Henderson County Chamber’s 100th Annual Dinner and Awards

Fair Nabers Waggoner, City President at United Community Bank, presented the Environmental Sustainability Award to Mast General Store, and said the company is taking a wide variety of steps to improve the community environment.

Michele Garashi-Ellick, President at the Four Seasons Rotary Club, presented the Education Champion award to Nessa’s Young’uns Natural Play Center owner Vanessa Gilliam M.Ed. LECE, and said the early childhood education facility has a meaningful and significant impact on education.

Maria Pilos, Director of Marketing at DMJPS, presented the Industrialist of the Year award to Blake Kehoe, Director of Engineering at Lassande Pappas, and said the recipient has been dedicated to working at the same facility for 43 years, remaining Plant Manager for four businesses within the same facility.

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 100th Annual Dinner and Awards on Thursday, Jan 26, celebrating a milestone year as well as acknowledging outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations for their contributions to the community in and around Hendersonville. Awards and their recipients include:

• Ambassador of the Year - Cindy Novak , Commercial Accounts Manager at Horizon Heating and Air Conditioning,

• Small Business Leader - Geoff Bagwell , Director of Operations at Imoco Inc.,

• Camp Industry Leaderships AwardHaynes Family, Owners of Camp Ton-A-Wandah ,

• Environmental Sustainability AwardMast General Store ,

• Education Champion- Nessa’s Young’uns ,

• Industrialist of the Year -Blake Kehoe , Director of Engineering at Lassande Pappas,

• Nonprofit of the Year - Children & Family Resource Center,

• First Citizens Bank Customer Service Award - Dan Poeta , Owner of Horizon Heating & Air Conditioning,

• Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award - Dr. David Ellis , Chief Medical Officer at Pardee UNC Health Care,

• G . Ray Cantrell Award - Jeff Miller, Owner of Miller’s L&C Inc.

Bobby Bennett, Hospice Home Stores

Retail Director and General Manager at Four Seasons Foundation said the 2023 Ambassador of the Year Award winner Cindy Novak, Commercial Accounts Manager at Horizon Heating and Air Conditioning, is irreplaceable and instrumental in the success of the Ambassadors and the Chamber.

Anderson Ellis, an attorney at Van Winkle Law Firm, said the recipient of the Small Business Leader award, Geoff Bagwell, Director of Operations at Imoco Inc., has a unique perspective of the local small business community.

Milton Butterworth, Community Health Manager at Pardee UNC Health Care, said the recipient of the Camp Industry Leaderships Award, the Haynes family, has a primary mission of building character and positive development of youth.

Trina Stokes, Foundation Director at AdventHealth Hendersonville, presented the Nonprofit of the Year award to Children & Family Resource Center, and said this nonprofit realizes the importance of partnering with other groups and nonprofits in order to meet the needs of children in the community.

Amber Webb, Manager of Retail Banking at First Citizens Bank, presented the First Citizens Bank Customer Service Award to Dan Poeta, Owner of Horizon Heating & Air Conditioning, and said Poeta and his staff understand that success comes from working smarter and harder.

Lisa Parrish, Duke Energy Government and Community Relations Manager, presented the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award to Dr. David Ellis, Chief Medical Officer at Pardee UNC Health Care, and said Ellis provides significant contributions to people and improves their quality of life.

Randy Hunter, Owner of the Hunter Corporation, presented the G. Ray Cantrell Award, the Chamber’s most prestigious award, to Jeff Miller, Owner of Miller’s L&C Inc., Hunter said Miller has had a tremendous positive impact on the community.