Daily Journal presented its prestigious 2022 Cobb County Citizen of the Year Award to Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard of MUST Ministries. The Marietta Daily Journal has presented this award since 1963 at the Cobb Chamber Annual Dinner.
The 81st Annual Dinner was presented by Wellstar. The invocation was offered by Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard of MUST Ministries. Mike Jones Entertainment provided music and entertainment following the program, while JJA Project Management provided audiovisual and event production services.
The rest of the event’s sponsors included: Brasfield & Gorrie, Croy Engineering, Georgia Power, and Lockheed Martin as Diamond Sponsors; Four Hats Inc. as the Reception Sponsor; Audi of Marietta as the Red Carpet Sponsor; Three-13 Salon, Spa & Boutique as the Camera Ready Sponsor; Pinnacle Financial Partners as the Wine Sponsor; LGE Community Credit Union as the Entertainment Sponsor; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as the Coffee and Dessert Sponsor; Ameris Bank, Arylessence, Atlanta Braves, Cobb EMC, Cobb Galleria Centre, Comcast, Kennesaw State University, and JJA Project Management as Ruby Sponsors; AT&T, Bank of America, CDH Partners, Cortavo by Aventis Systems, Cumberland CID, Development Authority of Cobb County, Gas South, Genuine Parts Company, Georgia Banking Company, Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers, LLC, The Home Depot, Life University, Mauldin & Jenkins, The Mazloom Law Firm LLC, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Pinnacle Orthopaedics, Renasant Bank, Ruby-Collins Inc, S.A. White Oil Company, Inc., Smith + Howard, SouthState Bank, Superior Plumbing, TK Elevator, Town Center CID, and Truist as Emerald Sponsors; and LAZ Parking as the Parking Sponsor. Special gifts were provided by Cumberland Diamond Exchange.
For more information about the 2023 Annual Dinner, contact Michele Howard, Executive Vice President of Programs & Leadership Development at 770-859-2345 or mhoward@cobbchamber.org. The full photo album can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3jntJ8G.
