Kingsport
73rd Annual Kingsport Chamber Dinner PHOTOS BY RACHEL K. BURRUS, LINDA COFFEY, AND NATHAN MAYS | STORY SUBMITTED
More than 1,700 business, civic and community leaders celebrated another great year for Kingsport at the Kingsport Chamber’s 73rd Annual Dinner on Friday night! The event was hosted at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center, “the Nation’s Number One Party Band” – Party on the Moon – entertained another huge and sold-out crowd at “Kingsport’s Social Event of the Year!” The Kingsport Chamber also recognized and congratulated Eastman on its onehundredth year and thanked the company for the tremendous impact it continues to make on the community and region and for its philanthropic support during the past century. Eastman served as title sponsor for the popular affair and WJHL News Channel 11/ ABC Tri-Cities was the host sponsor. Ballad Health presented the entertainment, Eastman Credit Union served as concert hall and stage sponsor and Food City was the printing sponsor. The event remains the largest Chamber annual dinner in the nation. “What a perfect night to celebrate a wonderful community in Kingsport and great organization in the Kingsport Chamber,” said Paula Jackson Kingsport Chamber 73rd Annual Dinner chair and WJHL News Channel 11/ABC Tri-Cities vice president and general manager. “The WJHL News Channel 11 and ABC Tri-Cities team were once again thrilled to be a partner in this incredible event and we were elated to celebrate Eastman in reaching its centennial year.” The evening’s theme was “This is Kingsport,” as the program was highlighted with a number of recognitions and accomplishments for the Kingsport community. “It is amazing to look at the progress occurring in our city and at the list of achievements from so many companies and organizations for this past year,” said Lori Arnold, 2019 Kingsport Chamber chair and director of finance with GSM. “Kingsport is a great city and the Kingsport Chamber and its many award-winning programs make such a huge impact on this community.” “Wow! How about our Kingsport Chamber?” said Eric Deaton, 2020 Kingsport Chamber chair and chief operating officer with Ballad Health. “What a great night of celebration of the past and the start of a new decade! It is my honor to stand before you as your new Board chair. My friends, I am so proud to be the Kingsport Chamber’s 2020 chairman. I have worked and chaired other Chambers across the Southeast. I can tell you we are so fortunate to have one of the best Chambers of Commerce in the U.S., bar none! What makes our Chamber so great is the leadership, Board of Directors and the Chamber volunteers.” As part of the evening’s festivities, the Kingsport Chamber celebrated a number of city developments, community projects, school highlights, and business endeavors and achievements that were accomplished or announced last year.
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