Athens business and civic leaders, teachers, government officials and young entrepreneurs alike crowded the ballroom at The Classic Center last month to celebrate a year of success and service at the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and awards banquet.

Georgia Power’s Christy Terrell, 2014 chair of the chamber’s board of directors, highlighted the year’s accomplishments, including the formation of the Chamber’s Small Business and Education committees.

Our goal for the Chamber for 2014 was to bring meaningful, tangible value and benefit, and there is no question that our goals were achieved.

Chad Collins, president of Bone Dry Roofing Company, also formally took the reins as 2015 chair of the chamber’s board of directors. 

“As the Chamber of Commerce, we are the voice of the business community in this unique and vibrant place,” Collins said, and then called for the audience to create their own Chamber experience or reassess their current engagement efforts.

“Our Chamber represents all Athens area businesses and we all win when every segment of our unique and diverse business market is represented,” Collins said.

Following are vignettes of some of the award winners, those who’ve dedicated years to serving Athens is a variety of capacities:

ATHENA AWARD

The ATHENA Award is presented annually to a person who embodies the highest level of professional excellence in her or his business or profession, devotes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assists women in realizing their leadership potential.

This year, the ATHENA Award recipient is Andree Terry, owner of Andree’s Essential Soaps. 

“It is always an honor to receive recognition, especially being chosen from a group of such outstanding women. It’s also a pleasure to be able to help more people understand your business and what you do,” Terry said of winning the award.

After Terry’s mother developed several cancers, Parkinson’s disease and glaucoma, Terry realized that traditional cosmetic products were very irritating to her mother’s skin. She designed a line of safe, non-toxic cosmetics that were immediately accepted by 12 hospitals and cancer care centers. 

After her own cancer diagnosis in 2004, Terry formulated a radiation skin treatment gel in use worldwide and a scar treatment for skin application after surgery for mastectomy and reconstruction, throat and esophageal cancers and melanoma. Many patients are referred to her during their recovery. 

“I get to meet with every patient personally, and it is amazing what just being there can do for them. I enjoy being an encourager and giving these women some support and letting them know it’s going to be OK,” Terry says.

Andree’s products have been featured at the International Emmy Awards, numerous television shows and national and international publications.

With her friend Mary Ellen Locher as a guide, Terry helped found and finance a foundation that provides scholarships to college-bound students who have lost their mother to breast cancer. Locher lost her battle with cancer, but her dream lives on as more than 300 scholarships have been awarded as of Spring 2013. 

SPIRIT OF ATHENS

The Spirit of Athens Award is presented annually to the Chamber volunteer who is always committed with an unwavering effort and uncommon generosity toward the advancement of our community. It came as no surprise to many when Pat Allen was named recipient of this award.

A 30-year resident of Athens, Allen has been immersed in civic activities since day one, including serving with organizations such as Hope Haven School, Athens Area Community Foundation, The American Heart Association, Talmadge Terrace/Lanier Gardens board of directors, The Georgia Children’s Chorus and the Athens Rotary Club. He has chaired or served on the board of directors for St. Mary’s Healthcare System, United Way of Northeast Georgia Annual Campaign, Leadership Athens, SPLOST 4 Citizens Advisory Committee, the Athens-Clarke County Unification Commission, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, and perhaps most importantly to Allen, he has chaired the board of trustees for Athens First United Methodist Church.

Some of the comments on his nomination forms included, “Dependable and knowledgeable about our community,” “Knows how to get people to work together,” “Has a great sense of humor” and “Incredible at quietly building a team and bringing people together.”

A graduate of Georgia Southwestern College, Allen has had a successful career as a banker, rising to local president of Bank of America. He now serves as director of Community Relations for UGA in the Office of Government Relations. 

The award presenter, Athens First Bank and Trust President Bill Douglas, described the winner by saying, “I can’t imagine a better ambassador for both Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia. He is an incredible servant leader and has become one of the most prominent go-to people in our community for civic affairs.”

Allen was unable to attend the event. The award was accepted on his behalf by his children, Beth Corell and Clay Allen.

THE BENTLEY AWARD

Named in memory of the late Upshaw Bentley, this award is given annually to someone in our community who has done great things for others, without seeking or getting attention from others. Former Athens-Clarke County police Chief Jack Lumpkin exemplifies that quality as he served this community for more than 40 years in one aspect or another of public safety. It is an award that was richly deserved.

OTHER WINNERS

Ambassador of the Year: Lorie Petersen, BankSouth

Chamber Champion: Shannon Wilder, Office of Service-Learning, UGA

Educator of Excellence: Joanna Rae Beck, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School

Deanne Rosso, CFP, sits on the board of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and is a wealth advisor for Vickery Financial Services.