FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 7, 2021 Contact: Leo Priddy (540) 382-3020

Chamber Annual Meeting Theme Focuses on Celebrating and Accelerating

Blacksburg/Christiansburg, Virginia, December 7, 2021– The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual meeting and awards recognition on December 2 at 5:00 p.m. at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. The Chamber was pleased to be back in person this year, with Ross Mecham, Consultant with Deloitte, serving as the master of ceremonies. There were more than 400 people in attendance.
Board Chair, Henry Bass, Owner and President of Automation Creations, Inc., shared that the Chamber will end the year with a 99.8 percent completion rate of its ambitious 2021 program of work (210 objectives). This completion rate was achieved through committee work and board support.

Accelerating the economy was the mantra of Henry Bass, your 2021 Board Chair when he was asked to create the theme for 2021. “While 2020 was difficult, 2021 had its challenges,” Henry said, “2021 made us think and behave differently. And this is what we are doing – accelerating the forward movement to think and act differently to ensure the success of our business community.”

Included in the annual meeting was the recognition of the following businesses and individuals for their contributions to improving the business climate and quality of life and the local community. The Montgomery County Chamber is proud to announce the 2021 Business Award Categories and Recipients:

• Business of the Year: Carter Bank & Trust
• Small Business of the Year: Pest Management Services, Inc.
• Minority Business of the Year: Freedom Support Services, Inc.                 
• Distinguished Business Person of the Year: Alan Fabian, LewisGale Hospital- Montgomery
• Distinguished Government Leader: Craig Meadows, Administrator, Montgomery County Government
• Distinguished Board Member: Terry Vangelos, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS and Marianne Washington, Movement Mortgage
• Outstanding Community Service Individual: Amy Slone
• Outstanding Community Service- Organization: Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS
• Outstanding New Member: Halwa Bakery & Café and Deal Insurance Group, LLC Allstate.
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Anita Lilly, Baseline Solar Solutions and Deanna Dickerson, Freedom First Credit Union
• Green or Sustainability Award: Inmotion
• Non-Profits of the Year(small): Rotary Club of Blacksburg
• Non-Profit of the Year (large): Hope to Walk
• Distinguished Non-Profit Leader: Terri Mitchell, The Virginia Tech Foundation
• Technology Company of the Year: Card Isle
• Leadership NRV Sparkplug: Lindsay Tomsheck, Baseline Solar Solutions

The nomination process was open to members and non-members from April through October. However, the nominees are vetted by a committee comprised of previous award winners. The 2021 Awards committee was chaired by Board member Terry Vangelos, Coldwell Banker Townside, REALTORS – Christiansburg.  

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce serves Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Montgomery County, supporting approximately 600 local businesses through business advocacy, education, marketing, and networking opportunities.  For more membership information, visit the chamber website at www.montgomerycc.org, Facebook page, or call The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at 540.382.3020.