Members’ Choice Award: South Georgia Medical Center This award recognizes a business that excels in customer service as voted upon by Chamber member businesses. This year, 75 local businesses were nominated for the award, nearly 800 votes were cast and South Georgia Medical Center rose to the top. The growing healthcare enterprise, SGMC, consists of four hospitals that serve a large, diverse population. The healthcare enterprise is recognized locally, state and national level for exceptional patient care. “On behalf of the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, its medical staff, employees and volunteers, we are pleased to be named the recipient of this year’s Chamber Members’ Choice Award for 2015. This truly is an honor to be recognized in this manner by our fellow Chamber members which demonstrates support and trust they have in South Georgia Medical Center. For that we are all truly humble and thankful.” Randy Sauls Young Professional of the Year: Cindy Romero, Wild Adventures Theme Park This award recognizes a young leader who has shown a quantifiable improvement to the bottom line of his/her employer. Voted on by a panel of business
leaders, Cindy Romero, Operations Manager at Wild Adventures Theme Park, was recognized as the 2015 winner. Cindy oversees more than 175 employees across multiple operating divisions at Wild Adventures. She developed a benchmark that retains and rewards Wild Adventures’ high potential employees that was so successful, it was implemented at other park departments and divisions. She created Wild Adventures’ successful “Stay & Play” program and consistently evaluates operations, finding ways to do more with less. “I am very honored and humbled to be named Young Professional of the Year. It is most certainly an achievement that will remain very special to me. It is an honor I would like to see more young professionals in our community work toward and achieve.” Cindy Romero Ambassador of the Year: Jerry Kozuch, South Georgia Vein Center This award recognizes the Chamber Ambassador who has earned the highest number of points attributed to ribbon cuttings, ground breakings, Leading Business of the Week presentations and other Chamber volunteer functions. Jerry Kozuch sets standards high for what it means to be a Chamber Ambassador. Jerry has volunteered and assisted with more than 50 events in 2014. Twice named the Ambassador of the Quarter in 2014, Jerry is always a team player, making her a wonderful asset to the team of Ambassadors and the Chamber. “I am so appreciative of being recognized as the Ambassador of the Year, and thankful that Dr. Greg Martin
allows me to participate as a Chamber Ambassador. I enjoy any chance to celebrate in the company of my family and friends, and this recognition was a fun one for me. I accept it on behalf of all of my fellow Ambassadors who work hard in this community.” Jerry Kozuch BIG Thinker Award: Quillian Powell, Quillian Powell Construction Company Inc. This award recognizes an outstanding community member who has established his/her own business from the start of the venture and has made significant contributions to the community in the way of time, monetary donations, in-kind services, job creation, sales tax production or economic development initiatives. A leader in the community and a past chairman of the Chamber board, Quillian Powell is committed to making this community better. Powell started his career in construction when he was 20 and worked for 22 years before he branched out on his own. Quillian Powell Construction Company, Inc., was established in 1987. “I began my career in construction working as a laborer by day and student by night. I’ve just always had a desire to be good at what I do and keep honesty and integrity at the heart of my business and personal life. I don’t seek out recognition, but this award from the Chamber really holds a special place for me. I feel truly blessed to be recognized as the 2015 BIG Thinker.” Quillian Powell
Congratulations!
SummerSummer 2014 www.ValdostaChamber.com 2015 • ValdostaChamber.com
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