This month, approximately 80 business professionals attended the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce annual Chamber Awards Luncheon to celebrate the Chamber and community accomplishments. 

• Toby Banks was recognized and presented the Citizen of the Year Award for his legendary contribution as the biggest fan and supporter of Leeds. Toby is the honorary Assistant Coach of the LHS Football team and keeps the scoreboard for the LHS Softball team. 

If he isn’t attending an athletic event at Leeds, you will find him working hard at Leeds Chick-fil-A. Toby doesn’t let his disabilities get in the way of anything he wants to accomplish. He always has a big smile and hug for all who know him and he is truly an amazing ambassador for Leeds. Way to go, Toby, congratulations on your award!

• Mayor David Miller presented the Posthumous Award in memory of Charcey Mae Glenn to Charcey’s granddaughter, Daryl-Marie Barkley, on behalf of the Barkley-Glenn family. Charcey Mae was born in Leeds in 1942 and graduated from Moton High School in 1962. Her vibrant personality and smile touched many lives. 

She was involved in the community serving with various boards and charitable events such as Leeds Water Works Board, programs at the Moton Center and her beloved Sunday School class at Macedonia Baptist Church. Charcey was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Gaiter and Johnnie England Mickens, her two sons, Rennie and Daryl. She is survived by sons, Charles Barkley and John Glenn. 

Charcey had three things that were most precious to her, “God, Family and Community.” She departed this earth to her heavenly home on June 19 of this year. She will be lovingly remembered by all those who knew and loved her in this community.

• The Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to Christy Ellard with Chick-fil-A. Christy served this year as Ambassador Vice-Chair to support the Chamber and the Ambassador program with volunteer hours which included coordinating food for monthly Ambassador luncheons, providing transportation for the high school Diplomat program monthly business tours and coordinating the annual Mascot Challenge for the Creek Bank Festival. Christy, you worked hard this year and are very deserving of this award – congratulations!

• The Leeds Lions Club was recognized as the Non-Profit Club/Organization of the Year for its outstanding service to the Leeds community. Betty Forman received the award. 

This club was organized in 1947 and has built a reputation of service and dedication to the community. They support the local schools by providing dictionaries to each third grade student and also donate money to assist in the classrooms. They awarded a scholarship to one male and female graduate and provided eye exams and glasses to over 90 individuals in Leeds this past year. We appreciate their hard work and dedication. Congratulations, Leeds Lions Club and keep up the great work!

• Scott Pellowski – State Farm Agency was chosen for the Business of the Year Award. The letter of nomination was submitted by a customer who recognized the Pellowski agency’s professionalism and caring concern for their community and customers. 

Scott and Kayla are very active in the Leeds community through their involvement with the Leeds Area Chamber, Creek Bank Festival, Downtown Trick or Treating and other local events. They sponsored an event through Leeds High School to make sure students were wearing their seatbelts and also worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the ABC Board to spread awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. 

Scott also received a call around 11 p.m. on the night of the 2014 snowstorm to see if he could help a client who had outpatient surgery and was trying to get home and couldn’t. Scott met them at the Chevron station and delivered them to their front door at midnight. They stated they now know what “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there” means. Congratulations, Scott, on your well-deserved award.

The Chamber recognized their Corporate Sponsors: City of Leeds, LeHigh Cement Company, Massey, Stotser & Nichols, P.C., Hubbell Power Systems, Inc., adr Business & Marketing Strategies, Alabama Power, America’s First Credit Union, Harsco Industrial IKG, Leeds Family Chiropractic, M & M Tax Accounting, The Outlet Shops of Grand River and BancorpSouth Bank. 

Miss Leeds Area, Briana Kinsey, sang a beautiful Christmas Carol and Mayor Miller installed new officers and board members. Dr. Rick Palma was presented the gavel for completing the year as Chamber President. Dr. Palma will remain in the President’s position for 2016. 

Rotating off of the Chamber Board is Kelly Washburn with Show Ur Tees and Chesley Payne with Massey, Stotser & Nichols, P.C. Officers and Board of Directors for 2016 include President – Dr. Rick Palma (Leeds Family Chiropractic), 1st Vice-President – Brad Pool (Farmers Insurance), 2nd Vice-President – Rick Parker (LeHigh Cement Company), Secretary – Anne Glidewell (Covenant Bank), Immediate Past President – Jeff Hudson (Standard Furniture), Board of Directors: Vicky Dean (Laney’s Restaurant), Kristy Hall (UAB Leeds), Jeannie Cole (The Outlet Shops of Grand River), Bill Morris (Leeds Water Works), Amy Rice (St. Vincent’s Health Systems), Dr. Michelle Davis (Michelle Davis Dental), John Moore (Leeds City Schools), Scott Barnett (Massey, Stotser & Nichols, P.C.), Hodge Patterson (BancorpSouth Bank), Arthur Phillips (The River 94.1), Ex-Officio Members: Representative Dickie Drake, Senator Slade Blackwell, Mayor David Miller, Kevin Fouts (City of Leeds), and Executive Director – Sandra McGuire.